USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Gloucester > The book of the three hundredth anniversary observance of the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at Cape Ann in 1623 and the fiftieth year of the incorporation of Gloucester as a city > Part 2
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On this spot, appropriately, was held the major portion of the Tercentenary exercises. It is peculiarly adapted for such purposes, with its elevated and gently rolling terrain, the frontage on the bay itself, with a magnificent escarpment of granite, being a natural amphitheatre especially adapted for pageantry and out- door festivities and gatherings.
On this field were erected some 15 tents for various purposes, the main auditorium having a capacity of 5000 people. This work devolved on Howard F. Corliss and a corps of competent workers and was efficiently accomplished.
CHAPTER II.
FINAL DETAILS FOR THE CELEBRATION ELABORATED-THE AUG- MENTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
A FTER the resignation of Mr. Tibbets an opinion was voiced that the program of the celebration be recast and the time curtailed.
Accordingly, March 30, 1923, it was voted to change the dates to August 16 to 18, inclusive. But it soon became obvious that . the life of the celebration would be imperiled from the resulting confusion. During the winter the publicity department had gotten out a series of broadsides which were distributed throughout the country, and various fish houses and other business concerns had been including, with large amounts of mailed matter, gratuitous ad- vertising, scheduling the original program and dates.
A substantial number of those appealed to replied that they were planning to be present. Accordingly, at a meeting of the executive committee, April 21, 1923, it was unanimously voted to return to the original schedule and dates of events. However, minor changes and substitutions were made up to the last day of the celebration.
In the program as carried out it was voted, at the very last, to eliminate three important features of the 250th anniversary ob- servance, the banquet, the anniversary ball and the art and loan exhibit, all of which did much to accentuate the social and financial success of the 1892 celebration.
The new and an outstanding feature was the Pageant, which at one time it was proposed to erase from the program, but which was carried through as an individual enterprise, with the moral support of the committee and as an integral part of the observance. The program as finally determined, was as follows :
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
New England Amateur Athletic Union Championship meet. Glouces- ter Athletic Field, Centennial Avenue 2.30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26
Religious Services at the Churches (morning)
Fishermen's Memorial Services at Park and Blynman Bridge 1.45 P.M. Concert and Community Singing at the Park 3.30 to 5.30 P.M.
6.30 P.M.
Carillon Concert
Reunion of visiting Sons and Daughters in tent at Park 7.30 P.M.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 27
Bonfire 12.01 A.M.
National Salute of 21 bombs at Park, also from ships
in harbor with ringing of bells
SUNRISE
Fishermen's Race 9.00 A.M.
Literary Exercises in tent at Park
3.30 P.M.
Exhibition by aeroplane carrier "Langley"
5 to 6 P.M.
Carillon Concert 6.30 P.M.
Grand Concert, under the direction of Prof. Geo. B. Stevens with Waino Band of 50 pieces, John Jacobson, leader, soloists and com- munity singing 7.30 to 9.30 P.M. Illumination of war vessels in harbor. Rainbow searchlight display
by ships of navy and coast guard 9.30 P.M.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28
Yacht Race in Gloucester Harbor 10.00 A.M.
Mayor's Luncheon 12.00 to 2.00 P.M.
Dedication of Proposed Permanent Memorial at Marine Park
10.30 A.M.
Civic, Military, Floats and Trades Parade 2.00 P.M.
Carillon Concert
6.30 P.M.
Pageant-Drama "Gloucester," Stage Fort Park
8.00 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29
Entertainments for children in tent at Park, Four Performances
11 A.M., 1, 6 and 7.30 P.M.
Decorated Automobile and Firemen's Parade
3.00 P.M.
Firemen's Exhibit at the Park
4.30 P.M.
Exhibition by aeroplane carrier "Langley"
5 to 6 P.M.
Baseball at Gloucester Athletic Field, Centennial Avenue
5.30 P.M.
Carillon Concert 6.30 P.M.
Band Concert at the Park, Harbor Illuminations, Searchlight
Exhibitions
8.00 P.M.
Fireworks at the Park
9.30 P.M.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
Carillon Concert 6.30 P.M.
Second presentation of Pageant-Drama "Gloucester," Stage Fort
Park
8.15 P.M.
Fisheries and Trade Exhibit at the Park during the entire celebration.
