90 



of Hastings, — to the conquest, by their fathers, of principles 

 over tyranny and oppression. 



Let not therefore the sons of New England regard lightly 

 the blood which flows in their veins, and the duties that blood 

 imposes to keep alive in every way possible the memories of 

 their ancestors ; — and in what way could they do it more efiect- 

 ually, in what better way can they bring themselves to a just 

 ! realization, almost of their bodily presence, than by searching 

 into their private histories, and following out their lineage. 

 Although they may find 



" By no proud stone their narrow couch of rest is known," 



they will still find monuments of much greater value in the 

 inflexible will, in the indomitable purpose, in the thrift, energy, 

 and enterprise, in the unwaving trust in God which stamped 

 their characters. Let us not therefore be unmindful that 

 the toil and self denial, the almost superhuman efibrts of our 

 fathers, in subduing the wilderness and making it a suitable 

 abode for subsequent generations, have the highest claims upon 

 our gratitude, and should stifle every disposition to judge 

 harshly of the austerity of their manners, or the rigidness of 

 their principles. 



In connexion I would now propose the following preamble 

 and resolution : 



That, Whereas there is a strong and decidedly increasing 

 desire prevalent in this community, and throughout New Eng- 

 land, to look into our early emigrant ancestry — And, Whereas, 

 in the opinion of this Society the promotion of such an object 

 is conducive of the greatest moral and practical good ; and that 

 it is highly desirable that the personal history of all the early 

 New England settlers, and the genealogies of their families, 

 as far as practicable, should be accurately traced out— And, 

 Whereas, this can only be done by consulting the records of 

 the several towns and parishes throughout the State ; and great 

 inconvenience is often experienced and expense incurred in tra- 

 velling from town to town to inspect such records, — so much so 

 that few can find time to devote to it, and many who cannot 

 afford to incur the expense occasioned thereby, are thus dis- 

 couraged from the undertaking, — Therefore, this Society deem 

 it of the highest importance that some method should be devis- 

 ed whereby those Records can be concentrated, and thus made 

 more easily accessible and available for the purposes of consul- 

 tation. It is therefore Resolved, That this Society, Avhose 

 design is the promotion of our local history, as well as an ad- 

 vancement of science, in order to aid the objects herein set 



