The Newtown bee., 1897-03-12
SAMUEL ADAMS

SAMUEL ADAmO
 arose and said, 1T am no bigot. l can hear prayer from any man of piety who is friend of his country" The follow ing day, MT Duche, an Episcopal clergy man, read the Psalter and then unexpect ly burst forth into extempore prayer, in chosen language and with fervent ardor and pathos prayed for America, for Con- gress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay and especially for the town of Bos ton, then under cannonade. Washing ton, Henry Lee and Jay were kneeling there, and the Puritan Patriots, who knew that an armed soldiery were vast ing thelr homes. Imploripgly they look ed to Heaven for aid in thls supreme hour of conflict. Another memorable occas- ion was in 1774 when all friends of relig- ious liberty were invited to gather in con- ference. All existing sects were repre- sented. The discussion was earnest. The grievances of the Baptists and Friends in Massachusetts were presented. John Adams insisted that the state laws relat, ing to religious liberty were mild, and that the very liberty MT Pemberton in- voked would cause them to preserve their laws. Pemberton replied, "John, John, dost thou not know when Friends were hanged and Baptists whipped in thy Co.,, ony? Pray don't urge liberty of con- science in favor of such laws" "Thus was begun the struggle for religious lib- erty, and the cause grew until it's princi- ples were embodied in the Federal con- pact and to-day exist in the constitution of every state in the Union but one."
 The first mint of our nation was estab- lished in 1792 and had for it's first :direc- tor David Rittenhouse. the astronomer. The present mint was located in 1883 and for many years was the only one in the country. You look through 8 grating and see the bars of metal of which the coin is made. The processes of melting, rolling, milling, stamping, counting and depositing are all shown. In the cabinet
 is magnificent collection of coins of all | -.@so,, E.. oil aros of fsY,o frop, tho rvi
 gantic coins weighing pound of an Eas' tern nation to the Jewish mite. Little
 limitations of gold dollar upon which is
 inscribed the Lords prayer, are sold aE
 souvenirs. They are made upon the first
 coining press.
 The far-famed and unique Girard col lege is prominent attraction to the visi
 tor. To gain admittance one must ob
 tain permission and declare he is not al
 'secclesiastic, minister nor missionary,
 for Stephen Girard stipulated in his will
 drawn 66 years ago, that there are & many dissentions among the sects, h wished his orphans taught the principle of truth, sobriety. industry and love fo their fellow creatures. When they be came mature in judgment, they coul 1 choose for themselves. A study of tn , man himself will well repay one. H !, left his home in Bordeaux at the age c -I l4, and started life as cabin boy an ' part owner of the ships cargo. He worl 2 ed steadily on until he amassed forum go great that he loaned the governmer : $5 GOO, GOO in the Var Of 1872. He q, vised the plan of 8 college for s'poo : male, white orphan children" of the cit : and state. They should be received b 2 tween the ages of six and 10, and di r charged at the age of IS Fyr two year ,- of this time they should be bound out lIlearn some art or trade. h the origin ,- marble building, that closely resembl' h the Grecian Parthenon, sleeps the ben ' factor of the orphans whom his boun1 r blesses. A granite sarcophagus al }, statue mark the spot Of entombment.