The augmented committee as it functioned, the nominee being the chairman of a sub-committee, was as follows :
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN
*HON. CHARLES H. BARRETT Invitations
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THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
TREASURER
*EDWARD DOLLIVER
SECRETARY
HAROLD H. PARSONS
EDWARD V. AMBLER HON. A. PIATT ANDREW MICHAEL ARMSTRONG DANIEL T. BABSON HENRY F. BROWN ALD. MARTHA N. BROOKS
DOROTHY BURNHAM
THOMAS J. CARROLL
HOWARD F. CORLISS
WILLIAM D. CORLISS MRS. ISAIAH W. EMERSON KENNETH J. FERGUSON FRANK H. GAFFNEY, Jr.
ALLEN F. GRANT JOHN H. GRIFFIN
HON. JOHN HAYS HAMMOND
TIMOTHY F. HOLLORAN
MRS. ANNA V. HYATT HUNTINGTON
RALPH P. IRELAND
WALTER C. KING, Esq.
WILLIAM E. KERR Absent Sons and Daughters HON. WILLIAM J. MACINNIS Mayor's Luncheon to Guests
HOMER R. MARCHANT
MRS. JOHN P. MELANSON
GEORGE FRYE MERRILL, Esq. WILLIAM MOORE
ALD. GILBERT W. O'NEIL
JOHN E. PARKER CHARLES T. HEBERLE
CARLETON H. PARSONS, Esq.
ALD. HENRY H. PARSONS MRS. NELLIE M. PARSONS
ALD. HARRY G. PEW
EZRA L. PHILLIPS N. CARLETON PHILLIPS COL. JOHN W. PRENTISS
*JAMES R. PRINGLE JOHN A. RADCLIFFE JONATHAN S. RAYMOND
Printing
Housing Reception of Guests, Illumination Seating Red Cross Publicity
Marking Historical Places Fisheries Exhibit Halls and Tents
Music and City Beautification Scout Activities Fishermen's Race Lighting Fireworks Grounds
Construction Work
Art Exhibit School Children in Parade Church, Sunday Services
Firemen's Day Decorative Autos
Sports Interesting Army, Navy & War Veterans Organizations Public Safety Trades Exhibit
Permanent Memorial
Historic Tableau in Parade Refreshments Decorations
Badges and Official Souvenirs Finance Pageant Parade Yacht Races
2 1: 0
GATHERING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CITIZENS AT "BLIGHTY" Home of Col. and Mrs. John Wing Prentiss, Eastern Point
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OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
*WILMOT A. REED
*CHARLES A. RUSSELL, Esq. ABBIE F. RUST
Press
Literary Exercises
Essays and Articles Relating to History and Awarding of Prizes Bell Ringing and Salute Transportation Choruses
CAPT. KENNETH B. SHUTE ANTOINE A. SILVA
PROF. GEORGE B. STEVENS
*CHARLES E. STORY
Interesting Secret Orders Children's Fetes
MRS. GUY S. SWETT CLIFFORD B. TERRY, Esq. HON. JOHN THOMAS
Publication History Celebration Meeting Summer People
ALLEN J. TUCKER
MRS. CLARA H. WASS
Community and Social Organizations
*HON. PERCY W. WHEELER
* Connected with Committees of the 250th Anniversary of In- corporation Observance in August, 1892.
Among the last-minute changes was that placing the athletic program the Saturday prior to the announced beginning of the celebration. In order to preserve a requisite perspective, the nar- ration of the events of the observance, to begin in the next chapter, will follow the program as first planned.
CHAPTER III
SUNDAY OBSERVANCES-SERMONS AT THE CHURCHES-PRAISE AND COMMUNITY SINGING AT THE PARK-CARILLON CONCERT-REUNION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE CAPE
TT WAS the devout custom of the Founders of New England to begin the observance of an event of importance with prayer. It therefore was fitting that the Sabbath of the Tercentenary should be devoted to religious exercises.
Accordingly special historical sermons were delivered in the various churches. Large congregations were present, including many sons and daughters, returning for the occasion, who once more worshipped at ancestral altars.
These will be presented as far as possible, in the chronologi- cal order of the coming of the church or denomination to Cape Ann.
As the Dorchester Colony was distinctly that of the Puritan branch of the Established Church the sermon of the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, of this city, is given at this time.
