The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-05-04

weaithS." was observed most appropriate
~ this afternoon at tho Mathewson
street church. under the auspices OF the
Rhode Island Citizens Historical associa-
tfon.
II was the first public celebration of
that historically important event. when
Rhode Island took her stand as the lead
er I'm the movement among the l3 colonies
10 throw of the yoke OF King George
OF England: and the suggestion OF this
celebra ton originated with James n. Ar
mold. a lineal descendant OF the man who
penned the declaration OF independence and
was ,one OF the most prominent leaders in
the agitation that led 10 it's adoption.
The church was filled this afternoon by
q gathering thoroughly representative OF
the best citzenshop OF the state, includ-
ing former Governors Sprague. Bourn.
Brown Dyer. Kimball and Garvin. Gov
ernor Utter. and members OF the Daugh-
ters OF the Revolution. OF the Colonial
Danes and OF the Rhode Island Historical
society. as we'll as many members OF the
general assembly.
The declaration OF freedom and inde-
pendence OF English rule was adopted by
the general assembly OF the Colony of
Rhode Island on May 4. l776. just two
months before the Continental congress
adopted its declaration, with only six dis
senting votes: and feature OF this after
original act OF the assembly. which was
listened to with close attention.
The exercises opened shortly after 5
o'clock. President Thomas w. Bicknell of
the Rhode sland Citizens Historical as
socfation presiding.
Led by Bowen X. Church. cornetist.
with Miss Florence r. AmAs at the or
gan. the whole assemblage sang the One
Hundredth Psalm. after which Rev.
Henry NJ. King. -. d.. offered prayer.
The gathering then sang America :"
and President Bicknell delivered the OPEN
ing address. substantially as follows:
Liberty, fraternity, equality are the
matchless words OF inspiration in the
progress of the race. Men possessed OF
ana by these ideals have made history
and themselves immortal for all recorded
history n the deep channeling made by
the currents OF great ideal and world
controlling action. Washington Frank
LIN and Lincoln in America, williams and
Greene and Ellery in Rhode Island. and
their illustrious compatriots In the worlds
work have wrought these magnificent
'oeais INTO law. society, government, the
state. the church.
For nearly three centuries. Rhode ISL
ana mas been history maker along the
INES OF these universal ideals The men
VINO laid the foundations OF our state
brought heritage OF freedom from tho
OLD world, which was inwrought In their
very being and which they transmitted to
their descendants. unimpaired; the ai,
tney oreathed, the life they lived was
cnsrsec with the vital principle OF lib
erty, Of thought. OF speech. OF social or
Ger. OF civil and religious freedom
Ihe frst act OF legislation was that of
the popular majority ruled. each for him.
self and for ALL Such men could not be
hero-worshippers for every man wa. n
hero and every woman a heroine as was
George Fox at Newport and Mary Dye,
at Boston
The present was too closely crowded
with opportunities and possibilities to al
low room for past achievements. The
wreater future has always stood for more
10 Rhode Islander than the irredeema-
bie past. To such people Hero worship
1s myth. and sacred days "A cunningiy
devised fable
While our sister Commonwealth. Mas
sachusetts. has crowned Plymouth Rock
and Boston and Bunker Hill and Concord
and Lexington with durable monuments
OF marble and granite and has set
statues Of her heroes on the street corners
OF her capital and In every town village
and hamlet. our only statuary heroes are
Williams and Doyle and Burnside. the
exponents of religious liberty. civic vIr-
tue. and military patriotism.
Overwhelmed by our individualistic en-
terprfse and by our unprecedented COM
mercfaiism, we have almost forgotten to
remember the great names OF those who
drew charter OF government. which
stood the test or nearly two centuries OF
political changes unamended. We have
quite forgotten the men who planted
town governments on the unassailable
principles OF home-rule. which in la
ter years we have so sadly juggled with.
And do we recall today the clear vi
zion that patriotic Rhode islanders were
the hrst 10 resist the Stamp Act OF the
motherland: that she was among the
hrst 10 adopt articles OF Colonial Confed-
Grafton and the last TO reIlnquish them:
that We were the first 20 meet and van
ouish royalty on the seas I'm the capture
and destruction OF the British sloop OF
war Gaspee: that this colony was the
nrst 10 propose 10 the Continental Cen
gress naval armament for the Colonies
and that the first hostile naval shot on
the British flag was fired on Narrngan-
sett Bay; that Rhode Island first proposed
the Continental navy and that Esck Hop
kins, native of this colony, was it's
frrt admiral: and today. one hundred an
thirty years after the great act OF In
dependence was passed we meet 10 cele-
brate the birth OF the oldest sovereign
state on the American continent
Fcf the urrt tlfne since May 4 l1If.
when In the old state house In Providence
the patriotic-legislators of this then col.
ony OF Rhode Island pledged their lives.
their fortunes. and their sacred honor
for sweet liberty and Independence. has
the act abolishing colonial allegiance 20
Great Britain been read in a public as
sembly; for the first time, have grateful
thanks been raised or the wings off prayer
20 Almighty God for our great resolve and
providential deliverance: and for the first
time has an orator OF state or nation de-
ciared 70 mankind the primacy OF Rhode
Island among the free commemorative OF
the Western world
In this presence-a most remarkable
end unique assembly-represen OF
all our varied and complex life--the
honorable executive OF our noble state.
surrounded by honorable past executives.
including the distinguished war governor
of Rhode Island az their senior and dean.
snd Of honorable women not few-prcsl-
dents. governors. regents past and pres
ut. state and city ofrciafs ludres Of our