Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-18
PILGRIM MEMORIAL,
Erection of Giant Cross at Marsh
field Hills, Mass, Proposed. a.
GREATEST OF MONUMENTS.

bration Of Three Hundredth Ami
versary Of Landing of the Pilgrims.
Grand Electric Display and Search
light Planned.
A "historical and moral ,celebra-
ton" Of the three hundredth anniver-
rary of the landing Of the pilgrims is
proposed for 1920 by Alvin A. Vinal,
who is a descendant of the pilgrims,
member of the Pilgrim society and
former member Of the Society OF May
flower Descendants. In plans which
he has prepared for the event Mr.. VI
nal suggests the heights Of Marshfield
hills, Massachusetts, where he Is "A
resident, for the celebration, which he
thinks would be good for Boston as
we'll as Plymouth, since it would at
! tract visitors from all over the world
Trinity hills" he says, fare the high
est land in Plymouth county, overlook
ing all the pilgrim land and bay from
Cape Cod to Boston. Miles out at sea
and inland the exposition buildings
would show to enticing advantage,
, especially to shipping passing in and
out Of Boston. An electrical display is
one Of the great charms of modern ex-
positions, and buildings on these great
elevations in one blaze Of glory at
night would be one of the greatest
sights ever witnessed. On the bay It,
self the navies Of the world could meet
and view the whole exhibition. Here
are great springs, guaranteeing the
purest water supply, with ample river
power for the electric display and
power for the exposition. Two great
lakes can easily be made, and there
are wooded groves for park purposes.
Among other features in commence
ration of this great anniversary cele-
bration I propose great monumental
permanent cross Of stone and steel, the
tallest in the world, to stand for all
time and be the great feature OF the
exhibition. From the top and arms
will be the grand lookout over the Pill
grim land and water Of Massachusetts
bay, to which the people will come for
all time. The cross will be one blaze
of electricity, making at night the
most sublime display ever witnessed.
When surmounted by the largest
searchlight its beauty and meaning
would be impressed forever on passen-
gers on the foreign steamships passing
to and from Boston"
The grounds Of the exhibition are to
be laid out in the form Of a cross. MI,
Vinal also suggests the erection on one
Of the hills by the churches OF the
world of a permanent church OF stone
containing the largest meeting room In
the world to be devoted to historical
meetings and addresses by the great
revivalists, preachers and lecturers OF
the world" with '..great chime bells
pealing from its tower the anthems OF
the pilgrims. A great white stone,
the only one Of it's kind known, typical
of the event, should be the pulpit on
which will rest the baptfsmal basin, to
be the baptismal tank, for here thou
sands will desire to be baptized into
the larger life.
"On another hill will be the greatest
wireless station and water tower
supplying the exhibition. On the p1a-
teau will rise the great hotel and roof
garden built by gifts from the hotels
of the world, the Puritan building do
mated by New England families and
containing their exhibits, great reli-
gious museum contributed to by all
the world and built by the. county OF
Plymouth, great electrical plant built
so as to make a great lake, damming
North river and giving great water
power such as such an exhibition will
require. On the lake will be enacted
daily the parting, sailing and landing
of the pilgrims in ship representing
the Mayflower."
| It is proposed by Mr.. Vinal that the
cross, to cost 100000 or more, &C.
cording to the response, be built by
| contributions of SIS each from the
churches of the world, souvenir gold
cross being issued to each contrtbu-
tor. To ministers a. cross with dia'
mond in the center at $25 each will be
issued. For contributions to the ex-
penses Of the exhibition he suggests
"the golden book Of honor,Ia great
subscription book, In which the names
OF givers Of $1,000 or more will be re-
corded; the i've million book, In
which the names Of all giving IS will
be recorded, each to receive passable
dollar coined by the government as It's
Gift to the exhibition; the golden roll,
a framed roll recording the gifts Of
those who give 100000 to the exhibi-
ton" An admission fee Of 70 cents
will be cha. ged to enter the cross.
A great religious pilgrim revival to
eliminate in the celebration Of 1920 Is
finally suggested by Mr.. Vinal. Let
the committees Of the ministers OF all
denominations" he says, "inaugurate
the continuance Of the present revivals
and the 1915 movement into q great
revival and let all pastors everywhere
urge their congregations to become
members of the church and possessors
Of the little crosses Of gold which are
to be issued only to church members
who aid by their purchase the build
ing OF the memorial anniversary cross,