This is part of a series on Lafayette’s visit to Massachusetts August 23, 1824 to September 3 1824.
After spending the night in Bolton, Lafayette’s party arrived early in Lancaster in front of a new church building designed by Charles Bullfinch.
First Church of Lancaster, established 1653, Bullfinch building dedicated 1817
Reverend Nathaniel Thayer (1769-1840) addressed Lafayette
“General Lafayette – In behalf of the inhabitants of Lancaster, I offer you their cordial congratulations on your arrival in a country whose wrongs you felt and resented; whose liberties you valiantly defended; and whose interests and prospects have been dear to your soul. We all unite with the few surviving veterans which were with, loved and respected you on the high places of the field, in giving you a welcome to this village….and rejoice that you visit it under the improvements of civilized life, in prosperity and peace.
It gladdens us that we and our children may behold the man, whom we have believed, and whom we have taught our children to believe, was second only to his and our friend, the immortal Washington. We participate in your joy, on beholding our institutions in vigor, our population extended, so that since you left us, from a little one we have become millions, and from a small band a strong nation; that you see our glory rising, our Republic placed on an immovable basis, all of which are in part, under Providence, to be ascribed to your sacrifices, dangers and toils.
We wish you health and prosperity. We assure you that wherever you shall go, you will be greeted by our fellow-countrymen as one for the chief deliverers of America, and the friend of rational liberty and of man. It is especially our prayer, that in that day in which acclamations and applauses of dying men shall cease to reach or affect you, you receive from the Judge of character and Dispenser of imperishable honors, as the reward of philanthropy and incorruptible integrity, a crown of glory that shall never fade. “
In the Thayer Memorial library in Lancaster, there is a collection of photographs of prominent women of the town. Most of the pictures have just name and birth and death dates. Harriet (Rugg) Spaulding was different, because when she was nine years old, she shook hands with Lafayette
Harriet (Rugg) Spaulding
This is but one instance of a very common phenomenon in which that brief encounter with Lafayette would be a high point in someone’s long life. In 1912 the Town of Lancaster held an elaborate pageant to commemorate five important events from its history. The final one was Lafayette’s visit.
The Welcome Lafayette arch is still stored at Thayer Memorial Library. Hopefully it will be coming out again in 2024.
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For information on the bicentennial of Lafayette’s tour check out lafayette200.org.