USA > Illinois > The centennial of the state of Illinois. Report of the Centennial Commission > Part 3
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The fiftieth General Assembly appropriated to the Department of Public Works and Buildings, $100,000, to prepare plans and specifications for the Centenmal Memorial Building and created an advisory Centennial Building Commission consisting of the Director of Public Works and Buildings and the Governor, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives, Secretary of State and three members to be appointed by the Governor whose duty it shall be to determine the exact location of the building on the grounds, select and approve the plans and specifications for the building and have supervision over its construction. The act stated that the building will cost $$00,000, and appropriated $125,000, for expenses of plans and specifications.
The Fiftieth General Assembly made an appropriation to be- gin the erection of the Centennial Memorial Building on the beautiful plot of ground sonth of the State Capitol Building and the law making the appropriation stipulated that the laying of the cornerstone of the building be a part of the exercises of the Centennial celebration. The building will cost when completed about a million dollars and will be erected by the Department of Public Works and Buildings. The plans have been drawn by Mr. Edgar Martin, State Architect. The growth of the State's business has been so great that the Capitol Building is badly crowded and
37
IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES
room is needed for the proper housing and care of many depart- ments. It is expected that the Centennial Memorial Building will be beantiful and satisfying architecturally and artistically and will provide ample quarters for the State Department of Education, State Library, State Historical Library and Society, a worthy Lincoln Memorial Hali, the Natural History Museum, a safe de- pository for valuable records and house many other departments and boards. It will be an enduring monument of the completion of our first century of Statehood, one upon which the people of the State can look with pride for generations to come. The corner- stone of the present State Capitol was laid October 5, 1868, and thus when on October 5, 1918, we laid the cornerstone of our Cen- tennial Memorial Building, we celebrated the semi-centennial anni- versary of the present Capitol Building.
PAGEANT AND MASQUES
Mr. Wallace Rice, who was selected by the Illinois Centennial Connmission as official pageant writer for the centenary has said, "Whatever the forms assumed in modern times by pageants, such forms, in response to the inate desire in human nature for the dis- play of all the splendors humanity can command, are of the re- motest antiquity. Memorials of them are carved upon ancient Egyptian bassi rilievi, are shown in Grecian sculpture and persist in the triumphal arches of the Romans. Indeed it is not too much to say that no tribe of men has ever been found, however savage its state, which did not combine processions, dancing, songs and some form of histrionism for the better celebration of high events in its annals, whether religious or secular."
Another writer has said in substance: "Wherever men have been pioneers, blazed the way and struggled to carry forward civil- ization. Wherever victories for right have been achieved : where- ever by heroic action or by patient. enduring the great cause of human progress and human liberty has been nurtured, that ground is holy ground and the incidents there enacted are sacred, worthy of commemoration in pageantry."
And with this conception of the history and mission of page- antry the Centennial Commission from its organization began to
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ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
make plans to reproduce for the people of Illinois the wonderful story of the Prairie State by means of a pageant of historie truth and of poetic imagery and beauty, so presented as to visualize the stirring and momentous events in the life of our great comnon- wealth in such a way as to be unforgetable in the hearts and minds of those who behold it.
The Commission's choice of Mr. Rice as pageant writer was a happy one, the masques, pageants and poems which he wrote being worthy of their great theme and of the occasion. Mr. Frederick Bruegger was selected as pageant master to produce the official masques. Ile was assisted by Mrs. Bruegger in this work and through their conception of their work and their training of the actors in the masque, the Commission was able to realize in a large measure its hopes. The presentation of the Centennial Masque will mark an era in community effort in Illinois.
The masques, pageants and plays published by the Commis- sion include the following :
"The Pageant of the Ilinois Country," by Wallace Rice.
"The Masque of Illinois." by Mr. Rice.
"Six Little Plays for Children," by Mr. Rice.
"The Wonderful story of Illinois," by Grace Arlington Owen.
The Masque written by Mr. Rice was used by the Centennial Commission as the official Masque. And this was produced under the direction of the Committee on Pageaids and Masques of which Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber was chairman and Mr. George Pastield, Dr. Edward Bowe and Rey. Frederic Siedenburg were members.
The Masque portrayed in a series of beautiful scenes the thrilling history of the State. The music written especially for it by Mr. Edward C. Moore, was of special beauty and added greatly to the charm of the production. Some of the airs will live as long as the memory of the Masque endures.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bruegger, pageant ma-ters, great credit is due for the complete success of the production. The Sangamon County Centennial Association rendered valuable aid in selecting the cast and making many of the costumes and other arrangements which contributed to the success of the Masque.
