Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-03
tsNtNEAtttAti.ttN.ttl

he prevailed upon Governor Hutchin-
son to yield and withdraw the regi-
mentS.
1t was here, too, that on November
29, 1913, 5000 citizens gathered together
and resolved that tea should not be
landed, and on December 16, 1878, 1000
citizens crowded the meeting house long
after candle light listening to orations
by Josiah Quincy, jr., and Samuel .
Adams, while messenger after messen-
ger went to get redress of the COVER
nor at Milton When the loyaist dig
nitary finally refused, the warwhoop
was raised about the doors of the
church and a band of prominent citi-
zens, disguised as painted savages, led
the way to the harbor for the destruc-
ton of the offensive tea.
Another great town meeting that sat
in the church on June q, 1774, was
worked upon by Tories, who sought to
sway it in the interest of Gen. Gage
and the Boston port bill, thus rebuk-
ing the committee of correspondence
and nipping in the bud the project for
continental congress. The assembly
lasted for two days and ended in the
triumph of the patriots and the sus-
tanning of the committee. Otherwise
the course of American history might
have been very different.
Here, once more, the memorial ora
massacre. Three months before Gen.
Joseph Warren was killed at Banker
Hill he delivered his celebrated second
grafton, entering through the window
at the rear of the pulpit because the
aisles and steps were filled with British
soldiery and officers.
The pews and pulpit now on view in
the church are later in construction
than 1776, for the good reason that
while the British occupied Boston a
riding school for his troops was estab-
lished by General Burgoyne, the pews
and pulpit being torn away and broken
up. When General Washington made
his triumphal entry in March, 1776. he
entered the building and looked down
from the eastern gallery on a scene of
desolation.
Since the Revolution time has brought
vicissitudes. The congregation which
formerly worshiped in the Old South
meeting house has moved to the new
Old South church in a more fashion
able district. The great fire of 1872
spared the historic structure. but for a
long time funds were lacking for it's
support. When in 1879 commercalism
threatened to tear it down altogether
and erect an office building in its room
all that was best in literary and artistic
Boston rose in protest. The Old South
fair, held to raise money for the pres
ervation of the meeting house, is still
remembered as one of the greatest
social happenings of the New England
metropolis in the nineteenth century.
On the walls are still seen the auto
graph verses written for the occasion
by Whittier, Holmes, Longfellow, Jean
Ingelow, Aldrich and score of other
famous poets. and illustrated by the
best artists whom America at that time
claimed.
From further dangers the Old South
is now well protected. Indeed, with
recent safeguarding the famous meet
ing house should be saved for many
generations of the sightseers to whom
the historic association of Boston are
it's great attraction. 1t has very lately
been equipped with system of 400
sprinklers as protection against dam
age by fire. In particular the spire,
which being Of wood is the part most
exposed to danger, has been thoroughly
attended to. Up to within fifteen feet
of the gilded vane have been installed
the sprinklers which in case of menace
from flames, either in the structure be-
low or among the neighboring build
ings, will let down copious streams of
an extinguishing fluid for the protec-
tion of all the sides of the spire and
belfry
Safeguarded thus above, the con-
struction Of the new supports beneath
the tower and the Washington street
side of the building in the interest of
the Elevated company's rapid transit
system, Of which Bostonians are so
proud. will give fresh sense of security
to the association which has the build
ing in care, and to the millions of
Americans who regard the Old South as
one of Uncle Sans most priceless
| treasures,
oS