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Historical Sermon by Rev. Joseph H. C. Cooper
Note-Rev. Joseph H. C. Cooper was born in England and on the completion of his theological studies in 1891 came to America and entered the Methodist ministry. In 1907 he was received into the Episcopal communion and in 1908 was ordained rector of St. John's Episcopal church of this city.
Ezra III: 11, 12, 13-"And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people."
As a part of the celebration of Gloucester's 300th Anniversary,
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the committee which is managing the affair, has asked the ministers of the city to make this the subject of their sermon today, and, in so doing, to speak of the part their respective denominations have played in the life and history of Gloucester. It is in response to this request that I ask your thought upon this passage, which gives us the pic- ture of a great rejoicing, but one which aroused also a reminiscent mood in the minds of some of those present. Briefly, let me remind you of the occasion: The people had been carried into captivity and their temple, that erected by Solomon, had been destroyed. But with a change of rulers, when Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, a com- pany of these exiles, led by Ezra, were permitted to return and under- take the re-building of the Temple. The day came when the founda- tion was completed, and this was made a great occasion, attended with impressive ceremonial. At the moment when the ceremony was completed, the people rent the air with a great shout bcause the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid.
But some of the people were aged, who remembered the old Temple. Strangers in a strange land, they had been for long. But though they had grown old, they had not forgotten. And now recollections crowded in on them. Their eyes looked, but they saw not the present scene, but far back into other years. The thoughts and associations surged into their minds till a mist rose over the present. And when, now, they were startled from dreamland by the great shout of joy, the fountains of their deeps were broken up and they wept with a loud voice.
Now we, today, do not celebrate a new achievement erected upon the ruins of an old. This great gala week is not a rejoicing over the establishing of a new on the ruins of an old, some ruthless hand had wrought. And yet, it seems to me that, in thoughtful minds, there will be a similar mingling of emotions as we celebrate our 300th Anniversary.
Paramount, standing high above all, will be that of joy, for we have much to rejoice over. We rejoice that the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded, and that it proved, not a sporadic undertaking, but, through the grit and determination of the founders, grew into the mighty people, the great industry, the broad and liberal education and culture, the sterling integrity and devoutness of character that became New England, and which has reached out, not its tentacles of destruction, but its roots and fibers of life and strength across this vast continent. And we, Episcopalians may take pride that it was in the mind of an Episcopal clergyman that the plan was born of found- ing a colony and this same man's enthusiasm and effort which carried it through. Since we have been requested to speak of the part our respective religious organizations have played in the history and life of Gloucester, may we not take just pride in this fact? We cheerfully recognize the large place that Independency has filled in the growth and development of New England, including our own Cape Ann, but may not we Episcopalians take a particular pleasure in re- membering at this time that it was in the womb of the great
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THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
Mother-Church of the English-speaking races that this colony was born, and that from her breasts was drawn the first spiritual susten- ance of a people destined to become great? For our historians tell us that, "A Massachusetts colony was established and financed through the efforts of the Rev. John White, Rector of St. Peter's Church in Dorchester, England," and that "The first notice we have of any religious services were those conducted by Rev. John Lyford, another presbyter of the English church, and that the services un- doubtedly were those prescribed by that book which stands next to the English Bible in the love and reverence of millions of English- speaking people the world over, the English Book of Common Prayer."
I say the Mother-Church of the English-speaking races, and a glorious mother she has been in conception and bearing, though not always wise in training and disciplining her offspring. Hence the Puritan movement, born of the Church and which might have been fostered and guided by the church to her own good, became a Separa- tist movement, and resulted in the establishment of Independency,- even as the Methodist movement, which might have injected new life into the sluggish veins of the decadent Church of the 18th Century, was allowed to wander-nay, was driven-from the mother-home, to become the great Methodist Communion which God has unquestionably blessed to the good of the world. Abundantly justified was Macauley's arraignment of the English Church in the contrast he drew between her policy and that of the Church of Rome, and which is summed up in this one sentence of his: "Place Ignatius Loyola at Oxford, and he is certain to become the head of a formidable secession. Place John Wesley at Rome, and he is certain to be made the first General of a new Society devoted to the interests and the honor of the Church."
