USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Semi-centennial of the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, 1896 > Part 2
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Press and Printing .- Edgar J. Knowlton, Arthur E. Clarke, Herbert W. East-
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
man, E. J. Burnham, O. H. A. Chamberlen, William E. Moore, Thomas H. Tuson, J. Arthur Williams, Gustav Langer, Edward P. Morrill, Nate M. Kellogg, M. W. Hazeltine, Martin J. Dillon, Joseph E. Marier, G. Edward Bernier, O. D. Kimball.
Athletics, Amateur .- Dana M. Evans, Carl Foerster, Charles T. Allen, Frank W. Garland, E. H. Chadbourne, Walter E. Gay, Walter S. Noyes, Lewis W. Crockett, Walter G. Berry, N. S. Bean, Jr., Frank E. Martin.
Athletics, Professional .- Richard J. Barry, N. P. Colby, Charles W. Eager, Edward C. Smith, John F. Looney, Alex Ferson, Timothy A. Sullivan, Murdock A. Weathers, T. F. Lynch, Garrett W. Cotter, Joseph N. St. Germain.
Entertainment of National Guard and United States Cavalry .- Col. Harry B. Cilley, Maj. E. H. Knight, Capt. M. R. Maynard, Capt. David Wadsworth, W. D. Ladd, Capt. Harry E. Parker.
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CITY OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES, SEPT., 1896.
MAYOR. HON. WILLIAM C. CLARKE.
CLERK. TREASURER.
NATHAN P. KIDDER. FRED L. ALLEN.
TAX COLLECTOR. GEORGE E. MORRILL.
AUDITOR. SOLICITOR. ENGINEER.
JAMES E. DODGE. EDWIN F. JONES. WINFRED H. BENNETT.
PHYSICIAN.
MESSENGER.
FREDERICK PERKINS.
JOHN A. BARKER.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
GARDNER K. BROWNING. HOWARD C. HOLT.
JOHANN A. GRAF.
GEORGE E. HEATH.
RICHARD J. BARRY. CHRISTIAN L. WOLF.
GEORGE W. REED.
FRANK H. LIBBEY. FRANK T. PROVOST.
COMMON COUNCIL.
JOHN T. GOTT, President. GEORGE L. STEARNS, Clerk.
WARD ONE. WARD FOUR.
CHARLES E. BLANCHARD. GEORGE H. PHINNEY.
WILLIAM WATTS. GEORGE E. RICHARDS.
CARL E. RYDIN. JULES DESCHENES.
WARD TIVO.
EBEN CARR. OSSIAN D. KNOX. JOHN A. LINDQUIST.
WARD FIVE. WILLIAM J. ALLEN. MICHAEL R. SULLIVAN.
DANIEL A. MURPHY.
WARD SEVEN. NORRIS P. COLBY. SAMUEL F. DAVIS. ROBERT MORROW.
WARD EIGHT. EDWARD F. SCHEER. JOHN W. WILSON. WILLIAM R. BLAKELY.
WARD THREE. WILLIAM F. ELLIOTT. CLARENCE E. ROSE. JOSEPH O. TREMBLAY.
WARD SIX.
JOHN T. GOTT. CHARLES HAZEN. B. FRANK WELCH.
WARD NINE. JOHN GILDARD. STEPHEN P. MARTEL. RICHARD F. SCHINDLER.
ASSESSORS.
HENRY LEWIS. JOHN E. STEARNS. DAVID O. FURNALD.
HARRISON D. LORD. GEORGE F. SHEEHAN. GEORGE H. DUDLEY.
WILLIAM T. ROWELL. EUGENE W. BRIGHAM. JULIUS WIESNER.
Howard C. Holt. Gardner K. Browning.
Frank H. Libbey.
Geo. E. Heath.
Richard J. Barry.
City Clerk N. P. Kidder.
Geo. W. Reed.
Mayor W. C. Clarke.
Christian L. Wolf.
Johann A Graf.
Frank T. Provost.
BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, 1896,
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STREET AND PARK DEPARTMENT.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WILLIAM C. CLARKE, ex-officio Chairman.
JOHN T. GOTT, ex-officio.
GEORGE D. TOWNE, M. D., Vice-Chairman.
EDWARD B. WOODBURY, Clerk.
WILLIAM E. BUCK, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
CURTIS W. DAVIS, Truant Officer.
WALTER B. HEATH. HARRY I. DODGE. CHARLES M. FLOYD.
