HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 63 



less as a child, when exposed to the rub and bustle of 

 the world ; it is the philosopher over again, who, 

 when the vessel in which he was embarked was about 

 to founder at sea, having read much in books of 

 anchors of hope and anchors of safety, but knowing 

 nothing practically of their use, lashed himself to the 

 best bovvcr, and then smiled in lofty pity at the igno- 

 rance of the poor creatures who were going to trust 

 themselves to rafts and planks. Colonel Wilder has 

 been prompted by good sense in organizing good 

 works ; and with rare executive ability he has congre- 

 gated large masses of men, and raised large sums of 

 money, for the support of some great pursuit. He 

 has been a pioneer, or, more properly speaking, a 

 recruiting sergeant, for many invincible armies. As 

 it is inscribed on the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, 

 in memory of its architect. Lector^ si monumentum 

 requiris^ circumspice : " If you seek his monument, 

 look around;" so we see Colonel Wilder's monument 

 around us here : men whom he recruited, and who 

 have, under his discipline, become centurions in the 

 hosts of religion, freemasonry, agriculture, horticul- 

 ture, history, the arts, and the Ancient and Honorable 

 Artillery Company. 



Ah ! Mr. President, I can almost see some of the 

 old Past Commanders of that honored corps march 

 into this room with their bright steel breastplates, 

 their thick coats of buff-leather, and their helmets 



