Evening star., 1943-07-04
Bv John Clagett Proctor.

TO the average oldtimer, John Adams
idea Of Fourth Of July celebration was
q correct one, and it was such . one as
many q veteran will recall as having
often occurred during his childhood
days.
Indeed, the second President was one
Of the most enthusiastic workers for the
Declaration of independence, and the
one who led the debate in its support,
and when this great measure was
adopted, he wrote to his wife in these
glowing words:
This will be the most memorable
epoch in the history of America; cele-
brated by descending generations as the
great anniversary festival. commence
rated as the day of deliverance, by
solemn act Of devotion to God Almighty,
solenanized with pomps, shows, games,
sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illumina-
tions from one end Of the continent to
the other. from this time forward, for
ever"
An Eternal Ubiquity.'
And a no more impressive sentence
was ever spoken than the one pro-
nounced by Ralph Waldo Emerson, in an
address delivered in Boston during the
Civil War. Referring to contemptu-
Gus characterization of the Declaration
by a certain political speaker, he said:
1--WE have been told that the Declaration
of independence is a glittering gener-
ality; 1t is an eternal ubiquity."
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts,,
legislator and statesman, said of this
precious document:
"The Declaration of independence has
q supremacy grander than that OF the
Constitution. more sacred and inviol-
able, for 1t gives the law to the Consti-
tuition. Every word in the Constitution
Is subordinate to the Declaration. The
Declaration precedes the Constitution IN
time as It is more elevated in character.
The Constitution is an earthly body, II
you please; the Declaration OF 1nde-
pendence is the very soul itself"
Churches Do Honor.
Even the churches Of Washington,
century ago, were foremost In celebrat-
ing July 4th, which at times included
call at the White House, which they did
on President Polk in 1S45, when, accord
ing to the press Of that period, "The
Rev. John c. Smith, pastor Of the Fourth
PRESBYTERIAN Church, with Its Sunday
school came and were welcomed. The
next independence Day came the
Methodists The Foundry Sunday School
came at o'clock while the President was
at dinner.
The dinner cooled while the President
listened to the prepared program with
apparent interest. He in his diary does
not say If he had resumed his meal when
at 5 o'clock came another Methodist
Sunday school, which he listened to and
addressed as the other.
Again in 1348, DR. Smith with the
Presbyterian children came again. The
President met them between and 10
in the morning The doctor told the
President that the information that he,
the President, had voluntarily decided
to retire from political preferment, i'm
pelled them to come, and he mentioned
the previous visit The President re-
plled ne pleasantly TeIHeLnpeTeu t1e PIC.
vious visit and he was pleased that they
had made a return call. 1t was the
morning of the day for the laying Of the
cornerstone Of the Washington Monu-
ment. The cabinet was to meet at the
Executive Mansion at 10 o'clock as all
its members did. The President was not
only indisposed, but he had the appoint
nent with the cabinet as stated to line
up for the procession. Under the cir
cumstances to receive the Sunday school
is an illustration Of Mr. Polk's wonderful
kindness"
The press also records the call made
upon President Zachary Taylor on In
dependence Day, 1s49, by the E Street