USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Official report of the centennial celebration of the founding of the city of Cleveland and the settlement of the Western Reserve > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Richmond, J. L. Rettig.
Peru, C. O. H. Perry.
New Haven, L. E. Simmons.
Bronson,
Finley Hester.
Ripley, J. H. Donaldson.
Hartland,
H. L. Moore.
Greenwich. I. J. Brooks.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM MEDINA COUNTY.
Hon. S. G. Barnard, Medina, O., Chairman.
Township.
Person. Township.
Person.
Wadsworth, John A. Clark.
Lafayette,
Hon. Thos. Palmer.
Granger, . Hon. Calvin Ganyard. York,
Rev. E. F. Baird.
Hinckley, Hubert Waite.
Liverpool, Win. V. Wood.
25
TRIP TO HARTFORD-FINAL PREPARATIONS.
Guilford, Hon. A. D. Licey.
Harrisville, Hon. T. G. Loomis.
Montville, E. R. Culver,
Chatham, Dr. M. M. Moody.
Medina Township, Hon. E. S. Perkins.
Litchfield, D. P. Simmons.
Medina Village, . Frank Heath.
Homer, A. G. Newton.
Brunswick, . Wm. Bennett.
Spencer, Richard Freeman.
Westfield, . J. H. Freeman.
Sharon, J. B. Eberley.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM ERIE COUNTY.
Judge John Mackey, Sandusky, O., Chairman.
Township. Person. Township.
Person.
Berlin, . James Douglass.
Milan, J. W. Stoaks.
Florence, . John R. Carter.
Portland, Rush R. Sloane.
Iluron, . Gustave Graham.
Vermillion, Lewis Wells.
Kelley's Island, . U. L. Ward.
Oxford, Samuel Haveleck.
Margaretta, . D. S. Barber.
Groton, . J. F. Harington.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM ASHTABULA COUNTY.
Mr. E. L. Hills, Jefferson, O., Chairman. Person.
Person.
Ashtabula, . H. L. Morrison.
Colebrook,
Leonidas Reeve.
Jefferson,
. Hon. N. E. French.
Williamsfield, Wm. S. Leach.
Conneaut, G. M. Brown.
Andover, B. F. Perry.
Geneva, Salmon Seymour.
Richmond, Chas. T. Sunbury.
Hartsgrove, E. G. Hurlburt.
Pierpont, Francis H. Follett.
Windsor, Wm. Barnard.
Monroe, Harley Bushnell.
Trumbull, Wm. Nelson.
Kingsville, Amos B. Luce.
Rome, Hon. L. C. Reeve.
Plymouth, Samuel Newton.
Orwell,
Lewis Waters.
Sheffield,
A. J. Whipple.
New Lyme, M. V. Miller.
Dorset,
James Kennedy
Austinburg, Nathaniel Austin.
Denmark, M. B. Wiltsey.
Harpersfield, H. H. Clark.
Saybrook, John F. Burke.
Morgan,
Joseph Hibbard.
Wayne,
(). P. Fobes.
Cherry Valley,
Worster Benjamin.
Lenox, Moses W. Beede.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM SUMMIT COUNTY.
Mr. Aaron Wagoner; Akron, O., Chairman.
Township.
Person.
Toronship.
Person.
Bath, . C. O. Hale.
Northfield, B. A. Robinette.
Boston,
Dr. W. N. Boerstler.
Norton,
John HI. Wuchter.
Copley, R. N. Lyons.
Portage,
Albert II. Mallison.
Coventry, . U. G. High.
Richfield,
Samuel Fauble.
Cuyahoga F: Ils,
. D. F. Felmly.
Springfield, . Milo White.
Franklin, . C. A. Sisler.
Stow, C. N. Gaylord.
Green, . A. F. Spitler.
Tallmadge, C. B. Skinner.
Hudson,
Grant Bliss.
Twinsburg, . E. A. Parmelee.
Northampton, R. W. Harrington.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM LORAIN COUNTY.
Hon. Davis C. Baldwin, Elyria, O., Chairman.
Township. Person. Township. Person.
Amherst, . O. E. Foster.
Huntington, T. D. Phelan.
Lorain, James Reid.
LaGrange,
Geo. C. Underhill, M. D.
Brownhelm, B. C. French. Penfield, E. A. Starr. Brighton, George Peaseley.
Pittsfield, Frank Root.
Camden, F. J. Betts.
Ridgeville, W. N. Briggs.
Carlisle, Warren C. Sutliff.
Rochester, John Wolf.
Columbia, Oscar Goodwin.