ELLIOTT C. LAMBERT. HERBERT E. RICHARDSON. NATHANIEL L. COLBY.
JAMES P. SLATTERY. GEORGE D. TOWNE. JOSIAH G. DEARBORN.
HARRY J. WOODS. LOUIS E. PHELPS. LUTHER C. BALDWIN.
AUGUSTUS P. HORNE.
FRED W. PILLSBURY. ROBERT E. WALSH.
CHARLES H. MANNING. EDWARD B. WOODBURY. JEREMIAH J. SULLIVAN.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ISAAC L. HEATH, Justice.
COURT. GEORGE W. PRESCOTT, Special Justice. JOHN C. BICKFORD, Clerk.
COMMISSIONERS.
HARRY E. LOVEREN, Chairman. NOAH S. CLARK, Clerk. FRANK P. CARPENTER.
OFFICERS.
MICHAEL J. HEALY, Chief of Police.
JOHN F. CASSIDY, Deputy Chief of Police.
THOMAS E. STEELE, Sergeant.
LEVI J. PROCTOR, Captain of Night Watch.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ENGINEERS.
THOMAS W. LANE, Chief. RUEL G. MANNING.
CLARENCE R. MERRILL.
FRED S. BEAN. EUGENE S. WHITNEY. FRED S. BEAN, Clerk.
STREET AND PARK DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONERS.
H. P. SIMPSON, Chairman. GEORGE H. STEARNS, Clerk. BYRON WORTHEN. JULIA F. STEARNS, Assistant Clerk.
JOHN C. RAY.
AGENTS. MARK E. HARVEY. DANIEL H. DICKEY.
GEORGE H. PENNIMAN. LESTER C. PAIGE.
GEORGE W. CHENEY.
BYRON E. MOORE.
CHARLES FRANCIS. EUGENE G. LIBBEY.
GEORGE P. AMES.
JOHN FULLERTON, Superintendent of Commons.
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
CHARLES H. MANNING. HENRY CHANDLER. W. C. CLARKE, ex-officio.
ANDREW C. WALLACE. HARRY E. PARKER. ALPHEUS GAY, Chairman.
ALPHEUS GAY.
CHARLES T. MEANS. HENRY CHANDLER, Clerk.
WATER WORKS.
CHARLES K. WALKER, Superintendent. ARTHUR E. STEARNS, Clerk.
TRUSTEES OF CITY LIBRARY.
FRANK P. CARPENTER. WALTER M. PARKER. CHARLES D. MCDUFFIE.
NATHAN P. HUNT. ISAAC W. SMITH. W. C. CLARKE, ex-officio.
HERMAN F. STRAW. MOODY CURRIER. JOHN T. GOTT, ex-officio.
LIBRARIAN .. KATE E. SANBORN.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
ALPHEUS GAY. FRED L. ALLEN. GEORGE H. STEARNS.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
CLARENCE W. DOWNING, M. D., Pres. HERBERT S. CLOUGH, Sanitary Inspector. WILLIAM K. ROBBINS, Secretary. JOHN F. LOONEY, Sanitary Inspector.
WILLIAM J. STARR. RICHARD J. BARRY, Plumbing Inspector.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
WILLIAM C. CLARKE, ex-officio Chairman. WILLIAM H. MAXWELL, Clerk. WILLIAM H. MAXWELL. GEORGE S. HOLMES.
WILLIAM MARSHALL.
THOMAS L. QUIMBY. PATRICK COSTELLO. CHARLES S. MCKEAN.
BENJAMIN F. GARLAND. CHARLES FRANCIS.
MOISE BESSETTE.
CITY FARM.
EUGENE G. LIBBEY, Superintendent. MRS. EUGENE G. LIBBEY, Matron.
CITY WEIGHER.
ASA B. EATON.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
HARRY E. BLANCHARD.
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TRUSTEES OF CEMETERY FUNDS.
INSPECTORS OF CHECK LISTS.
GEORGE C. KEMP.
SAMUEL J. LORD.
JOHN A. FOSTER.
CHARLES B. TUCKER.
PATRICK E. DALY. CHARLES C. TINKHAM.
WILLIAM B. COREY.
ALBERT J. PEASLEE.
JOHN B. BOURQUE.
INSPECTORS.
MILK. EDWARD C. SMITH. PETROLEUM.
JOHN CAYZER.
JOSEPH B. BARIL.
TRUSTEES OF CEMETERIES.