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IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES
It is not possible to mention all who deserve credit. Mrs. Robert C. Lanphier and Mrs. Logan Hay were the Committee on Costumes and too much cannot be said in praise of their untiring efforts through which the charming choruses of young girls were gowned to be the Illinois company, the Trees, the Flowers, the Rivers and the Prairies whe always attended Illinois.
Mr. Clinton L. Conkling. Mr. Robert C. Lamphier, Mr. Robert W. Troxell, Mr. Ira M. Allen, Mr. R. A. Goest. Nr. Henry Helmle, Mrs. Philip Barton Warren, Mrs. V. Y. Dalhoan, Mrs. George Thomas Palmer and Miss Theresa Gorman of the Sangamon County Committees also greatly aided in the arrangements for the production.
It is, of course, needless to say that the Masque could not have been presented without hearty cooperation and great and earnest effort upon the part of the cast. It would be impossible to mention any considerable number of the more than a thousand persons of Springfield and central Illinois who took part in the Masque. All deserve commendation. It would, however, be unfair not to mention the work of Miss Florence Lowden who took the leading part, that of "Illinois," as this character was on the stage during the entire performance.
Miss Lowden committed to memory the words of the entire Masque. Not only was she letter perfect in her own part but she was able io assist other actors by prompting them in their lines if they showed evidence of confusion or forgetfulness.
Miss Lowden acted the part of "Illinois" with high apprecia- tion and dignity and her enunciation of the worls was excellent.
The first performance of the Masque was on the evening of August 26, 1918. the centenary of the promulgation of the Consti- tution of 1818. It was given in the Coliseum at the State Fair grounds. A very large stage was erected at the west end of the building and carpeted with green. Large trees and bushes were brought from the woods and the stage was made to represent an open space or prairie in a woodland glade. The effect was beauti- ful. In the second presentation of the Masque which occurred on October 4-5, the foliage of the trees and bushes was in the autumn colors.
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ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
The cast of more than one thousand persons was made up of all ages and classes of the people of Springfield and central Ihnois.
The various fraternal orders took part, churches and musical societies furnished choruses.
There were old, young and middle aged men and women. The chorus, "the children of Ilmiois? was given by a large num- ber of little folks from three to twelve years of age. All deserve praise from the National Commander of the G. A. R. who took a part in the Civil War episode to the tiny drummer boy of five years who marched proudly at his side.
The Masque was presented at Vandalia on September 26, by a cast made up of citizens of Vandalia and Fayette County. It was presented on an out-of-door stage and the effect was of great beauty.
The Centennial Masque will linger in the memory of those who witnessed it. It presented a moving picture of Illinois, from the days of the French Missionary priest and voyageur, through all the changing years of toil and sacrifice, of progress and triumph. It closes with the entrance of America and Illinois into the world war, joining with the allied nations of the world in the great struggle to make the world and our Illinois a safer and a happier place in which to live and labor.
"Ye who would learn the glory of your past and form a forecast of the things to be, "Give heed to this a mighty trumpet blast and see "Iler pictured life in p gentry."
PLANTING A CENTENNIAL TREE
An interesting little pageant was used in connection with the plan for the planting of a Centennial tree on Arbor Day, April 19. This was prepared by Ilon. Francis G. Blair, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and was sent to all of the schools in the State. As Arbor Day came on the day following the Contenmial of the adoption of the Enabling Act. pomitting Illinois to form a Con- stitution and organize a State government, the planting of this
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IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES
tree had special Centennial significance. It will stand as a memorial to the State's hundred years.
In his appeal for the planting of Centennial trees, Mr. Blair said :
"While at work with spade and ax cutting out undergrowth and transplanting some of it, a messenger arrived bringing the news of the birth of a nephew. A young, sturdy elm that had begun life on its own hook in an impossible sort of a place had just been taken up. Why not replant this elm in honor of the new-born 'boy? A place was chosen and the tree was planted. As soon as the lad was old enough to understand he was introduced to his twin, the elm. Now, as in the strength of his young man- hood he goes forth under the colors to fight in the world's greatest war for the world's greatest cause, that towering young elm takes on a new meaning.
"It may have been that incident which brought the suggestion of planting the Centennial tree. Be that as it may, believing that this year presents a rare occasion, I am recommending that every school in Illinois shall plant a Centennial tree. To make this ceremony more impressive, I have written and arranged the pro- gram of exercises as herein pre-ented."