Oberlin, Pres. Jas. HI. Fairchild.
Eaton, Ed. Hance.
Sheffield, .
(). Root.
Elyria, Hon. Geo. G. Washburn. Wellington,
S. K. Launder.
Grafton, Allen W. Nichols.
Henrietta, Nicholas Wilbur.
Avon, 11. 11. Williams.
Township.
Township,
26
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
Hon. Henry C. White, Cleveland, Chairman.
Township. Person. Township. Person.
Bedford, Prof. C. D. Hubbell.
Solon, C. H. Cannon.
Brecksville, C. M. Noble.
Warrensville, . Henry N. Clark.
Chagrin Falls, . Hon. H. W. Curtis. Orange, C. C. Lowe.
Dover,
Hon. Reuben Hall.
Middleburgh, T. C. Mattison.
Euclid, H. C. Bunts.
Strongsville, E. H. Reed.
Olmsted Falls, H. B. Northrop.
Newburgh,
Hon. Jos. H. Breck.
Royalton, Joseph Turney.
Mayfield, B. C. Bishop.
Brooklyn, William Treat.
East Cleveland, . Wm. T. Quilliams.
Parma,
.Wesley Ward.
Independence,
Lloyd Fisher.
VICE-PRESIDENTS FROM MAHONING COUNTY.
Col. C. B. Wick, Youngstown, O., Chairman.
Township. Person. Township.
Person.
Coitesville, . Joseph G. McCartney.
Boardman, North Newton.
Youngstown, James Mackey.
Poland, Henry K. Morse.
Austintown. James Rayer. Springfield, Fred W. Kohler.
Jackson, George W. Wetzel.
Beaver, W. H. Ruhleman.
Milton, B. P. Baldwin.
Green,
W. I. Hahn.
Berlin, Frank White.
Goshen, Mahlon Atkinson.
Ellsworth,
Frank Fitch.
Smith, Delorma Sauter.
Canfield, . Col. James M. Nash.
FROM CITY .OF CLEVELAND.
I. T. Bowman,
J. H. Bradner,
C. S. McKim,
A. H. Brunner,
Chris. E. Grover,
W. M. Lottridge,
Henry M. Brooks,
George A. Groot,
John T. Watterson,
Fayette Brown,
J. A. Smith,
John Corlett,
W. W. Baldwin,
Jos. Goodhart,
E. W. Cannell,
W. L. Clements,
L. S. Fish,
J. Mandelbaum,
L. M. Coe,
C. W. Burrows,
Hon. H. C. Smith,
HI. Mireau,
J. C. Forman,
Dr. John D. Jones,
James Malone,
A. 1. Truesdell,
James Broggini,
Robert. Wallace,
P. H. Kaiser,
John Miller,
Gen. J. J. Elwell,
William Bowler,
Frank Hesoun,
Capt. Henry Frazee,
Thomas Manning,
G. J. Jones,
A. J. Marvin,
Dr. W. P. Horton,
Jacob Striebenger,
F. Strauss,
A. A. Parker,
VICE-PRESIDENTS, PERRY'S VICTORY DAY EXERCISES, SEPTEMBER 10.
Luke Brennan,
N. A. Gilbert, Thomas Reilley,
Dr. M. Rosenwasser,
II. M. Claflen, A. J. Michael,
Dr. S. Wolfenstein,
David Crow,
Hon. George II. Foster,
P. Il. Lavan,
W. R. Woodford,
Capt. Levi F. Bander,
A. F. Bonelli,
James Walker,
M. S. Hogan,
John Miller, Jr.,
Ilon. J. Dwight Palmer,
T. M. Irvine,
Dr. M. G. Kolb,
Colonel E. Sowers, J. P. Dawley,
HI. H. Poppleton, Hon. John II. Farley,
J. F. Sprotsy, William C. Pollner.
J. P. Mckinstry,
W. H. H. Peck,
John Holland,
William Backus, Sr.,
Leopold Dautel.
Frank A. Arter,
Stephen Buhrer,
Rockport, . Curtis Hall.
Regular meetings were held each week by the Centennial Com- mission, the usual time being 3:30 o'clock on Thursday afternoons. Frequent sessions of the executive, finance and other committees were also held, the number increasing as the time for opening the celebration drew near, as many as four or five being occasionally in progress at headquarters at the same time. Late in June and early in July two
JAMES B.
MORROW
JOHN MECKES
H.R.
HATCH
M.A . HANNA
A. L. WITHINGTON
JOHN.C.HUTCHINS
E. BURME
CLARENCE
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
GROUP III.