EDWIN F. JONES, JOHN P. YOUNG, four years. JOHN F. FROST, WILLIAM H. HUSE, three years. JOHN L. SANBORN, BUSHROD W. HILL, two years. STILLMAN P. CANNON, JAMES E. BAILEY, one year. BYRON A. STEARNS, Superintendent Pine Grove Cemetery. CHARLES H. G. Foss, Superintendent Valley Cemetery.
JAMES E. BAILEY, Superintendent Amoskeag Cemetery. FRED L. ALLEN, Clerk.
TRUSTEES OF CEMETERY FUNDS.
HON. WILLIAM C. CLARKE, ex-officio Chairman.
HON. CHARLES H. BARTLETT, Clerk. OTIS BARTON.
22
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
RAISING THE FUNDS.
Realizing that a proper observance of the celebration befitting the enterprise and public spirit of the Queen City would require the expenditure of more money than that appropriated by the city, with the official sanction of the legislature, the finance committee was immediately called together by Hon. Charles H. Bartlett, chair- man, and vigorous efforts were begun to raise at least $5,000 by popular subscription. Those who were active in the work of solicitation were Chairman Bartlett, James W. Hill, Fred N. Cheney, Frank W. Fitts, Clarence M. Edgerly, P. D. Harrison, Charles C. Hayes, Frank W. Leeman, Alfred Quimby, Frank P. Johnson, Horace Marshall, L. B. Bodwell, Herbert S. Clough, G. Allen Putnam, Eugene Quirin, Walter M. Fulton, A. J. Precourt, N. J. Whalen, Smith Dodge, George F. Bosher, Allen N. Clapp, Frank A. Dockham, and J. B. Estey.
In a sum short time a aggregating $5,290.75 had been subscribed by public- spirited corporations, firms, and citizens, to whom a large share of the praise for the success of the celebration is due. This handsome sum, added to the $2,000 appropriated by the city, HERBERT S. CLOUGH. paid all bills and a balance of $300 was left in the hands of the treasurer. To Herbert S. Clough belongs the credit of securing the largest amount upon his book,-a little over $1,000. The finance committee chose Herbert W. Eastman treasurer, with authority to pay all bills after proper approval by an executive committee from each committee.
THE PROGRAM OUTLINED.
The general committee, under the efficient chairmanship of Mayor Clarke, soon got the preliminary arrangements under way, and in June the general program was decided as follows:
Sunday, September 6. Services in the city churches and mass meeting in the evening.
Monday, September 7. Military and civic parade and laying of the corner-stone of Weston Observatory.
Tuesday, September 8. Literary exercises and athletic sports.
Wednesday, September 9. School exercises and industrial parade and review of fire department.
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THE MINISTERS ORGANIZE.
THE MINISTERS ORGANIZE.
On the suggestion of Mayor Clarke to the churches to co-operate in the celebra- tion of the Semi-Centennial of the city, a meeting of all clergymen was called at city hall Monday, June 22, at 11.30 A. M. The attendance was large and representative. Rev. William H. Morrison was elected chairman and Rev. F. S. Bacon secretary. On invitation, Mayor Clarke outlined the general plan of exercises for the week, and proffered the use of the tent in the Straw grounds, and the use of a band for a union service on Sunday evening. After full discussion of the matter, the Rev. W. C. McAllester, D. D., of the First Baptist church; Rev. C. W. Rowley, Ph. D., of St. Paul's M. E. church, and Rev. B. W. Lockhart, D. D., of the Franklin-street Congregational church were appointed an executive committee to make all necessary arrangements.
- The committee nominated Rev. William J. Tucker, D. D., president of Dart- mouth College, as speaker of the evening; E. T. Baldwin leader of music, and Rev. W. H. Morrison as chairman of the evening.
Assessments were made upon the various churches to meet the expenses of the occasion.
CIC
MANCHESTER BOARD OF TRADE ROOMS. HEADQUARTERS OF COMMITTEES.
MOSKEAG
FALLS
E.A.ST
THE- KENNARD
SOLDIERS MONUMENT
VIEW OF THE MILLS
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
September 6, 7, 8, 9, 1896
GENERAL COMMITTEE :
Mayor WM. C. CLARKE, Chairman.
Invitations and Reception, P. C. CHENEY.
Literary Exercises MOODY CURRIER. Finance, CHARLES H. BARTLETT. Parade, ANDREW BENTON
. School Exercises, WM. E. BUCK. Dand Music, JOSEPH QUIRIN. Oki Residents' Association. WARREN HARVEY ..