So, I say, we Episcopalians on the occasion of this 300th Anni- versary partake of these mingled emotions, which are depicted in the scene our Scripture draws. We join in the shout of joy of this day and week because it was our Mother Church which conceived and bore the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and which first directed the souls of those men in the worship of the Maker. But with the shout of joy is mingled the wail of sadness, because this mother, (who, out of her spiritual vitality, stood for spiritual liberty in the conference under Augustine's Oak with Gregory's emissary in the Magna Charta, and at last in the Reformation) was unable to keep within the home these very children of spiritual liberty to which she had given birth. And, so, after this first notice, no more is heard of the Episcopal Church on Cape Ann for nearly 250 years. And when, in 1861, a few souls, knowing and longing for the Liturgy and Sacraments of the Episcopal Church, began to worship in Magnolia Hall according to the "Book of Common Prayer," the fact was regarded by the un- instructed multitude as the attempt to establish another sect, one which didn't know whether it was Catholic or Protestant, which simply didn't know what it was; with the result that for nearly 50 years the Episcopal Church had a difficult task to take root and
HON. WILLIAM J. MacINNIS Mayor 1923-24
EDWARD DOLLIVER City Treasurer Treasurer 250th Anniversary Commit- tee 1892, Treasurer 300th Anniversary Committee ALLEN F. GRANT City Clerk and Clerk of the Municipal Council, Chairman Committee on Fire- works
MARTHA N. BROOKS Alderman
HARRY G. PEW
Alderman
and Chairman Refreshment
Committee
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OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
grow in this soil which had had the exclusive cultivation of In- dependency for nearly 250 years.
But again the shoutings of joy rise above the sound of weeping, for during the last two decades the Episcopal Church in Gloucester has steadily grown in members, in material, wealth and equipment, and, what is more important than these, as a spiritual force in the life of the community. And on this great anniversary, we Churchmen, as we join with our fellow-citizens in making glad recognition of the occasion, may "thank God and take courage" because our beloved Church has taken, and is growingly taking its place in the religious forces of our famous old city, and is becoming better understood as a living branch of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, standing for the "Faith once delivered to the saints," and at the same time a stalwart defender of that spiritual "liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free."
But having, as requested by the Committee, spoken of the place of the Episcopal Church in the history and life of Gloucester, it would of course, be a very imperfect notice of this great anniversary oc- casion to stop here, and would betoken a very self-centered state of mind. The larger significance fills our horizon today, and in com- mon with our fellow-citizens we are celebrating the anniversary of the founding of our community, which has grown to be this famous old city by the sea.
Now, in attempting, in a very humble way, to do this, there are a hundred things which crowd before the mind, all of which are in themselves of the greatest interest. To speak of these is out of the question at such a time and in such a place as this. So, from many things which justly deserve our serious thought during this anniversary week, I have selected just one-one which kindles, as we think of it, the mingled emotions which are pictured in this passage of Scripture. It is one which would always, necessarily, be thought of in any notice of our City's history and life, and perhaps is peculiarly fitting to mention today in view of the service which is to be held this afternoon. I am thinking, of course, of Gloucester's great fishing industry and the great toll of sorrow and suffering and life this industry has exacted.
It has been said by someone that, "Almost as soon as we reach the stage where we can look back, the past takes on one color. It seems to be woven together and becomes all of a piece. We localize the past in one or two characteristic scenes as we do with the scenery of a country. Our memory is selective. Scotland to the American tourists means Edinburgh and the Trossachs; Switzerland means the Matterhorn and one or two selected scenes. On looking back the past becomes stationary by an illusion and is like the waterfall seen from afar, which in Wordsworth's fine phrase, becomes 'frozen by distance.' "
This is a fine thought and a true thought of this writer. So, when we think of Gloucester's past, we think of its fishing industry, and alongside it comes the thought of the toll it has exacted of
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THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
sacrifice and life. And the thought brings the same mingling of contrary emotions which those ancient Hebrews knew when the foundation of their new temple was laid. We take "joy" in thinking of Gloucester as making its chief enterprise the furnishing of food, cooperating with the Great Good God and Father in providing for the needs of His children. How different our feelings would be were we celebrating some anniversary of an Essen whose brain and brawn have so largely been given to the manufacturing of implements whose purpose was the destruction of life as well as of property. We take pride in the type of man it has developed-simple, un- affected, unselfish, courageous, sacrificing, reaching often to that very pinnacle our Lord speaks of -"Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his brother." For what tales of heroism, surrendering life to save others, does the history of the fishermen of Gloucester hold! And out of that same unselfishness, that same courage, that same readiness to sacrifice self, the response of Gloucester's men to the call of their country in the hour of danger makes one of the brightest chapters in the history of this city by the sea. Her roll of honor, from Revolutionary days, is one of which we can be justly proud.
