The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-04
OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY
THE FORMAL ORIGIN OF THE
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
1t Was Not mt First a Day of Public
northumberland Read In
Meeting Houses.
Boston Transcript.

declaration Entrusted 10 MOSES Oh Nhouhl
sinai-a matter of ancient history-and
many an ambitious youth or thoughtless
elder touches off his fireworks and drinks
soda at will. giving little heed 10 the occa-
sion celebrated as though it originated with
the people before the flood
independence Day belongs to modern
times. never more fully realized than when
we pause for a moments reflection, and
read in our grandsire's record of daily
events, This day read from my pulpit to
the congregation the Declaration of Inde-
pendence."
That body of fearless men who made up
the Continental Congress of 1176. after
placing their names upon the immortal doc
ument ordered that this declaration should
be read to the soldiers in the army and in
other public places. among which were the
meeting houses of the various towns. 1t
was 10 be done in the latter. on the first
Sunday after II was received by the town
authorities. In the manuscript records of
each little town then existing may be read
in the handwriting Of the town clerk. 1.-The
Declaration of Independence read last Sab
bath at the meeting house. and by vote or
dered TO be placed on records"
In the confusion of modern celebration
IL would be difficult to convince any one of
the situation of affairs here i'm Boston when
the first copy of the Declaration was re-
ceived General Ward was in command of
the town; beer such from the time Wash
ington left IL for New York, after his brief
stay, following the evacuation. When pre-
pairing to go, the commander-in-chief wrote
to Ward asking him to remove to Boston
Off he were not afraid of the smallpox, and
to take command of the five regiments to
be left there for the defense of the town;
direct the erection of works. and attend to
matters in general. He took command IS
requested. and found the town in state Of
confusion, disorder. disease and poverty. His
task to restore order, and cleanse, fortify,
and defend the place was most discourage
ing OF it. he wrote to Hancock, Il had
everything TO do and nothing to do 1t with"
Things were but little improved when he
received the following communication:
Philadelphia, July 6. 177s
Sir-The inclosed Declaration of Inde-
pendence am directed to transmit to you
with a request that you will have IL pro-
claimed at the head of the troops under your
command In the way you shall think most
lance of it will naturally suggest the pro-
priety of procaiming ii In such manner
as that the whole army may be fully ap-
/ have the honor to be. sir, your most
obedient and humble servant
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
READ IN BOSTON.
The Declaration of independence was first
read I'm Boston, amid great rejoicing. from
the balcony of the Town House, on July 1S
Doubtless it was repeated in Faneuil Hall
and the Old South Meeting House as well as
in the army. But those historic buildings
have been so changed as TO make it difficult
for one of to-day to enter into the spirit of
that first reading of the immortal document.
If the patriot of 1896 would put himself in
touch with the patriots of 1776 let him visit
the old meeting house at Sandown, N. H.,
or at Rock hill, in Salisbury. Mass, or at
Rockingham, VT, i'm each of which he will
see the meeting place of the people in its
| primitive simplicity. as when the minister
from the high pulpit unrolled the scroll and
read to his congregation the act of the Con-
| tinental Congress. to the support of which
| they had pledged their lives and fortunes 1
have stood in each of these rude meeting
| houses until 1 have seen rise up in fancy
| from the square pews the whitened head of
| the aged father extending his form i'm ear
nestness. with hand raised behind his ear
| to enable him TO catch the words as they
| fall from the minister's lips. i have seen
| the mother in sable mantle bow her head in
| cheerful assent, while she wiped away the
weeping since the loss of noble son at
| Bunker Hill. l could read in the tell-tale
| countenance of some half-persuaded Tory.
Let them maintain IL they can" From the
| upper gallery 1 have detected the shining
! face of negro slave, ready to smile assent
| to what he saw gave pleasure to his master
| in the pew below, little realizing that IL
meant, ultimately, freedom TO himself ]
| have stood outside when the congregation
having sung. Praise God from Whom All
| Blessings Flow. have come out. gathered
| in groups and discussed the grave question
| of the hour.
In the old parsonage in the little town CT
| Burlington there are still treasured the
| interviewed almanacs Of the minister OF the
Revolution. The grandson of the minister
| Of that period, Samuel Sewall often turns
to. these records of his grandsire's and
| brings TO mind the events of those months
| that cover the early scenes of the revolu-
in many respects, and made his records OF
| those events as he did those of his domestic
| affairs, having little thought that his grand
| son, after one hundred and twenty years
| would be able 10 prove what to many would
| be only conjecture. July Is Sunday read
the Declaration of lndependency."
| tbs the event of July 4, 1116 that we
| celebrate to-day, but the events of that
| date. one year earlier, and of the entire
transaction of revolutionary character
| We may have in mind when awe raise oul
| flags, fire our guns and make merry to-
| day.
wAsHINGToN's ORDERS.
On July 4. rs Washington was entering
upon his duties at Cambridge, as command
| er-in-chief of the army On the previou:
| day he had drawn his sword beneath The
| old elm on Cambridge Common, and begun
his remarkable record there. From genera
ORDERS July 4. 1775, we have the following
THE Continental Congress having nov
taken all the troops of the several colonies
| which have been raised, or which may here
after be raised for the support and defens,
of the liberties of America. into their pa,
and service. they are now the troops of tn,
United Provinces of North America" Thu
on that day. July T.. there was formali,
maize known the fact of the Continenta
| army, which was destined 10 make posssi
bic the event that we celebrate to-day.
| Let no one think that Fourth o
| July celebration was inaugurated at ono
or on tho first anniversary. Ii was not
day for public Convocation and joyful dem
onstration for some years. The people ha'
day which they were most faithful In 90
serving. IL was the 9Th of March, and ol
each anniversary of the Boston massacr
they had pubic Grafton; great crowds o
people gathered i'm Faneuil Hall or the Oh
South Meeting House 10 listen to the speak
ers Of the time. The last of these meeting
was in March, 17S3. AT this meeting the pal
of observing the anniversary of the Decla
carried. To James Otis. the presiding geniu
of our colonial revolution. may be credite
the thought of an Grafton on the 4th O
July II was the last public act OF tina
| brilliant man. He was the moderator of IN
massacre anniversary meeting. DIR. Thoma
| Welsh had given the Grafton, when the fol
| lowing action was taken.
| hn aI aI<r>- a.