Entertainment Grand Lodge of Masons, GEORGE J. MCALLISTER.
Carriages, Entertainment, etc. I. T. GOTT. Derorations, FRANK P. KIMIBALL.
Industrial Exhibit, R. J. BURNHAM.
Press and Printing. E. J. KNOWLTON. Amateur Athletics, DANA EVANS. Professional Athletics, R. J. BARRY. Entertainment N. II. N. G. and U. S. Cavalry, HARRY B. CILLEY.
HERBERT W. EASTMAN, Secretary.
Manchester, N. H., Aug. 15, 1896.
The city of Manchester will celebrate the semi-centennial of its incorporation as a city. Sept. 6, 7, 8, and 9, 1896, and ber citizens cordially invite you, together with your family and friends, to be present at the commemorative exercises.
SiTV HALL
ArxDAY. SEPT. B. Commemorative services in all city churches. Address at 7 p. m. by Rev. William J. Tucker. D. D., president of Dartmouth College. Moxbay, NEPT. 7. Grand parade at 11 a. m., and laying of corner stone of Wexton Observatory. Trasnav, SEPT. 8. Anniversary exercises at 2 p. D., and athletic sports all day.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9. Children's day, and merchants' parade at 2 p. m. Band concerts and bicycle parades Monday and Tuesday evenings. Free industrial exhibition during the week.
¥
SUB-COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS :
P. C. CHENEY, Ex-Officio.
WML. C. CLARKE, Chairman. RT. REV. D. M. BRADLEY. CHAS. H. BARTLETT. GEO. B. CHANDLER.
Alderman F. T. PROVOST. Alderman t. L. WOLF Councilman O. D. KNOX. Councilman WM. WATTS.
THE OFFICIAL INVITATION.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
RELIGIOUS EXERCISES
SUNDAY, SEPT. 6, 1896.
The Semi-Centennial celebration opened on Sunday, September 6, with special services, appropriate to the golden jubilee, in all the city churches in the morning, the pastors preaching sermons of an historical nature.
Special invitations were extended by Rt. Rev. Denis M. Bradley and Rev. C. W. Rowley to members of the city government to attend services at St. Joseph's cathe- dral and St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church.
The day was marked by a downpour of rain, but, notwithstanding, the church services were well attended, and proved an interesting and fitting inaugural of the great celebration.
The subjects at the various churches Sunday morning were as follows:
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rt. Rev. D. M. Bradley .- "Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of the land, for it is the year of jubilee. Every one shall return to his possession and every one shall return to his former family."
St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. C. W. Rowley .- "Our churches and our city."
First Unitarian Church, Rev. Charles J. Staples .- "The soul of a city's greatness." .
Franklin-street Congregational Church, Rev. B. W. Lockhart .- "A half century of theological progress."
First Congregational Church, Rev. T. Eaton Clapp .- "The elements of stability in the higher life of the city."
Merrimack-street Baptist Church, Rev. N. L. Colby .- "And seek the peace of the city and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."
First Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. W. C. McAllester .- "A citizen of no mean city." Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. T. M. Davies .- "Citizenship, its advan- tages, its perils, and responsibilities."
First Christian Church, Rev. M. W. Borthwick .- "The church and the city."
Universalist Church, Rev. W. H. Morrison .- "When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth."
St. James Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. C. U. Dunning .- "Methodism in Manchester."
Swedish Lutheran Church, Rev. A. Carlsson .- Historical sermon from St. John v: 1, 14.
People's Tabernacle, Rev. F. S. Bacon .- "The divine inspection of cities."
Grace Episcopal Church, Rev. H. E. Cooke .- Historical sermon relating to the parish.
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
St. Anne's Church, Rev. J. J. Lyons .- Special historical services eulogistic of Rev. William MacDonald, first Catholic priest of Manchester.
First Methodist Church, Rev. William Woods .- Historical services by pastor and former pastors.
First Free Baptist Church, Rev. O. D. Patch .- "The church and. state."
At other churches, both Protestant and Catholic, the pastors referred to the Semi-Centennial in an interesting and patriotic manner.
SUNDAY MASS MEETING.
The union religious mass meeting, in the mammoth tent erected on the Straw grounds, on Sunday evening, was attended by nearly four thousand people. A competent corps of ushers, in charge of Mr. James F. Howe, seated the audience.
Rev. William H. Morrison of the Universalist church was president of the evening, and Mr. E. T. Baldwin musical director.
