The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-04

uated Philadelphia. 1t was then returned to indie
%pendence Hall, where it was rehung in the belfry
on June q, 1778. This same church was converted
into a hospital for the sick and wounded of the
Revolutionary army during the entire time that
its membership kept their silent watch over the
hidden treasure. Allentown was then a thrifty lit
Tie town OF 200 inhabitants, located six miles north
OF Bethlehem on the banks of the -Lehigh river.
It's people were intensely loyal to the cause of the
Revolution, for % members of the congregation in
whose church the Liberty Bell was secreted served
as members of the Continental army. What a re-
sponsibility the consstory of that church assumed,
but John Griesemer, Nicholas Fox, Michael Koib.
John Miller and Peter Rhoads were patriotic and
God-fearing men who earnestly and courageously
assumed this sacred task"
Philadelphia Is busy getting ready for Its sesqui-
centennial celebration in 1926 by an international
exhibition. The old city hall or Supreme court
building, of a group of structures centered by In
dependence Hall and facing on Independence
square, was rededicated with appropriate cere-
monies in May. The restoration of this building
to its original form has just been completed as
part of the work of restoring the entire group
undertaken by the city of Philadelphia to perpetu-
ate the shrine of American independence.
The rededication of this building constitutes
the beginning of a series of historic celebrations,
eliminating in the celebration of the one hundred
and fftieth anniversary of the signing of the Dec
laration of independence through the sesquicen-
tennial exhibition in Philadelphia in 1926 in IL
lustration of the world progress in science, art and
industry since the centennial celebration of 1876.
The Supreme court building, sometimes called
the old city hall, was constructed much later than
Independence Hall, being begun in 1889 and fin
ished in 1871. 1t corresponds with the other build
lngs and appears as a wing extending to the Fifth
street corner of 'the row." 1t was intended to be
occupied by the municipal offices of the city of
Philadelphia, but, as the moment of completion
conceded with the transfer of the seat of federal
government from New York to Philadelphia, the
use of it was accorded to the Supreme court of the
United States. which held its sessions there con-
tinuously until 1900, when it removed to Washing
ton.
Philadelphia promises something new in the way
of international expositions. Its purpose is three
fold:
ITO mark the 150th anniversary of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence; to portray
the progress of the world particularly in the 80
yeas since the Centennial exhibition held In Phil
adelphia in 1876; to create a closer understand
ing and foster the goodwill of the peoples of the
world" s
The dominant aim will be ito interpret the spirit
of the Twentieth century and to reflect it in beau
ty and happiness. New methods and original fea-
lures will be developed, departing entirely from
previous expositions, except for their practical les
sons"
Two features at least will be new in information
al expositions: A vast Automobile Hall, designed
to portray the progress of the automotive indus
try and to present the greatest collection of the
most highly-perfected motor vehicles from every
part of the world a great Airplane Building with
an airdrome for exhibition purposes, demonstrat-
ing world achievement in the navigation of the air.
This also is promised 1.-THE motion picture will
be here upon a scale never before attempted, and
also the actual filming of scenarios, in which the
most noted motion-picture stars appear.
with Philadelphia's hallowed historic buildings
in the background, each days presentation of a
Al -saA-.o ill Ia ,aeofaoDI hr n GI.x
portraying the signing of the Declaration of indie
~pendence and the great events of the republic
that will stamp the lessons of American history
indelibly upon the minds of millions of people"