New-York tribune., 1872-01-18
FRANKLIN CELEBRATION.
UNVAILING OF; THE DE GROOT STATUE IN
PRINTING-HOUsE SQUARE.
REMARKS BY DIR. PRIME AND PROF. MORSE
PRAYER BY DIR. DEEMs-ADDREssEs BY HOR-

Inc l66th anniversary OF the birth OF Ben
Jamn Franklin was made memorable yesterday 10 the
printers OF New-York by the unvang Of the statue TO
his memory, and presentation them by Capt. Al
bert DE Groot The statue stands in Printing House
square, IN front of THE TRIBUNE Building, facing the
City Han, and is centrally placed among the principal
newspaper offices Of his lcy. IL is full length figure,
III light bronze IA feet in hight, standing granite
pedestal OF the same altitude and surrounded by beau
tul octagonsl railing, with ornamental gas.lamp at
each of the four points OF the compass In front OF the
statue, within the railing, small stand for
| the accommodation OF Prof. Morse, the orators
OF the occasion Messrs. Greeley and Savage and Capt
DE Groot. larger platform outside the railing for
the Chairman, the Rev. DIR. g. l. Prime the Committee OF
Arrangements, and invited guests Flags displayed
from the various newspaper buildings the City Hall,
hhtor House. and other prominent edihces, and the
vicinity OF Printing HOusesqlare bore holiday appear
ance The only drawback enjoyment OF
SION was the Keen breeze which would have de-
| lighted the phosophic Franklin IN his kte-hylng
] days, but yesterday caused the cold to pene-
trate unpeasantly through overcoats and mufiers.
Long before the appointed lhour the crowd began TO
assemble In the square, and at all the available
space around the statue densely packed and the
neghboring windows hled with spectators. The
assemblage largely composed OF representatives OF the
typographical art, intelligent and orderly, and evil
IDENTIFY much interested in the exercises A ring
formed around the statue with stakes and chains and
large force OF policemen detailed under Capts. Cope
5th Regiment Band, % pieces furnished the music.
The Committee OF Arrangements, with the speakers
and invited guests entered the ncosure after II
o'clock and took their places on the platform As fro
s. r. b. Morse ascended the smaller stand accompanied
by Horace Greeley there was an outburst Of hearty
cheering from the throng, which continued until the
band began playing Among those present on the
larger stand were Peter Cooper James Brooks Erastus
Brooks Samuel f. French, David W. Bruce, I. W. En-
gland, the Rev. Messrs Porter, Hagan stOddard Mar
tin, and E. d. g. Prime Mr.. Houghton OF the Cambridge
Press, John +. TrOw, WIN. G. Conner. Andrew Little,
Peter g. Hoe Messrs. COttrel and BaDcock Col Il. f.
Morgan. and Benz. F. Baohe, grandson of Benjamin
Franklin The Banner OF the veteran New-York Typo
graphical Society, founded in 1902 the oldest in this
country displayed the stand in charge of Chas
McDevitt of the oldest printers in the city.
The assenblage called TO order by the Rev. Dr. s.
IrenGus Prime, who said
REMARKS OF DIR. PRIME.
FELLOW CITIZENS The day too long delayed has al
length arrived the day that behod IN the City of New
York statue of the illustro,s Franklin through the
muulhcence Of Of our own citizens this splendid ana
fitting monument is ours aud while It stands IN thls
Printing House square 1t will perpetgate the genius OF
Franklin and the generosity OF Capt DE Gr00t We are
uDvai this statue IN the face OF Heaven, ana
prayer will now be offered by the Rev Dr. Deems
The Rev. Dr. Deems Of the Church OF the Strangers
then offered the following prayer:
PRAYER BY DR. DEEMS.