27
TRIP TO HARTFORD-FINAL PREPARATIONS.
objects in connection with the Centennial began to attract public atten- tion. One was a log cabin in process of construction on the northeast section of the Public Square, designed to typify early life in the West- ern Reserve; the other was a Centennial Arch in course of erection to span Superior street, directly north of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monu- ment. A crowd of interested spectators kept constant watch over the work on both of these structures. When completed, the cabin was sixty feet long, from east to west. It comprised two compartments, each twenty feet square, one on either side of a central passage-way or court. It was surrounded by a rail fence, and in one section of the yard was an old-fashioned well-sweep.
The Centennial Arch was seventy feet high, 106 feet wide and twenty feet thick, and was designed by Architect W. D. Benes. The frame-work was of wood. This was covered with lath, and the lath in turn was covered with staff and painted white. The ornamentations were elaborate and beautiful. There were six plaster-cast groups on pedestals, one on each side and one at each end. Those in front con- sisted of winged figures seven feet high holding aloft vases of flowers. Around the front of the arch proper ran a band of decorative work, while in the center or keystone was a large American eagle with out- stretched wings. The frieze set forth an ornamentation, in which cupids, shields and garlands played the leading parts. On top of the arch a balustrade with flags of all nations formed the crowning decora- tion. The cost of the arch was $4,000. At night it appeared in all its glory, light from 900 electric lamps shining forth and brilliantly illumi- nating the Public Square.
The rooms at headquarters were handsomely decorated for the celebration, being festooned with flags and bunting and presenting a gala appearance. A large and substantial reviewing stand was built by the city in front of the City Hall in anticipation of the parades. This was painted white, and provided with a neat canopy, and was appropri- ately decorated with the national colors. A Centennial medal, designed by L. Vincent Metz, of Erie, was struck and placed on sale, and badges appropriate to the celebration were freely worn on coat lapels and dresses. As usual in such undertakings, the last week prior to the open- ing of the celebration was the busiest, various details crowding thick and fast upon the committees, demanding the application of all the energy obtainable.
A
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CHAPTER III.
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
JULY, 1895 - JULY, 1896.
Before entering upon the description of the various exercises of the summer, it is proper that attention should here be given to the part taken in the preliminary arrangements by the patriotic women of Cleve- land and the Western Reserve. As woman had much to do with the upbuilding of the city and the achievements of its first century, so had she much to do with the observance of its anniversary. The movement for the organization of women in the interests of the celebration was started by Mrs. W. A. Ingham, a member of the Early Settlers' Associ- ation. The brightness and capability of Cleveland women from the beginning of the century were a source of pride alike to her and to all others of the day, and an exposition of their work was early proposed. Mrs. Ingham discussed the project with the President and Executive Committee of the Early Settlers' Association, and was bidden by them to go forward choosing her assistants. At the meeting of the association, on July 22d, 1895, she delivered an address supporting the movement, and the suggestions made therein met with general approval. On July 23d, a small meeting of women was held at the home of Miss Elizabeth Blair, No. 802 Prospect street, where the plans were further considered.
The Centennial Commission having decided upon an auxiliary woman's department, a call was issued for a general meeting of women in September to perfect an organization. In response to the call, a large number came together in the Assembly Room of the Public Library Building. A constitution was adopted declaring the objects of the department in the following article :
"The objects of this department shall be the proper presentation of woman's work and history in the Western Reserve at the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Cleveland and the carrying out of such other measures as shall add to the success of said celebration."
Mrs. Ingham was elected president, and three hundred vice-presi- dents were chosen from among pioneer women and their descendants, together with five active vice-presidents, two secretaries and a treasurer, selected from the different sections of the city. Supposing there was to be a Centennial exposition, twenty well-known women were chosen to form an executive committee for the purpose of co-operating in the project, of which Mrs. Elroy M. Avery was chairman. It was decided to hold public meetings each month, at which papers of special interest in connection with the Centennial should be read and various features of the work discussed. The first of these meetings was held in the Assembly Room of the Public Library Building on December 20, 1895. A large audience was present, excellent music was rendered, and the following programme was presented: "Christmas Eve in Old Trinity, " Mrs. W.
29
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
A. Ingham; "Old Time Amusements," Mrs. B. F. Taylor; "The Atlanta Exposition," Mrs. Elroy M. Avery. At subsequent sessions, which were also largely attended, attention was given to sketches of pioneer women and the sacrifices made by the early settlers, and to the hardships endured by them and the records of their gallantry and thrift. The subjects of literature, education, philanthropy, art and industry were all presented in papers of rare excellence.
