Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-31
THE PILGRIM MONUMENT.
1t Is to be Dedicated with Great Cere.
mony at Plymouth, Mass, Tomorrow

1t is to be Dedicated with Great Cere.
mony at Plymouth, Mass, Tomorrow
The great pilgrim monument will be dedi
Gated at Plymouth, Mass, tomorrow. TIL,
| first proposition to erect a suitable memoria
| to commemorate the landing of the pilgrims
was made as far back as 1858. The Pilgrim
society, which was formed in 1920 to perpetu
alto the memories of those from whom it take
its name, selected high hill overlooking tn,
! harbor as the site of a monument and commit
ted the task of designing it to Hammatt Bill
| lngs, famous Boston architect. Mr.. Billings
like all the others originally connected with
the enterprise, is dead but their work stands
a marvel of grace and beauty, the admiration
o 4 all beholders.
/ The cost Of the monument has been 5000 600
With the exception of a single tablet it has
been the work of local company. 1t is solid
granite throughout and consists of an octagonal
pedestal As feet high, upon the center of which
stands the figure of Faith, SO feet high, rest
ing one foot upon Plymouth rock and holding
In her left hand an open Bible, while the right
arm upllfted'points heavenward. The sublim-
ity OF this GROWING figure is grand triumph
of American sculpture, and the photographs
of it which have been made since 1t came from
the artists hand in 1877 have found choice
places in many collections.
The pedestal has four large and four small
faces. Upon the former are tablets bearing
the names Of the founders of the colony and
historic facts connected with the original set
Element, while from the smaller faces project
four buttresses or wing pedestals.
Upon each of these is seated figure of he
roic size, representing, with the figure of Faith.
the principles of the founders These figures
are Morality, Education, Freedom and Law;
and on the faces of the pedestal at their feet
are alto-relief tablets representing the embark
alton at Delft Haven. the signing of the social
compact in the cabin of the Mayflower, the
landing at Plymouth and the first treaty with
the Indians. The sides of the wing pedestals
have figured tablets carrying out the ideas of
the figures above them.
A NATIONAL MEMORIAL.
The cost of the entire work, as has been
stated, has been 100000. The pedestal and
the tablets are the result of contributions from
all parts Of the United States. The figure of
Faith was the gift of the late Oliver Ames.
uncle of the present governor of Massachu-
sets. and cost $4,000. Toward the figure of
Morality the commonwealth of Massachusetts,
appropriated $4,000, and for the accompany
ing relief the state of Connecticut gave So 600
The figure of Education, with its tablet, was
the gift of Roland Mather, esq.,, of Hartford,
Conn.,, while for that of Ere edom, with its
tablet, an appropriation of $4,000 was secured
from the United States government, mainly
through the exertions of John ID. Long. Law
and its tablet were paid for by contributions
from the legal fraternity throughout the
country.
BEGUN THIRTY YEARS AGO.
The corner stone of the monument was laid
August 2, 1859. with impressive ceremonies,
which included addresses by Richard Warren
of New York, then president of the Pilgrim So
clety; Gen. n. 2. Banks, then governor of
Massachusetts; Hon. Salmon p Chase and Col
John L. Heard, then grand master of the Grand
lodge of Massns. A box containing valuable
records was deposited in the stone by the late
DIR. Nathaniel Il. Shurtleff of Boston in behalf
of the building committee. The pedestal was
completed and the figure of Faith was placed
In position in 1877, and in 1878 Morality was
added. Education followed not long after, but
1t was not until last autumn that the figures of
Law and Freedom completed the monument.
THE OBLIGATORY EXERCISES.
The dedicatory exercises bid fair to be worthy
of the occasion. Recognizing the national
character of the monument invitations have
been extended to one hundred gentlemen of
national distinction. W. C. P. Breckenridge of
Kentucky will he the orator and John Bowie
OReilly the poet of the day. President Har-
rlson was expected to honor the scene by his
presence, but he has notified the committee
that 1t will be impossible to attend. His prede-
II.
and Mr.. Cleveland, are, however, counted on
to be numbered among the guests. Secretary
Blaine has already accepted the invitation to
be present and has promised to use his best
endeayors to secure the attendance of the other
members of the cabinet. New York is to be
represented by Joseph H. Choate and William
Nj. Evarts. Senators Hoar and Ingalls, Speaker
Carlisle, Judge Devers, George Bancroft,
Thomas F. Bayard, Gen. Sherman, Congress-
men Randall, Lodge and Greenhalge, ex-Gov-
ernOr Rice and the presidents of the various
New England societies are also to be among
the guests.
Ex-Governor Long, the present president of
the Pilgrim society, is to be the presiding Off
Ger of the day.
The Masons are to perform the dedicatory
ceremony in the early forenoon At eleven
O'Clock procession will move, including the
governor, escorted by the first corps of cadets
a regiment of militia, the Plymouth county G..
A. X. posts. the Masonic bodies, the Odd Eel
lows, the members of the Pilgrim society, the
county fire departments, &c. The speech-mak-
ing is all to take place at the dinner which will
be served at one O'Clock, probably in the hall OF
the Pilgrim society.
In the evening there is to be q grand ball
and an illumination and fireworks display on a
scale never before known in this section. The
people of the vicinity are enthusiastic to degree
never before known. and headed by the veteran
William I. Davis, who, by the way presided
when the corner stone was laid. have resolved
To make the day the fyraatest in thar op,oIa