from The Weekly Mass, June 20, 1863 (Volume III # 36),
Mr. Wood’s Lecture

A very large audience crowded Webster Hall last Wednesday evening to listen to the address by Rev. P. Wood, announced in our paper last week.  The meeting was organized by the choice of Hiram Allen, Esq., as President, Rev. Mr. Fish and Dea. J. J. Robinson Vice President, and C. C. Corbin secretary.  As we before stated, Mr. Wood was sent to the seat of the war by the town of Chicipee , to look after the interests of her volunteers; and during his absence he visited the Fifteenth regiment, and enjoyed interviews with members of the Webster company. The address comprised a complete review of his trip, with the narrative of incidents coming under his observation, and a pertinent reference to various facts of general information connected with the war. It was unwritten, and given in the impressive conversational style so well adapted to the presentation of topics in which the finest and tenderest emotions of the soul are concerned.  The speaker’s reference to our brothers and sons already slain in defense of country, and those in arms who yet survive, sensibly touched the feelings of his audience, and brought alternately to the face the tear of sympathy and the smile of pride.

No condensed report which we can give you will do anything like justice to the many little pleasant reminiscences which the speaker related: his  accidental meeting with an old friend here and another there, his sad surprise, in calling for Company I, to find that but thirteen remained of the one hundred who left Webster two years ago, these and a hundred other tender allusions served to render his protracted remarks deeply interesting to their close.  The speaker referred to the various societies having for their object the temporal and spiritual welfare of the soldier, and paid a high complement to our state organization of this kind.  He also commented upon the condition of national affairs at the capitol, the means employed for the suppression of the rebellion, and the high hopes entertained for our people are due to Mr. Wood for a very entertaining and instructive address.

 

15th Massachusetts VI