Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-07-31
At PLYMOUTH ROCK.
Preparations ut the Historical Spot for
the Deilca tIon OF the Monument to tho

- At PLYMOUTH ROCK.
Preparations ut the Historical Spot for
the Dedlca ton OF the Monument to tho
Pilgrim Fathers on August 1-HIstorv
of a Work First Proposed In 1862
h PLYMOUTH Mass, July 23-The magnifi-
cent Pilgrim monument is to BIO dedicated
August |, and the citizens not only Of this
historic town but OF all the country about
have united to make the occasion tho
proudest In the history OF the old COLONY.
and, so far as they may, ono of tho proud
est In tho history of the American Union.
The monument is situated on one of the
highest hills in tho town, little northwest
OF the rock at which the pilgrims landed
and about west Of the anchorage OF the
Mayfower.
1t was in 1853 that the proposition was
first made to erect a suitable memorial to
commemorate the landing of the pilgrims.
The monument as it now stands has cost
500, 600. and, with the exception of one
tablet, has been the work of the Hallowell
Granite Company. 1t is solid granite
throughout and consists of an octag-
onal pedestal forty-tive feet high, upon
the center OF which stands the figure of
Faith, thirty six feet high. resting one foot
upon Plymouth rock and holding In her
left hand an open Bible. while the RIGHT
arm, uplifted, points toward Heaven The
pedestal has four large and four small faces.
Upon the former are tablets bearing tina
names of the founders of the colonv and
historic facts connected with the original
settlement, while from the smaller faces
project four buttresses or wing-pedestals
Upon each OF these is seated figure of he
rolc size representing, with the figure of
Faith, the principles OF the founders These
figures are Morality, Education, Free
dom and Law, and on the faces of the
pede stall at their feet are alto-redef tablets
representing the embarkation 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.
The pedestal and the tablets are the RI.
suit OF contributions from all parts of the
United States The figure of Faith was the
gift of the late Oliver Ames and cost $33,-
700. Toward the figure of Morality the COM
monwealth of Massachusetts appropriated
$40, 600 and for the accompanying relief the
State OF Connecticut gave So, 600. The figure
OF Education, with the tablet, was the gift
OF Roland Mather, ESQ.,, of Hartford, Conn.
while for that Of Freedom with its tablet
an appropriation of $4,000 was secured
from the United States Government,
mainly through the instrumentality OF the
Hon. John D. Long Law and its tablet
were paid for by contributions from law
yers throughout the country.
The cornerstone of the monument was
laid August, 1850, with impressive cere-
monies which included addresses by Rich
ard Warren, OF New York, then president
Of the Pilgrim Society; General N P. Banks,
then Governor of Massachusetts, and
Colonel John T. Hoard, then grand
master OF the Masonic Grand Lodge
OF the State. A box containing val
liable records was placed in the stone
by the late DR.. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, of
Boston, in behalf Of the building commit
tee The pedestal was completed and the
figure of Faith was placed in position in
1887, and in 1873 Morality was added Edu-
cation followed not long after, but it was
not until last year that the figures of Law
and Freedom completed the monument
The exercises Of dedication have been
planned by committee OF the Pilgrim
Society, to which the selectmen of
Plymouth have been joined, headed by
Hon. William IT, Davis, who presided
when the corner stone was laid At 8
o'clock in the morning the Masonic
Grand Lodge will dedicate the monu-
ment according to the ritual of the order.
At II o'clock procession will form,
included in which will bo the Governor
and large militia escort the Grand Army
Of the Republic, the Masons, the Odd-fel-
lows, the members Of the Pilgrim Society
and others Dinner will be served at 1
o'clock, probably in the hall of the Pilgrim
Society, and here the literary exercises will
take place. Hon. w. C. P Breckenridge, of
Kentucky, will be the orator of the day,
and John Boyle OReilly, of Boston,
the poet, and afterdinner speeches are ex-
pected from Ex-Governor Long. president
OF the Pilgrim Sociery; President Harri-
son, ex-Presidents Hayes and Cleveland,
Secretary Blaine, Senators ingalls,, Evarts
and Hoar, Congressman Carlisle, Randall,
Lodge, Banks and Greenhalge, Chauncey
M. Depew, Joseph H. Choate, Hon. Thomas
F. Bayard, General Sherman and others of
the invited guests and Myron P. Whitney
will sing 1.-THE Breaking Waves Dashed
High"
A ball and pyrotechnic display in the
evening will bring the festivities to close.
nAoauy VIC btIeeCS naVe Deen Sp1nneO Dy
arches, and other indications of gala oc.
casion are visible; and unless the weather
proves inauspicious the Old Colony people
will make it the biggest of their many cole.
bratiOns.
Boston, July 23.-Ex-Governor Long has
received letter from President Harrison
stating that he hopes to be present ut the
dedication of the Pilgrim National monu.
ment at Plymouth on Thursdc~ of next
week.
GAINED THEIR LIBERTY,
Two Desperate COnvicts IN the Ohio Peni.
tentiary Effect Their Escape In Dar-
Ing Manner.
GOTJ15prro q Univ O2-Tohn Hill ord