THE LINCOLN-NEW SALEM PAGEANT
It is i ipossible to give more than passing notice to the many interesting presentations of Masques and Pageants in the various counties of the State.
The Director of the Centennial celebration in his report has mentioned many of them. It seems however, proper to mention the "Lincoln-New Salem Pageant" on account of the interest and pride felt by every one in all that concerns Illinois' foremost citizen.
The Pageant was presented at the site of the home of Mr. Lincoln's young manhood at New Salem, by the Old Salem-Lincoln League on September 2-3, 1018. A brief account of this celebra- tion seems appropriate.
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ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
The life of Abraham Lincoln at New Salem, where he resided from 1831-1831, was pictured in a pageant given there under the auspices of the Old Salem-Lincoln League on Monday and Tues- day, September 2-3. Replicas of the Lincoln and Berry store; the Rutledge Inn; some of the old log cabins and the reconstruc- tion of the roadl through the village, gave a touch of realism to the pageant which was enacted on New Salem Hill. People from all over Central Illinois and some visitors from a greater distance attended the pageant.
The League proposes to continue with the work of reconstruc- tion and intends eventually to have the entire village rebuilt as nearly as possible as it was when Lincoln lived there.
Many of the actors in the pageant were descendants of the Clarys, the Armstrongs, the Greenes, the Watkins, the Spears, and the Pratts, and other families who made up the citizenship of the village of New Salem when Lincoln kept store there. The pageant was given from four-thirty to six-thirty in the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday, and a barbecue, such as they had in Lincoln's day, was one of the features on Monday. Refreshments were served at the Rutledge Inn on both days.
The pageant was beautiful as well as instructive. It opened with a scene showing Mother Nature preparing for the events that were to take place. The first episode represents the arrival of Lincoln at New Salem in 1831. The flat-boat lodges at the dam and Denton Offut announces that he has decided to open a su . with the cargo in the flat-boat, and engages Lincoln to work as elerk .n the new store.
In the second episode, the scene is in September of the same year. The Clary's Grove boys arrive in the village to attend the autumn festivities and the famous wrestling match between Lin- coln and the champion of Clary's Grove occurs.
The third episode shows Lincoln leaving for the Black Hawk War in April, 1832. The Clary's Grove boys elect Lincoln as their captain and march away.
The scene of the fourth episode is on a Sunday morning in New Salem. Lincoln pleads his cause with Ann Rutledge. This is one of the most touching scenes. Ann Rutledge departs for college
.
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IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES
in Jacksonville and the scene ends with her death and the depar- ture of Lincoln for Springfield. There is an interlude in which the progress and prosperity of the State is shown by interpretative dances of peace and plenty. Then comes the fifth episode. It shows Lincoln's farewell to Illinois.
Another interlude follows and the pageant ends with the grief of New Salem over the death of Lineoln.
The pageant is followed by a masque in celebration of the Centennial of the State.
The pageant and masque were presented under the direction of Mrs. Florenee Magill Wallace.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report of the Illinois Centennial Commission, an account of the Jisbaisements of the fund appropriated for the Illinois Centennial Celebration by the Fiftieth General Assembly : Total appropriation by the Fiftieth General Assembly, $160,000.
This appropriation was made in a lump swo and this budget was arranged by the Centennial Commission for convenience and for an equitable division of the fund.
I. Publications
Budget. $30,000.00
Disburse- ments. $16,089.50
Balance. $13,910.50
II. Salaries.
Director's office
23.332.44
23,758.69
1,573.75
Office commission
8,390.00
7,457.24
912.76
$33,722.44
$31,235.93
$ 2,4$6.51
III. Expense Directors. Office-
Stationery and supplies
3,000.00
2,213.56
786.44
Equipment
1,000.00
788.28
211.79
graph
500.00
203.48
296.52
Postage and express.
5,000.00
3,425.55
1,574.45
Printing
5,500.00
5,444.30
55.70
Traveling expense
4,000.00
2,910.61
1,089.39
Contingent
1,000.00
163.16
836.84
$20,000.00
$15,118.94
$ 4,851.06
IV. Miscellaneous.
L'xpense Commission.
10,000.00
3,482 71
6,517.29
Poster
5,000.00
3,767.74
1,232.26
Writing and publishing music
0,000.00
2,127.09
872.91
Centennial banier
1 500.00
941.03
558.95
.