Seated upon the platform were Hon. William C. Clarke, mayor of Manchester; Rev. W. H. Morrison, chairman; Rev. William J. Tucker, D. D., orator of the evening; Rev. B. W. Lockhart, D. D., Rev. W. C. McAllester, D. D., Rev. O. D. Patch, Rev. M. W. Borthwick, Rev. Henry E. Cooke, Rev. C. J. Staples, Rev. E. Jay Cooke, Rev. C. W. Rowley, Ph. D., Rev. T. Eaton Clapp, D. D., Rev. Ira Taggart, Rev. N. L. Colby, Rev. C. U. Dunning, D. D., Rev. Thomas A. Dorion, Rev. T. M. Davies, Rev. J. W. Bean of Kingston, Rev. William A. Loyne, formerly of St. James M. E. church; Rev. J. M. Bean of Raymond, Rev. Francis S. Bacon, Rev. Claudius Byrne of Lawrence, formerly of this city; Rev. A. Carlsson, Rev. William Woods, and Rev. Thomas Borden, formerly of the Universalist church.
In opening, Rev. Mr. Morrison said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen of Manchester :- In behalf of all the churches of the city I bid you welcome to our meeting this evening. We have different churches and we love them, but they have grown up together under the sheltering wing of this city, and it is indeed appropriate that on this, the opening day of Manchester's golden jubilee, we come together in this tent and on this platform to join in a service which shall be a fitting prelude to the celebration of the morrow."
After a voluntary by the First Regiment Band, Mayor Clarke was introduced and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen :- Among the first thoughts associated with the inception of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Manchester's incorporation as a city were those of the churches and schools, with which no city in the land is more blessed and grandly equipped than Manchester. The church and the schoolhouse have con- tributed more to the success and character of this commuinty than all else, and it is with a feeling of pardonable pride that I look upon this splendid assemblage of men and women tonight and express my appreciation of the deep and widespread interest you have manifested in the face of a deluge of rain in the opening exercises of our Semi-Centennial celebration.
"In response to an invitation extended by me some time since, to all of the clergy-
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SUNDAY MASS MEETING.
men of the city to unite in organizing a series of religious services appropriate to this historic occasion, a large and spirited meeting was held in city hall, at which a hearty interest was immediately manifested in the general plan outlined to usher in the week of festivity with memorial services. The churches of all denominations were represented, and in the pulpits of the city today words of helpfulness and instruction have been spoken by our divines. But our ministers were not content to stop here. They believed that something more distinctive should attend their part in this golden jubilee, and through their united efforts you are favored tonight by the presence of a man whose early life in the ministry was actively spent here among us, and whose return at this time to occupy the foremost place in the religious observance of this anniversary is hailed with delight by all classes of people.
"In behalf of the city, I most sincerely thank the ministers of Manchester for their cordial co-operation in carrying out a most important and worthy part of the program of the Semi-Centennial celebration, and congratulate them upon the wisdom of their choice in selecting the honored and beloved president of Dartmouth College as their pulpit orator at this grand mass meeting."
The hymn, "Come, Thou Almighty King," was read by Rev. M. W. Borthwick, and the entire audience joined in the song, led by the band.
Rev. W. C. McAllester, D. D., read the one hundred and twenty-first Psalm, and Rev. C. R. Crossett read the hymn, "Oh, Worship the King."
Rev. C. W. Rowley, Ph. D., offered prayer.
A response by the band followed. President Morrison then said:
"It was the easiest thing in the world, my dear friends, to decide on an orator for this occasion, for we all wanted the same man, and best of all we found that we could get him. I consider it indeed an honor, and an extreme pleasure, to introduce as the orator of the evening the Rev. Dr. William J. Tucker, president of Dartmouth College."
OLD MEETING-HOUSE, MANCHESTER CENTER. USED FOR TOWN HOUSE UNTIL 1840.
REV. WILLIAM J. TUCKER, D. D. PASTOR FRANKLIN-STREET CHURCH, 1867-1876.
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE MODERN CITY.
Oration by Rev. Dr. Tucker, Sunday Evening, Sept. 6.
