Excerpt from Exercises: Bi-Centennial Commemoration, Burning of Medfield by Indians, King Philip's War, February 21, 1876

This Committee immediately projected thos'e arrangements which a suitable recognition of such an event required. Invitations were extended to the authorities and citizens of towns closely allied to our own in former and latter years; to members of the State Government; and to many individuals connected by various ties with past and present residents of the place. Distinguished speakers were solicited to take part in the exercises of the day. Preparations were made for appropriate music and for every foreseen necessity of the occasion. And on the morning of the 215k of February - a day of unusual brightness and mildness of temperature, - the public ceremonies were introduced by ringing of the village bells, and the firing of a national salute by a detachment from lattery B, of the Massachusetts Artillery, under charge of Captain Baxter. A similar salute with ringing of the bells was repeated at noon, and the firing of guns, at fifteen minutes' interval, was continued throughthe day. The Town Hall was finely decorated by Beals Son, of Boston. Music was furnished by the Medfield Band. The hour ap pointed for the literary exercises of the occasion was A. M. And, at this hour, a crowd had assembled which filled the hall to its utmost capacity. The exercises consisted of an Opening address by Rev. C. C. Sewall, President of the day; prayer by Rev. J. M. R. Eaton: hymn sung by the audience in the familiar tune of St. Martin's; address by Robert R. Bishop, Esq., a native of Medfield and now a resident of Newton; music by the band; and a poem by James Hewins, Esq., a citizen of the town. At this point, a recess was taken for a collation in the vestry of the Unitarian Church. At 2 P. M. The people reassembled in the Town Hall, and the exercises were resumed by singing a beautiful hymn written for the occasion by Rev. J. H Allen, of Cambridge. This was followed by remarks of invited guests and others in response to sentiments offered by the President of the day. These remarks were listened to by the audience with unabated interest and gratification until the hour of necessary departure had arrived. The meeting was then closed with prayer by Rev. A. M. Crane.

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