The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23
new ETHICAL CULTURE HOME.
DR.. FELIX ADLER LAYS THE COR.
DERSTONE or THE SCHOOL.
The Mayer There 10 Take Part in the Cere.
mony - IN Old Friend and - an
O@ctal-History Of the Movement
Founded by Dr. Adler, and Its Objects.

me Mayor Inope 70 Teke Pert IN tne zero |
mony - IN Old Friend and as an
Omctal-History Of the Movement
Founded BY Or. Adler. and Its Objects.
The cornerstone OF the new building Of
the Society for Ethical Culture. which
when completed is to occupy the entire
block on Central Park West from Sixty
third to Sixty-fourth street, was laid yes
t,rday in the presence Of some 1900 spec
tators by Prof. Felix Adler. the founder
Of the society. The ceremonies we're elab-
crate, music being furnished by Samuel
Frankos orchestra. the members OF the
Arion Society and the children's chorus
Of the Ethical Culture schools.
The spectators sat In . large stand which
had been erected at the Sixty-third street
corner Of the lot which is to be the site Of
the new building. julius J. Frank opened
the gathering with a few Introductory
remarks. after which Mayor Low was in
troduced. The Mayor said in part:
There are both public and private reasons
Why 1t IL a singular pleasure for me to be
here to-day. More than thirty years ago
DR.. Adler, the founder OF these schools. and
myself were graduated from Columbia Col
lego in the same class. We were friends
then and have been ever since. Our lots
have since fallen In somewhat different lines.
but like to think that each OF us In his way
has striven In kindred spirit Tor the social
betternent OF New York
Tho career OF my friend has been to me
always a source OF inspiration and courage.
and ] am glad to be here to-day to congratu-
late him on this occasion. that means
much for the schools he founded and has
nutured.
But there are public reasons as we'll why
the Mayor OF New York city should be present
on this occasion. II is the glory of these
schools TO have been the first to introduce
the kinder garten and to prescribe manual
training as an important element In school
instruction. ! congratulate DR.. Adler and
all associated with him upon what they have
already done, and | fully believe the large
work this building makes possible justifes
their hopes for the future. | am sure the
spirit Of the founder will continue to work
through these schools for the social better
ment Of New York.
Superintendent Of Schools William II
Maxwell followed the Mayor with a short
address. He said that since his first visit,
twenty years ago. to DR.. Adler's schools
they had been an inspiration 10 him and
that his first visit was sufficient to let into
his mind flood Of light on the educational
situation. Continuing. he said
The Ethical Culture schools have consist
emily stood for lis end ~ education-to
bring what Is best in art. In literature, IN
science. In institutions. 10 bear on tie life
OF the cl,ild. to the end that each genera
iOn sosiaI scale + is insttuton has stood
nature knowledge becomes power only
The great body OF citizens. wfo are taxed
90 heavily for tie support OF pubic educa-
OF the public money for making educational
experiments. And yet progress comes only
throuE, experiment. We must look to
ideas, new met DDS and new systems. when
you Ave proved that thing Is valuable.
We will adopt it II We can.
After the Arion Society had given some
music Jacob II. Schif spoke. He said
in part;
tho efforts made and the results attained BY,
he compare yely speakin". handful Of men
Quarter of a century under the leadership
Of one whom we proudly name amonG our
the Ethical SSi.ur .nf in " ,h Gts
The seed the~, men and woo en- have sown
h, taken roo, IN nN direction. nnd ,c
le~sl" initieting the work and performing the
deed, which Is destined TO grow into an ex-
here to-day to join in these ceremonies Of
tn" lavinR Of . CONVERSION" intSnt'd for the
the school. OF the Ethical Culture Society
r. Fulton Cutting spoke briefly. saying
that the community owed to institutions
like the ethical culture schools a profound
obligation for their work in making the
true citizen. After Mr.. Cuttings speech
Culture Society presented to DR.. Adler
the mallet and silver trowel DR., Adler
was greeted with cheers when he rose to
speak. He said in part;
Tho City of New York is at present ex-
papding into almost unimarinabt' splendor
Oar be ~
nifcsnce. on what ground doe. a mere school
that all this magnlfcence is empty dross
unless a noble spirit and purpose be create
Ethical training. without which intel
lectual training IS peril rather than benc-
educational system. This school while doing
careful justice, to all the ordinary branches
Science and art makes it its spoc1 ob j@,n TO-
aid In solving the problem Of unsectarian
mSEs ,tU, and an sbSnd
ground for, the children Of all classes. as well
that a class school is an evil for the rich as
well as for the poor. tending TO widen the
hss sea sHa
tSqouss p !fter lie We Ss"ys tha, the 10 c Iii.
educated only with members of their own
class, are deprived Of one OF the most valuable
lessons which education can g We; namely
the lesson OF overlooking the artificial and
meretricious distinctions that divide men
from one another, and OF learning TO respect
rnanllness. merit and worth whether IL appear
In tho soN Of tho artisan y" h1rko'
This school Il, and Is intended always to be
4 common school, excluding only the ib-
normal. whether they be the degenerate rich
or the degraded poor, but including those
OF large az we'll as of humble fortune. just
as II Includes Catholics, Protestants and
Jews The school Is desi med to be a school
for good citizenship, We wish to inspire
our pupils with the enthusiasm OF social
service but wish especially to attach
them TO their city and to the commonwealth
We wish to connect a kind OF sacred feelin
with the idea OF the State: We wish to inculcatt
the doctrine that the duties to the State
whether they consist in the payment of taxes
Guard or In whatever capacity. should moi
be shirked or grudnely and reluctantly per
formed
We wish to inculcate that the patriot il
citizen should feel himself called upon e
sacrifice for his country not only on the ficlC
OF battle or on critical occa sions, but day b,
day In subordinatinG hS private interest
TO the public good We Wish to exalt In tn,
minds of our pupils the conception of III,
public good. And while We teach them tina
the elevation OF the masses OF mankind t.
fairer conditions and ulster share in tn
goods OF this world Is the burning question
this GOAL must be- pursued within the lin II
set by the eternal laws Of rirht, and that
can b. securely attained only by strenuou
restrict ion to those limits,