Striking and magnificent as our country is in its peculiar attitude and rapid growth, presenting at one view the combined ideas of ability to resist the strong, and power to defend the weak, it is scarcely less majestic than beautiful, and in attempting to convey to you in language befitting some of the important facts connected with its early history, and the birth of its flag, would seem little less absurd, than...
The usual work of the Association has been carried on during the year, and the interest in all lines has been fully maintained.
The year just closed has been characterized by the usual activity along the various lines of work of the Association, as the Historical Society of Cumberland County.
Stated Meetings in the Library Building, October 1906.– April 1907. Friday, October 19th, 7.30 P. M. Indian Training School, its Origin, its Progress, and the Difficulties Surmounted. Paper by General R. H. Pratt.
Stated Meetings in the Library Building
October 1907---April 1908.
Stated Meetings in the Library Building. October 1908----April 1909
Mr. President and Members of the Hamilton Library Association:—
I desire to say, in the first place, that I esteem it an honor to have been invited to prepare a paper for this occasion. Having listened to some of the papers here presented I fully understood that the preparation of a paper to be read here involved serious labor and that a random talk would not be acceptable.
Read Before Historical Meeting of the Hamilton Library Association, Carlisle, Pa., November V. 1902, and Reprinted for the Historical Department. From all sources obtainable it is generally conceded that Lees' objective point when he attempted the invasion of Pennsylvania was Philadelphia, though he expected to give battle before reaching this point.
Our Commonwealth possesses no richer treasure than the fair fame of her children. In the revolutions of empires, the present institutions of our land may perish, and new ones, perhaps more perfect, may arise; but the glory of our national existence cannot pass away, so long as the names of those who, in it, enlarged the boundaries of knowledge, gave tone to its morals, framed its laws, or fought its battles, ate remembered with gratitude.
It is indeed an Unalloyed pleasure to have the privilege of appearing before the Hamilton Library Association this evening to turn back to the period when I first became a resident of Cumberland County. Although forty years have elapsed since that period, and fifteen years have passed since I removed from your midst, I am sincere when I state that nowhere else have I made and retained better and warmer friends than those I left in the Cumberland Valley. There is something in your charming landscape. In your beautiful scenery and in your romantic history embalmed "In Old Bellaire" and its setting that must be the secret you have in retaining the affection and esteem of those who have been residents in your midst.