It was with regret that the exposition idea was abandoned when the Centennial Commission found the general plan not feasible. Ex- tensive arrangements were carried forward, however, for the observ- ance of Woman's Day, on July 28th. A programme was outlined, special committees were appointed, and the securing of speakers and planning of special features was undertaken with a will. Funds were energeti- cally collected and a vast amount of detail work was accomplished as the summer of 1896 advanced.
Headquarters were established, previous to the opening of the cele- bration, in the rooms of the Centennial Commission, on Superior street, and representatives of the department were constantly on hand. Besides bending their efforts toward celebrating in a fitting manner the day al- lotted to them, the women joined heartily in the other events, render- ing important aid in all of them. An important work - that of prepar- ing a memorial to the pioneer women of the Western Reserve - was as- signed to Mrs. Gertrude V. R. Wickham. Through two hundred and sixteen assistant historians from the townships of the Reserve the col- lection of material for this memorial was effected, and prepared for pub- lication. Other facts relating to the woman's department are contained in other chapters of this volume, the story of their work being closely interwoven with the story of the celebration. The roster of officers and committees of the department was as follows:
CLEVELAND CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
MRS. MARY B. INGHAM, PRESIDENT.
MRS. MARY SCRANTON BRADFORD, MRS. SARAH E. BIERCE,
Active Vice-Presidents in
MRS. GEORGE PRESLEY, JR., City of Cleveland.
i
MRS. JOSEPH TURNEY, MRS. ELLA STURTEVANT WEBB, RECORDING SECRETARY. MRS. S. P. CHURCHILL, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. MISS ELIZABETH BLAIR, TREASURER. MISS ELIZABETH STANTON, ASSISTANT TREASURER. MRS. GERTRUDE V. R. WICKHAM, HISTORIAN. MRS. CHARLES HI. SMITH, ASSISTANT HISTORIAN.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, Chairman. Mrs. O. J. Hodge, Mrs. W. G. Rose,
Mrs. Charles W. Chase,
Mrs. T. K. Dissette,
Mrs. John Huntington, Mrs. L. A. Russell,
Mrs. H. A. Griffin,
Mrs. F. A. Kendall, Mrs. M. B. Schwab,
Mrs. M. A. Hanna,
Mrs. W. B. Neff, Mrs. Charles. HI. Weed,
Mrs. P. M. Hitchcock,
Mrs. N. B. Prentice, Mrs. A. J. Williams.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITIFF. Mrs. T. K. Dissette, Chairman.
30
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.
PRINTING COMMITTEE. Mrs. O. J. Hodge, Chairman. Mrs. 11. A. Griffin. AUDITING COMMITTEE. Mrs. Charles W. Chase, Chairman. Mrs. W. B. Neff. COMMITTEE ON PROGRAM FOR WOMAN'S DAY.
Mrs. W. A. Ingham, Mrs. Elroy M. Avery,
JUDGES OF PRIZE ODES AND SONGS.
Mr. J. H. A. Bone, Mr. W. II. Brett, Mr. Will Sage.
Mr. Benjamin F. Carr,
COMMITTEE ON MUSIC FOR WOMAN'S DAY.
Miss Lillian Hanna, Chairman. Miss Lucy Waldo Day, Manager. Miss Adella Prentice. COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION. AND BANQUET TICKETS. Mrs. S. P. Churchill, Chairman. COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS FOR WOMAN'S DAY.
Mrs. P. M. Hitchcock, Chairman.
Mrs. William Edwards, Miss Anne Walworth, Mrs. Joseph Colwell,
Mrs. Samuel Mather, Mr. J. H. McBride, Mrs. Myron T. Herrick.
Mrs. Henry Ranney,
Mrs. J. H. Morley,
Mrs. Charles F. Brush, Mrs. Stevenson Burke,
COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION AT GRAYS' ARMORY.
Mrs. M. A. Hanna, Chairman.
Mrs. W. A. Leonard,
Mrs. A. A. Pope,
Mrs. Henry W. Boardman,
Mrs. Wm. Mckinley,
Mrs. W. H. Corning, Mrs. James H. Hoyt,
Mrs. Asa S. Bushnell.
Mrs. R. R. Rhodes, Miss Stella Hatch,
Mrs. James A. Garfield,
Mrs. John F. Whitelaw,
Mrs. L. C. Hanna,
Mrs. Stephenson Burke,
Mrs. William Edwards, Mrs. Thomas W. Burnham,
Mrs. Charles F. Brush,
Miss Laura M. Hilliard, Mrs. Ralph W. Hickox,
Mrs. William Chisholm,
Mrs. Peter Hitchcock, Mrs. J. B. Perkins,
Mrs. C. C. Bolton,
Miss Phelps.
