The New York herald., 1875-11-17
THE wITHERsPooN MOVEMENT.
DEDICATION OF THE CORNER STONE IN THE
CENTENNIAL GRoUNDs-NTEREsTING cERE-
MoNIAL sERvcEs-PREsENTATIoN or FLAG
BY YOUNG LADIES.
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. 10. 1875.

BT YOUNG LADIES.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 16 1875
The ceremonies attending the laying OF the corner
stone for the monument to John wtherspoon took
place this afternoon, according to announcement not
withstanding the disagreeablo weather The monu-
ment which has heretofore been fully described in the
HERALD, is to occupy site on the Lansdowne drive
In Paramount Park, in that portion of the Centennial
Exhibition grounds just east of Memorial Hall 1t Will
be noble, beautiful and appropriate memorial when
shall be placed in position in 1876 and dedicated with
appropriate rites The hour announced for beginning
the ceremonies three O'clock but owing to the ex-
treey unpleasant, rainy weather and consequent
anke-dcep mud of the Centennial grounds many were
deferred from coming, and the Rev. DR.. George W
Mussave, OF this city, the presiding officer did not
open the proceedings until somewhat later. After
prayer by Rev. W. W. Barr and the singing OF a hymn
by the assemblage in chorus DR.. Musgrave took his
position at the site of the proposed memorial He
placed the box and contents in the for the foun
dation in place, speaking as iollows:-
LAYING CORNER STONE.
lay this corner stone IN the name of the Covenant
God Of our Fathers the Trune Jehovah, Father Son
and Holy Ghost. On this site, kindly granted for the
purpose by the Commissioners OF the Park, is to be
erected monument in commemoraton of The patri-
otc services of the Rev. DR.. John Witherspoon tho
distinguished Presbyterian divine and one OF the sign
of the Declaration of American independence; the
only clergyman who signed that immortal document
The design is also TO remind the thousands-yea
millions-who in the course OF time will the statue
OF that representative of the patriotic services of
our Presbyterian fathers during the Revolutionary war
and the influence they excrted in the formation of
national government after the model of most ex-
ccllent Presbyterian form of Church government
which is both scrptural and republican
Let us sacredly cherish the spirit OF patriotic
ancestors, and preserve inviolae their principles of
civil and religious freedom. Let us remember that
'the price of liberty is eternal vigilance and for its
maintenance let rcnewedly pledge ''our lives our
fortunes and our sacred honor.n
THE
The site of the monument is one of the most beaut-
ful that could have been chosen The will be Of
bronze, twelve feet high and IL will be placed on a ped
esta OF Quincy granite also twelve feet high. This
viii rest mound four feet above the surrounding
lawn This lawn slopes toward tho Drive, giving the
monument total height Of thirty feet above the
Drive from which II stands leo feet distant 1t will be
seen from Genge's Hill, Belmont and up and down tho
beautiful Schuylk for mile or more.
FURTHER CEREMONIES
The small assemblage then formed in procession and
marched TO Machinery Hail. where the Rev William
Adams, ID. d., LII. d. Of New York was to deliver
address. Here, sheltered from the weather large
company had assembled, among whom many cmi-
nent Presbyterian clergymen and laymen including
Rcvs. w. p, Breed, j Addison Henry, Joseph Kerr
Colonel j. Ross Snowden, George II. Stuart ESD Rev
K. II. Patterson, DIR. S. A. Muohmore, d. D., Rev B.
B. Hotchsn and other representative men, besides
members OF the ST. Andrews Society and the Caledo
nian Club, After the singing of the hymn
''ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS NAME"
the Rev. William Adams, u. D., LIZ d., of New York
delivered interesting address, which was listened TO
with great attention. frequently interrupted by ap
pause.
PRESENTATION A FLAG
After DR.. Adams address was finished the next thing
in order the presentation OF a flag from the young
ladies' of the West Spruce street church to the General
Assemby's Centennial Committee who have charge OF
the erection OF the monument. Ii presented by
Mr. George Junkin, and received by Colonel J. Ross
Snowdcn, chairman OF this committee The flag was
made Of blue silk edged with fringe these being
the old colors OF the Scotch Covenancrs on the field Is
large star composed Of thirysix smaller stars rep
rcscnting the thrtysix synods Of tho Presbyterian
Church These synods correspond to State gov
aud hair in rnI -.
our States a common government.
Both the presenter and the recipient of the flag
made short, appropriate speeches, after which hymn
sung, the bcnedcton pronounced and the asse m
blage dispersed.