And so our celebrating at this time hears, as this celebration of the Temple's founding heard, the shoutings of joy. And yet, even as then, the emotion of rejoicing mingles with another of a soberer kind; for the thought of the many, who, in the pursuit of this noble industry, have sailed away never to come back, of the wives who have waited in vain for the homecoming of their husbands, of the children who have been left fatherless, of the watchings, the anxieties, the heartaches and the heartbreaks that have run through the pursuit of fishing, back through these 300 years, makes our rejoicing to mingle with sadder thoughts and feelings. That service which will be held this afternoon, when flowers will be cast on the receding waters which are the grave of so many of these brave men, has been held for years past, and its need existed every year before in Gloucester's history.
In concluding this address, let me say, I hope I am pardoned for introducing this note of sadness. Some may think, perhaps, that only the "shout of joy" should be heard during this great anniversary oc- casion. Well, perhaps only the shoutings of joy should have been heard when the foundation of the Temple was completed. And yet we find it easy, surely, to forgive those whose eyes were moistened with tears as memories of former days were quickened into life.
But joy must be the dominant note with us, as it was the dominant note of that occasion. For we have much to rejoice over. Our celebration has a splendid significance, based on splendid mem- ories, and prophesying a splendid future. As the Greeks were ac- customed to gather on the battlefield of Plataea and gather inspira- tion from the memory of that great victory, so we, this week, shall stand in places where scenes were enacted and deeds done of historic and history-making import. In speech and pageant, in song and story, we are to be reminded of the fathers who founded and built up
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OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
what at length became this city of Gloucester. May something of their spirit of holy adventure, of quenchless courage, of the ability to endure and suffer for a worthy cause, descend upon us, that Glouces- ter, the whole life of our city, shall be finer, stronger, purer, nobler, as the result of this celebration of this 300th Anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN CHURCH
The Anniversary address at the historic First Parish Church was delivered by Rev. Adelbert Lothrop Hudson, preacher and director of Public Worship at the First Parish Church of Dor- chester, who mentioned in opening the coincidence that Rev. John White of Dorchester, England, who sent out the settlers who landed in Gloucester Harbor, in 1623, also organized the com- pany who sailed in the "Mary and John" in 1630, and landed in Dorchester Bay, founding there the community which later came to be known as the city of Dorchester and the old church on Meeting House Hill. He referred to the disputed question whether any of the original group remained to take part in the organization of the Town of Gloucester in 1642, and said the question of continuance was of minor importance compared with the fact that they began here three centuries ago the movement which led to the permanent founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which has made so large a contribution to the development of New England and later to American democracy.
He said that the place of Gloucester and New England in the shaping of American history was not dependent on a few great names but rather on the sturdy character of the rank and file of the common people. In this connection he said it was a significant fact that in three decisive wars the Navy of the United States had drawn its strength so largely from the brave and seasoned men who from generation to generation had sailed out of Gloucester Harbor to face the dangers of fog and storm on the Grand Banks and who had well earned the title of "Captains Courageous."
He then turned to consider present conditions, the world craving for peace and democracy, and the difficulty in restoring confidence to a distracted and disordered world. Permanent peace, the success of democracy and the onward progress of civilization depended, he said, upon the development among the masses of the people of intelligence, integrity, reasonable free-
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THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
dom from class prejudice, and mutual regard for the common welfare.
Discussing the motive power which could develop these con- ditions in the daily lives of the people he contended that the only power which could accomplish so great and desirable a change in existing conditions was to restore the neglected factor of religion as a vital force in every day life, the actual contact of the two great commandments in the daily lives of the common people.
The influence of such an anniversary as this, he said, would go far to aid in the present tendency toward vitalizing the power of religion freed from the hindrances of materialism on the one hand, and ancient creed and dogma on the other. This day will give added impetus to the effort to realize the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God.
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