Fellow Christians of Manchester :- You have judged it a fitting thing to give the opening session of this commemorative week to the recognition of the spiritual life of your city. You have judged rightly. The modern city, though founded in industri- alism or built upon commerce, and set toward every form of material development, has its spiritual life, otherwise its history were quickly told in figures and statistics. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by appearances. The modern, by contrast with the ancient or medieval, city seems to be non-religious and secular. The contrast which gives this result is superficial. Religion, of its own motion and for its own ends, never built a city. The religions spirit has moved men to great secular tasks, inchiding dis- covery, colonization, and conquest, but it has not directed their energies to the making of cities. The instinct of worship, however expressed, cannot explain that strange mingling of diverse peoples and races and religions which is the characteristic of the great municipality, ancient or modern. And even when the people have been of one race and of one religion, the chief motive for massing the population at a given center has not been the spiritual motive. The site of the most religious city of the world, "whither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord to the testimony of Israel," was chosen for defense. And when war ceased to be the determining reason for the location and development of cities, then commerce and trade came in as the determining cause, just as now it is industrialisın.
But while it is not the genius of religion to build cities, nor indeed to bring men together in the mass in any permanent form, the great concern of religion, perhaps for this very reason, is with the city. The voice of the Lord is always crying to it. Whatever the "world" meant to the prophet of the old order, as something to be over- come, whatever the "world" meant to the apostle of the new order, as something to be redeemed, that the "city" now means to Christianity, as something at once to be feared and loved, to be served and mastered. The supreme question which confronts Christianity as a religion, and which confronts it equally as a civilization, is the question of the moral and spiritual outcome of the cities of Christendom.
It is peculiarly the question before our American Christianity. Notwithstanding the rapid massing of the population at centers, usually at the call of capital, we have not become used to the idea of the city. Manchester stands about midway in the long list of reported cities. But we are just celebrating our semi-centennial. There are other communities within our fellowship which are much younger. Cities have grown in fact much faster than in idea, in the understanding, that is, on the part of the people of their nature and significance.
What is a city, in the modern sense and under modern conditions? A city is a self- centered community, of various if not of diverse population, thoroughly organized, having resources within itself sufficient for increase, secure in the safeguards of order and justice, equipped with the means not only of material, but of social and spiritual advancement, and great enough in itself in munbers, in resources, and in character to affect, if not to dominate, the life of the individual citizen. Incorporation does not make a city, neither do numbers, neither does wealth. A city is that combination of forces which really makes a new unit of power. It is in fact the most powerful unit which is today at work upon the individual life: more powerful than the home, or the
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
state in the larger meaning, or the church. It is so powerful that it creates a kind of provincialism. The greater the city the more difficult it is for the average citizen to escape from his environment. The city educates and enlarges him to a certain point, makes him, as we say, more cosmopolitan, and then defines, restricts, and controls him. He reads the world through the columns of the local press: he measures the outer movement of industry and trade by the effect upon the prevailing business: he judges people at large by the social standard with which he has become familiar. Such is the modern city, in its influence over the average life which forms a part of it. We are just beginning to understand and feel its power. Such, therefore, is the moral sig- nificance of the civic fact which we celebrate during the present week.
I think that I can render you no better service at this hour than to speak to you of the Spiritual Life of the Modern City.
I use the term spiritual, rather than religious, simply because it is more inclusive. We must widen our definitions if we are to hold them. If we are to keep the ancient terms we must make them broad and free. Civilization, for example, seemed to be a term of inherited breadth, but how grandly its meaning was enlarged in the recent address of Lord Chief Justice Russell. "Civilization," he said, "is not dominion, wealth, material luxury: nay, not even a great literature and education widespread, good though those things be. Its true signs are thought for the poor and suffering, chivalrous regard and respect for woman, the frank recognition of human brotherhood irrespective of race or color or nation or religion, the narrowing of mere force as a governing factor in the world, the love of ordered freedom, abhorrence of what is mean and cruel and vile, ceaseless devotion to the claims of justice."
That sentence could not have been penned in its entirety a century ago. Civilization means more today, and religion means more, and to make sure that I get its wider meaning, I prefer to speak of it in the terms of the spiritual life. I want to affirm the presence, the reality, and the increasing power of the spiritual life of the modern city: I want to unfold, so far as I may be able, the working of that life under the action of Christianity upon the city, and of the city upon Christianity.
As I have already intimated, the modern city, if judged by appearances, stands for materialism. Who sees the things of the spirit as he enters its gates? Here and there a church, or some institution of beneficence, may come under his notice, but how still and powerless they are in the rush and tumult of the street. The people whom he meets are for the most part busy in the production of wealth, or in the search after it: some in the display of it: no one appears to be indifferent to it. The whole life of the city seems to be absorbed in one pursuit-you may give it what name you will,-you may call it business, you may call it industry :- the one impression of it all upon the mind of a stranger is that of the supremacy of the material over the spiritual.
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