Expense official guests, etc.
10,000.00
1,634.89
8,365.11
Special publicity
3,000.00
2,29$.88
701 12
$22,500.00
$14,252.36
$15,247.64
1. Official Celebrations.
Dec. 3, 1317.
1.276.84
1,276 86
Treb. 12, 1918 ..
121.45
1:4.45
Apr. 18, 1918 ..
1,000.00
789.97
210.03
Kaskaskia, Ju'y 4, 1918
1,000 00
425 14
574.86
Centennial Fair
5,000.00
5,000.00
Aug. 26. 1918
4,500.00
1,427.61
72.39
Vandalia, Sept. 21-20, 1318 .
2.000,00
1,714 60
255.40
Oct. 5-6, 1918.
14,500.00
9,841 52
4,6,5.18
Dec. 3, 1918 ..
2.000.00
575.05
1,421.95
I'rizes and medals
Intern tional Live
Steek Show
500.00
Contingent
11,572.15
1,719.36
10.152.59
$43.777.36
$25,901.86
$17,875.70
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Telephone and tele-
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FINANCIAL REPORT
Tetal appropriation .$160,000.00
Total disbursements 102.628 59
Balance en hand June 17, 1919. $57,371.41
CONTRACTS AND ORDERS OUTSTANDING AGAINST THE BALANCE OF AP- PROPRIATION OF THE ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ON June 17, 1919.
Publication Fund
Original item in budget for publication fund. $30.000.00
Disbursements 16,089.50
Balance in fund. $13,910.50 There must be paid from this fund the contract with McClurg & Co , for the publication of the Centennial history, $11,500.00 ; the remainder of the fund will be entirely used by the expenses of tite work neces- sary to the completion of the volumes-editorial work, proof reading, final payment of authors and assistants, etc.
A contingent fund of $1.000.00 must also he allowed for the distribution of the Centennial history as the publication fund is not sufficient for this purpose. . 1.000.00
Total for the publication fund. $14,910.50
Expenses of Commission.
The Centennial Commission appropriated for the pre- paration, publication, distribution, etc., of the re- port of the Commission the sum of . .. 5,000.00
A contingent fund for the expenses of the Commission of $2,000.00 must he retained 2,000.00
Total for expeises of Commision. $7,000.00
21,910.50
* There are therefore. contracts and pledges against the Commis- sion, leaving a free cash balance on June 1", 1919, of .... $35,460.91
2 * When the final payment for the Centennial History was made it was found that on account of the changes in the price of labor, paper, etc .. the estimates hid been insufficient and the final balance paid into the State Treasury from the $160,000 appropriated to the Centennial Commission was $ 32,274.28.
Official Celebrations
OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS
By the term official celebrations is meant those which were held under the auspices of the Centennial Commission. The im- portant anniversaries of the centenary of the State were:
I. The one hundredth anniversary of the passage of the Aet of Congress, April 18, 1818, authorizing the Territory of Illinois to form a State Constitution and Government, called the Enabling Act.
II. The promulgation of the first State Constitution, August 26, 1818.
III. The organization of the State Goverment by the meeting of the First General Assembly, October 3, 1818, and the inauguration of the first Governor of the State. October 6, 1818.
IV. The formal admission of Illinois as a State of the Federal Union by Aet of Congress approved, December 3, 1818.
V. The Commission also observed December 3, 1917, the ninety-ninth anniversary of the admission of the State, the real beginning of the State Centennial.
The Commission decided that some official observance of the Centennial should be held in the towns which had been the capital cities of Illinois during her first century. Accordingly a celebration was held at Kaskaskia, or in the neighborhood of what remains of the historie little city which was once the metropolis of the Mississippi Valley.
VI. The citizens of Randolph County arranged for a celebra- tion on July 4 at Chester, and united with the Com- mission in an observance at the Pioneer Cemetery over- looking all that is left of historic Kaskaskia.
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ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
VII. An appropriate observance of the Centennial was held at Vandalia, September 24, 25, 26, by the citizens of Fayette County and Vandalia and the Centennial Com- mission.
VIII. The Birthday of Abraham Lincoln is of course observed each year by the Lincoln Centennial Association. In the Centennial year the Lincoln Association invited the Centennial Commission to cooperate with it, and the Commission gladly accepted the invitation and a most impressive observance was held under their joint auspices on Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, 1918.