Almighty and Most Mcrclful Lord Cod our Heavenly
Father, we adore Thy greatness. aud the mercy which
har permitted to be Thy children npon the earth
hast reserved for US in The future uHyerse ine9rraPt
S SSye sna %nsed this World not using proper
poses Pardon we beseech Thee our sin ana m & t b us
Ne thank Thee Heavenly Father, for all those who,
S3inS Sp soofner and The pathway dnty planer
thank Thee for the memory %1fn re smnae
fDe following generaons for all that Is great and good
IN the life of him whose memory We erect TINS statue
today; whatever GOOD In that influence he eAei-
cised We render Thee thanks to-day ,,..
Oh Lord from whom tcometh every YOod ana pericct
Gift
may they experience The influence Of the Gospel OF the
son Of God oh, Lord strengthen all that Is good IN us
and destroy all that evil. Grant grace to live
that if shall De tribute OF art TO pepetuate our
Grant grace ALL that may each man leave be,
hind him such an influence as shall be working Tor good
after he shall have departed Nay we remempeI tnat
the praise Of man is BREATH tht hs glory ms the
flower of the field which pershes that all humanity Is
as gIass and that those VINO by tbef acts ana hFcs
any Righteousness, shall SHINE as star forever
on Lord! we invoke thy blessing upon the Press. We
thank that 10y It's influence Thou art drawing men
into brotherhood We thank Thee that lhou mast
We may use II instrument for good; may no man
lay unhOy hands thereon, nut may every man use IL as
power for which there Is great ieso1sioS @ anu 80
grant that the Press may he forever the guardian o
Of Peace commend TO the hearts all the blessedness OF
peace and bring to naught the arts OF war Grant tat
and the warrors accursed and the Of the devil
Above ALL Holy Father, grant that AT the name Ot Jesus
Christ every knee may bow and every tongue confess
that he the Lord and grant this unto US ALL that we
may live that may be numbered with my CONS unto
glory everlasting.
Dr. Deems concluded with the Lords Prayer, in which
the audience joined.
Douglas Taylor, Chairman OF the Committee OF Ar
rangements, then introduced Prof Morse saying This
distinguished inventor aud pride Oi our country WI" ho"
unvail the statue Of Franklin
PROF. MORsE's REMARKS.
Mr. DE GROOT FELLOw-CITIZENs: | esteem III
one my highest honOrs that should have been desg
mated TO perform the office OF unvaiing this day the nne
statue OF our illustrOus and immortal Franklin Mheu
requested accept this duty was confined TO my pea
but could not refuse, and said yes, II had 10 DC
lifted TO the spot. Franklin needs no eul09y from me-
No to Venerate his name thah my
SELF May his llstrOus example Of deNOtlOh 10 'h l
terest universal humanity be the seed OF further t
for the good Of the world
At the close of his remarks, Prof Morse removed the
streamer by which the folds of the flag covering the
statue were kept position, and the massive ngure sud
denly appeared 10 view amid the loud cheering OF the
crowd music by the band and salute from cannon
in the Park. Prof Morse then retired TO The TRIBUNE
Office being greeted his departure win nearly eheoiS
Douglas Taylor then said "Felowetizens: Horace
Greeley needs introduction. He VIII address you
now" Mr. Greeley VINO seated on chair directly
beneath the statue, arose anna great dpP"u'' "' "
moving his hat, spoke as follows;
ADDRESS MIR. GREELEY
Mn President AND GENTLEMEN OF THE Pttss AND
TYpoGRAPHIC PROFESSION; statue Oh tranh ", h , was
suggested Of craft as appropriate 10 oe Is
guraed in this great city, when nus ht .bin
IL seemed 10 him desirable and proper that tne
printers and publishers OF tse @ oy r6e man whom
we all esteem as patriot sage, and the the
chief honor of calling by presenting & some ss
lion Of onr felloweiiizens This suggestion was made
TO Capt Albert DeGroot who. AS he says IN acknoW M
OF the many he has received from te
originator pS Of statue and thus 1ss
With Mr. Ernst Plassmann, "a distinguished sculptor
Of our city and employed hn to put his idea INTO endur
ing material Plassrnann made first smaller model OF
the a,nre ~ Erankn which be submitted for weeks To