New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-05
TIE CARPENTERY CENTENNIAL.

To-day, as our readers know, the old Car
penters' Association of Philadelphia will Gel
citrate the hundredth anniversary of the first
meeting of the Continental Congress in the
little old building set back in narrow court
off Chestnutst. 1t the first intention to bring
as many of the members of the present Con-
gress together as possible, but the actual Con-
gressmen present will be as few probably as
bona fde carpenters. The people likely to
join in this any national celebration are
always the odd minority who have both
genuine patriotism and a capacity
and liking for the dramatic setting
of it forth. There were some features in that
first meeting of Congress which would make
salient points to recall in an Grafton and serve
for any amount of emotion and enthusiasm
to hang themselves upon nowadays. alt was"
says the elder Adams, "the morning after we
had heard of the horrible cannOnade of BOs-
"ton." The proposal that the proceedings
should be opened by prayer was opposed at
first, on the ground of the division in sectarian
belief, "some being Episcopalians, some
"Quakers, some Presbyterians." Mr.. Duch6
was finally chosen to read prayers as being
ga man devOut and pious, and also a
friend to his country" The Psalm for the
day CHANGED to be one in which David prays
with vehemence for vengeance on his enemies.
1t reused and startled every nearer, and when
the preacher, to the surprise of all, burst into
extemporaneous prayer, I" the scene," says the
venerable chronicler, "was worthy of the
"painter's art. Washington was kneeling
"there, and Randolph, Lee, and Jay, and by
"their side stood bowed in reverence
the Puritan patriots of New-England, who
at that very moment had reason to believe
an armed soldiery was destroying their hum
"ble households. 1t was enough to melt
"heart of stone. / saw the tears gush into
"the eyes of the grave, pacific Quakers of
Philadelphia"
From the sOlemnity and fervor of that first
meeting was born the stern resolve to
achieve freedom, and the fiery zeal which
kindled the souls of the whole nation. The
most apparent reflection suggested by the old
record and the old place, and the idea which
no doubt will be urged by all the orators
thereupOn is-what a falling off has been
here that there are no such giants, no such
lofty emotions in the land in these days.
Where in our Congress are the white headed
region Iuc w doiiinBtouS, Lcts,
and Jays7 The leaders of to-day are shrewd,
keen lawyers, men of bull-like obstinacy
and unreason, who occasionally divert the
country by clownish gambols and friskiness.
Instead of this picture of great and good men
from differing sects kneeling side by side
to ask Gods help for their country, the only
point of union between the churches now
seems to be jeers or warnings drawn from
vile story of the debauchery of the pulpit.
1t is very easy to deduce the lesson from all
this that we have refrigerated into shall
lower, more vulgar race than our forefathers
that show and money-getting are our true
gods; bribery in one shape or another is our
leading motive. 1t has been the sentimental
habit of every age to decry itself. The "Pu-
"rtan patriots in the old Carpenter building
bewailed the spirit Of the men of Cromwells
day. until the first bomb fired into Boston
brought to the light the same stern courage
and integrity in themselves. The firing of that
first gun at Sumter a few years ago arrayed us
in month under one flag or another; men
who, whatever their mistakes of judgment, were
not swayod BY gain OF bribery but offered their