Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-07-15
PILGRIM MEMORIAL,
Erection of Giant Cross at Marsh
field Hills, Mass, Proposed.
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-
sary of the landing of the pilgrims is
proposed for 1920 by Alvin A. Vinal,
who is a descendant Of the pilgrims,
n 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
Mills, Massachusetts, where he is
resident for the celebration, which he
thinks would be good for Boston as
well as Plymouth, since it would at
tract visitors from all over the world
Trinity hills" he says, "are 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 nayies 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 commemo-
ration OF this great anniversary cele-
bratiOn | propose a 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 ana 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 cross. Mr..
Ninal 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
pealiug from its tower the anthems of
the pilgrims. \ great white stone.
the only one of its kind known, typical
of the event, should be the pulpit Oh
which will rest the baptismal 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 q water tower
supplying the exhibition. On tha pll-
teau will rise the great hotel and yOo1
garden built hy gifts from the hotels
of the world, th, Puritan building do,
mated by New England families and
containing their exhibits. a great rcli-
gioUS museum contributed to 10y ali
the world and built by the county Of
Plymouth, a great electrical plant built
SO as to make Il great lake, damm,n,
North river and giving great water
power such as such an exhibition will
Nrequire. On the lake win be enacted
daily the parting, sailing and landing
| of the pilgrims in a ship representing
| the MayAower."
It is proposed by Mr. Vinal That the
cross, to cost $1Oo00OO or m..c. ac-
cordiug to the response, be built by
contributions of 50 each from the
churches OF the world, souvenir gold
cross being issued to each contribu-
tor To ministers n cross with a dia.
moud In the center at $2J each will be
issued. For contributions to the eX
penseS of the exhibition he suggests
the golden book of honor, great
subscription book, in which the names
OF givers of $1,000 or more will be re
corded; the five million book in
which the names of all giving So will
be recorded. each TO receive a passable
dollar coined by the government as its
gift to the exhibition; the golden roll
framed roll recording the gifts of
those who give 100000 to the exhibi~
ton" An admission fee of % cents
will be charged to enter the cross.
\ great religious pilgrim revival to
eliminate In the celebration of 1920 is
finally suggested by Mr.. Ninal. Let
the committees of the ministers of al
denominations" he says, "inaugurate
the continuance of the present rcvivals
and the 1915 movement into 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,
the greatest monument ever erected il
the world Let all Christians wea.
these badges as acknowledgment of
the alliance that the power of Chris
tlan lives may be carried everywher.
and upheld openly"
Finally Mr.. Ninal suggests the for
nation of committee of hundre,
representative citizens to meet for ar
rangement Ut the details at the Plym-
p11th Marnnrit1 aburcb ~ nost,r, In, hu