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Readings from Whittier's works were given by Mrs. Joseph 

 Silliman, who read "The Peace Anthem;" Miss Carrie H. 

 Averhill, who read "Lines written for the Exhibition of Ames- 

 bury, Sept. 28, 1850 ;" Miss Annie C. Dwinell, "The Husking ;" 

 Secretary D. TV. Low, "A Lay of the Olden Time," written for 

 the society's dinner at Newburyport, Oct. 27, 1856. 



Several speakers followed. J. J. H. Gregory spoke of Whit- 

 tier as a man of heart, a heart of feeling. The heart is the 

 divine standard and the head is not so important. Whittier had 

 made mistakes about "Flud Oirson" of Marbleheacl, but when 

 he found he was wrong he acknowledged his error. He had 

 also confused the Pilgrims and Puritans. The speaker did not 

 agree with the essayist in comparing Whittier's religion with 

 the religions of Socrates and Confucius ; — the}* were intellectual 

 men, high philosophers, while Whittier's strength was in his 

 moral nature. He reverenced Whittier's magnificent simplicity ; 

 the poet is not sectarian, but a friend of all creeds. The poet 

 has not been ambitious or smart — heaven be praised ! The 

 common meaning of those qualities is an intensity of sel- 

 fishness. 



O. S. Butler, of Georgetown, related an army incident of one 

 of Whittier's poems, — "Massachusetts to Virginia" — which the 

 speaker read to a group of maimed soldiers one night during the 

 war, the soldiers giving three cheers for "the poet of the Mer- 

 rimac" at the close. Mr. Butler also offered a motion embody- 

 ing the message to Whittier, which follows. 



Andrew Nicholas, Jr., and Mr. E. E. Woodman of^Danvers, 

 both spoke of personal visits to the poet's home, the former 

 touching upon his simplicity of manner, and the latter upon his 

 interest in farming and other every day topics. 



Humphrey Balch, of Topsfield, eulogized Whittier and his 

 works, particularly his sincerity of action. 



James P. King, of Peabody, referred to the part Whittier had 

 taken in the anti-slavery struggle before the war. He also 



