The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-06-23
JAMES H. WILBUR FORMALLY
PRESENTS IRA ALLEN STATUE
Unyeiling Of Statue Forms Leading
Feature Of the 1921 Commencement
Exercises at 4. v. NJ.

Ira Allen. the founder of the Uni
verEity Of Vermont and recognized as
the chief spirit In the founding Of the
State Of Vermont, now formally oceu-
pies IN bronze statue the place Of hon
or on the campus Of the University,
the statue replacing that Of General
Lafayette In the center Of the campus.
The dedication exercises at the unyeil-
ing Saturday morning were most Inn
prcssiye and we're attended by an un-
usually large gathering.
The exercises opened at 1890
o'clock In the morning, President Guy
W. Bailey presiding. On the platform
erected for the occasion at the left Of
the statue, there sat with President
Bailey, many notable persons, inelud-
ing Eugene N Foss, 81, ex-governor
OF Massachusetts; Governor James
Hartness Of Vermont; James Benja-
min Wilbur Of Manchester, donor Of
the statue TO the University; the Hon.
Darwin p. Kingsley, 81, LID, Of
New York City, the orator Of the day;
Miss Sarah Allen, granddaughter OF
lraNAllen; the Rev. Joseph Reynolds,
chaplain of the day. Colonel Edgar A.
Sirmyer, tommandant at Fort Ethan
Allen; Mayor j. Holmes Jackson Of
Burlington; Deans Pearl Randall
Wasson, G. II. Perkins, J. w. VoteyI
and J. L. Hills, and members Of the
board Of trustees.
The background Of the platform
was made up Of portrait Of General
Ira Allen in the center, with the
American flag on the right and the
Vermont State flag on the left, which,
against the green Of the foliage, made
a very attractiee picture.
The platform faced the west and
the audience occupied tiers Of seats
arranged from the statue about half
way to Prospect street in a semi
circle.
The ceremony opened with music
by Lessons orchestra, followed by
prayer by the chaplain. A hymn, 20
God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand" was
sung. +. ]. Beaupre Of Burlington,
led in all Of the singing.
James B. Wilbur Presents Statue
Then came the presentation Of the
statue to the University by its donor.
James Benjamin Wilbur of Manches-
ter. Mr.. Wilbur was greeted with
great applause. He said:
"Mr. President and Trustees Of the
University Of Vermont:
Tn presenting to you, as ! now do,
this beautiful statue Of Ira Allen, the
founder Of your great University, may
II not also be accepted as a gift to the
people Of this State; for is il not your
desire to have the people Of this State
enjoy every facility and privilege pos
sessed by you and feel that this Uni
versity was founded for them and
theirs
where in these United States, can
the citizens Of State, and the citizens
of the principal city in that State, and
the trustees. alumni and students Of
the State University, pay tribute to
one man who founded them all
There is not a man or woman here,
/ am sure, but would feel as | do, that
II is a great privilege to present this
statue, IL he were as familiar as | am,
with his early struggles and the great
and unselfish service rendered by him
to found this State, that we are all so
proud 10 claim as either our birthplace
or our home.
"His was a life Of activity. ] have
never read Of any man who led more
active life from boyhod to the close
OF his life. than he did. When We read
the records Of those eventful years IN
the history Of Vermont from IT'S TO
1855 and learn what he did during
that period. we can but marvel at II
and IL il was not recorded and eerti-
fed to by others, We would not believe
it possible.
"His was the guiding hand at every
crisis and during that period every
day brought some new difficulty TO
overcome. In State matters, he show
ed the same ingenuity and persistence
that he had shown in the five proceed
ing years in opening up this wilder
ness In his description Of his early
struggles, when writing Of his cutting
a road through 10 this beautiful city
in IT'S. when Chittenden and others
came Up here and bought land that he
had surveyed and helped them select,
he says. Thus in s short time, ! led a
people through a wilderness q 20
niles. about the same distance that
took Moses 20 years TO conduct the
children Of Israel
@And again, referring to the year
i77s. when he was only p years old.
be writes.
Then ambition, vigOr Of youth