The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-22
WEBSTER PROVES
SEER OF PILGRIM
TER-CENTENARY
Governors Talk From Coast
to Coast. Fulfilling His
Prophecy.
SCENE Is DRAMATIC
Senator Lodge Quoting
Forecast Made 100 Years
Ago When Bell Rings.
COOLIDGE THRILLS CROWD
Chat Across Continent at Big
Meeting Was Coin
cidence.
COOLIDGE THRILLS CROWD

cldencc.
Special Despatch to TIE New YoRx HERALD
PLYMOUTH, Mass, Dec 21.-East
and West linked to-day TO honor the
memory OF the Pilgrim Fathers The
continent was spanned when Califor-
MIA and Massachusetts voices joined in
telephone tribute to the forefathers
OF the Nation A representative Of
Gov. Stephens OF California called up
Plymouth on the telephone and was
put in touch with Gov Coolidge OF
Massachusetts,.
The dramatic moment came when
Senator Lodge, orator OF the day, was
in the midst Of his Grafton in the Old
Colony Theatre at the Pilgrim tercen-
tenary celebration. He was quoting
from the peroration Of Daniel Web
ster's Grafton in 1920, when with the
unconscious prescience of orator and
seer, that genius was painting the
picture of the observance Il hundred
years hence, saying:
ION the morning of that day. though
II will not disturb us in our repose. the
voice of reclamation and gratitude, COM
mencing on the Rock OF Plymouth, shall
be transmitted through millions of the
sons of the Pilgrims till It lose itself in
the murmurs OF the Pacific seas"
Hardly had Senator Lodge uttered the
last words before the bell OF the tele-
phone on the stage began TO ring, and it
was announced that Gov William D.
Stephens of California was calling. Gov.
Coolidge, speaking through the tele-
phone, said: This is Governor Coolidge
Yes of Massachusetts. am sitting
in the chair OF Governor Bradford. I
wish to say to you. Governor Stephens.
that Massachusetts and Plymouth Rock
greet California and the Golden Gate.
The Sors OF Pilgrims, according to the
prophecy send the voice to you that
reaches even to the roar of the Pacific"
Pure Coincidence, Says Speaker.
The incident aroused prolonged APP
llause, which was renewed when Sem
ator Lodge sInilingly remarked. before
going on with the grafton:
at assure you that 1t was accidental
that II occurred Just at that moment"
The extraordinary character Of the
coincidence aroused comment which bids
fair to be the talk of the town for many
days.
Plymouth gave itself over to the cele-
bration. The day was holiday. with
the town in holiday attire; the schools
were closed and everybody that could
possibly go there was at the station to
welcome the distinguished guests
After outlining the early Struggle Of
the Pilgrims. Senator Lodge said
"That which now concerns Us most, as
IL seems 70 me, is first to know what
who thus influenced history and affected
the fat of Western civilization as they
fought for life and struggled forward
and suffered and died ON the spot they
called New Plymouth. Next. and more
important, we must consider Just what
they were. these Pilgrims. and what
meaning they had for our predecessors
and now have for us. Above all. let us
find out IL possible what lessons they
teach which will help us in the present
and aid US to meet the imperious future
ever knocking at the door. Nations
which neglect their past are not worthy
of future, and those which live exclu-
slvely upon their past have the marks
OF decadence stamped upon them.
1T is clearer than anything else to
those who look into Il with considerable
eyes that these men, the leaders espe-
cially, had profound consciousness that
they were engaged In a vastly greater
task than establishing a colony. They
felt In the depths of their being that
they were laying the foundation of an
empire-of a mighty nation"