These important historical anniversaries and historic towns were each fittingly commemorated. Governor Frank Q. Lowden gave to the Centennial observance earnest and unfailing support and encouragement. By timely official proelamations and eloquent orations he not only gave the stamp of his official approval to the Centennial observance, but through his papers and addresses he contributed largely to the history and literature of the Centenary of the State.
I. December 3, 1917, the ninety-ninth anniversary of the admission of the State Illinois into the Federal Union. II. February 12, 1918, the one hundred and ninth ami- versary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
III. April 18, 1918, the Centenary of the approval of the Act of Congress authorizing the Territory of Illinois to form a State Constitution and Government.
IV. July 4, 1918. Independence Day.
The one hundred and fortieth anniversary of the eapture of Kaskaskia and the Illinois Country by Colonel George Rogers Clark. Celebration at Chester and at the Pioneer Cemetery overlooking, from the hill, Kaskaskia Island, the reinnant of Old Kaskaskia.
V. August 26, 1918, the C'entenary of the promulgation of the Constitution of 1818, the first Constitution of the State of Illinois.
VI. September 25, 1918, official celebration at Vandalia, the second Capital of the State of Illinois.
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OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS
VII. October 5-6, 1918. The Centenary of the inauguration of the Government of the State of Illinois.
Laying the corner-stone of the Centennial Memorial Building.
Dedication of the statue of Abraham Lincoln.
Dedication of the statue of Stephen A. Douglas.
VITI. December 3, 1918. The Centenary of the approval by the President of the Act of Congress declaring Illinois a sovereign State of the American Union.
ILLINOIS DAY, DECEMBER 3, 1917
THE PROGRAM FOR THE EVENING
Music-Star Spangled Banner.
Invocation-Rev. Frederic Siedenburg, S. J., a member of the Centennial Commission.
Introduction of Governor Lowden, who presided-Doctor Oito L. Schmidt, Chairman, Illinois Centennial Commission.
Hon. Frank O. Lowden-The Illinois Centennial.
Hon. Lawrence Y. Sherman -- Illinois, the Frontier State.
*Hon. Charles S. Deneen-The Pioneer State.
Centennial Poem-Mr. Wallace Rice.
Hon. Joseph W. Fifer -- Illinois in the Civil War.
Hon. Edward F. Dunne-Illinois' Men of Eloquence.
Hon. Richard Yates-Illinois Today.
Music-Illinois.
OBSERVANCE OF THE NINETY-NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADMIS- SION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS INTO THE FEDERAL UNION.
The entrance of Illinois into its Centennial was observed in many places throughout the State.
At. Springfield the Illinois Centennial Commission, the Illi- nois State Historical Society, cooperating. held a most impressive observance.
In the afternoon a conference of representatives of local Centennial associations was held in the Senate Chamber at the State House, presided over by Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, chairman of the Centennial Commission. Addresses were made on topics of interest to these delegates, making suggestions for local cele- brations.
Fifty-eight counties were represented at the meeting. A Round Table discussion of plans by these representatives was an interesting feature of the afternoon session.
* Governor Deneen was at the last moment prevented by important busi- ness from being present.
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OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS
At five o'clock in the afternoon a reception was given by the Governor and Mrs. Lowden at the Executive Mansion, and hun- dreds availed themselves of this gracious invitation to pay their respects to the Centennial Governor of Illinois and his charming family as well as to visit the historic Mansion which has been the home of sixteen of Illinois' twenty-five Governors.
THIE ILLINOIS DAY BANQUET
More than four hundred guests attended the Illinois Day banquet at the Leland Hotel in the evening. It was one of the most delightful occasions of its kind ever held in the Capital of Illinois. Governor Frank O. Lowden presided and former Governors Joseph W. Filer, Richard Yates, and Edward F. Danne and United States Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman were speakers. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Frederic Siedenburg, S. J., a member of the Commission. Wallace Rice read an original poem, "Illinois and War."
In introducing Governor Lowden as toastmaster, Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, chairman of the Commission said:
"A hundred years ago in the last year of Illinois as a territory its course towards statehood was guided by men of sterling worth, men who proved themselves in the future to deserve their reputa- tion. Today, we are in a crisis greater than that of a hundred years ago. And now the State is guided by a man who has already proved himself a worthy successor to those who have preceded him and without question, will prove to us in the future that the people have not misplaced their confidence and the name of the Cen- tennial Governor-the War Governor, will shed new splendor upon the shining roll of Illinois' illustrious sons."
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