The custom is strongly to be commended, for it serves an important
historical purpose. It is especially true in New England that every
town, no matter how small, has an important place in the general
history, and the perpetuity of this history, it hardly needs to be said,
is a matter of great importance to this and succeeding generations. This
is being done most effectually by means of these publicly-observed
anniversaries. An event of this kind draws together the residents of the
town, and many others who are connected with its history by their early
life or ancestry. The occasion calls forth an historical address
prepared by some native of the town, who has attained distinction in
professional or public life--and what New England town cannot boast of
its distinguished son--and, at the same time, arrangements are made for
a published history of the town. These historical sketches are of great
value and, collectively, they contain the true history of the people.
The humble historian of the little town down on the Cape or up among the
hills of Berkshire, may not be a Prescott, a Motley or a Bancroft, but,
in his smaller sphere, he is performing a service no less valuable than
that of the historian of nations. In many of these local histories are
to be found events of highly-romantic interest, while some of them have
been the starting point of real romances stronger than fiction. But
their chief value is in their faithful portrayal of the lives of those
earlier generations whose relations with our lives are so well worthy of
study. That there is at present a much more general interest in this
kind of history than there was fifty, or even twenty years ago, is
evident; and as the towns of this State successively arrive at their
important anniversaries, the written history of Massachusetts will grow
more and more complete.

The annual meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society took place in
the society's room, April 9, the Honorable Robert C. Winthrop in the