BANQUET COMMITTEE FOR WOMAN'S DAY.
Mrs. W. G. Rose, Chairman. Mrs. H. C. Ranney,
Mrs. N. A. Gilbert,
Mrs. S. C. Smith,
Mrs. J. K. Hord,
Mrs. Benjamin Rose,
Mrs. E. J. Farmer,
Mrs. E. W. Doane,
Mrs. George Van Camp,
Mrs. C. M. (viatt, Mrs. J. A. Stephens,
Mrs. E. B. Hale,
Mrs. J. V. N. Yates,
Mrs. M. D. Leggett,
Mrs. A. T. Osborn,
Mrs. Sidney H. Short,
Mrs. William Bowler,
Mrs. W. S. Kerruish,
Mrs. B. S. Cogswell,
Mrs. J. H. Payne,
Mrs. J. M. T. Phelps,
Mrs. T. S. Knight,
Mrs. Philip Dillon.
Mrs. H. C. Bourne,
Mrs. G. T. Knight, Mrs. E. G. Rose,
Mrs. T. D. Crocker,
Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. R. E. MeKisson,
Mrs. Sarah E. Bierce, Chairman. Mrs. C. W. Chase, Mrs. T. K. Dissette.
.
COL. O. J.
HODGE
JOHN C.COVERT
MARTIN
A. FORAN
GEORGE DEMIN
AUGUSTUS ZEHRING
H.M.ADDISON
INSONORINE CO. CACHE
DSON
JAMES.M.RI
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
GROUP IV.
11
- i
CHAPTER IV.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES.
JULY 19, 1896.
With preparations for the Centennial practically completed, the citizens of Cleveland retired on the night of July 18th, anticipating the opening of a season of pleasure. They awoke on a quiet Sabbath morning, ushered in by the ringing of church bells. On this day special services were held in the various city churches in honor of the approach- ing celebration, and were attended by large congregations which joined with unity of spirit in giving proper recognition to the influence of religion upon the life and character of the city during its first century of existence. Two large mass meetings were held in the afternoon and evening, at which eloquent historical addresses were delivered and special music was sung. The day was devoted to thanksgiving and re- joicing for the benefits of the past and the blessings of the present, and to hopeful forecasts of the era upon which the city was about to enter.
The programme of the day was opened at 8 o'clock by the ringing of the chimes in Trinity Cathedral. These chimes had often, in years gone by, cheered the hearts of lonely mariners far out upon the lake; they held a history in themselves, and were fittingly chosen to proclaim to Cleveland and the world the passing of the century. Early in the morning a crowd began to gather in the vicinity of the Cathedral, a modest stone structure on the south side of Superior street, near the corner of Bond street, and gradually increased until it comprised a cos- mopolitan assemblage of several thousand. The music was enjoyed not only by this audience, but by listeners in all parts of the city. The following series of sacred and patriotic selections was rendered by Harold A. Vosseller: r. The Bells of St. Michael's Tower (Old English Chime) ; 2. Scarborough; 3. Star Spangled Banner; 4. Siloam; 5. Antioch; 6. Red, White and Blue; 7. Boylston (two-part harmony); 8. Stella; 9. The Old, Old Story; 10. Sicilian Hymn; 11. Ye Merry Bells (Old Eng- lish Chime). The music of the chimes never sounded sweeter than on this Sabbath anniversary, and many a head was seen to bow in rever- ence as the silvery tones rang out upon the morning air.
" The little one's prattle, the fond mother's prayer, And the low, sweet tones of the lover were there. The joy of the rich, in his home secure ; The wail of distress from the heart of the poor; The marriage feast; the funeral knell ; The gladdest of welcomes; the saddest farewells; All mingled together in the song of the bells."
Sermons in harmony with the occasion were preached by the pas- tors at the usual hour. Denominational lines were for the time forgot- ten - Protestant, Catholic and Jewish congregations entering into the theme with equal fervor and zeal. The rectors of the Protestant Epis- copal churches reviewed the histories of their respective parishes, and
1.
32
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.
had their discourses printed and bound for preservation. Special high mass was observed in all the Catholic churches in accordance with a decree of Bishop Horstmann, of the Cleveland Diocese.
.
At 2: 30 o'clock Sunday afternoon a citizens' mass meeting was held in the Central Armory, at the corner of Bond and Lake streets. The meeting was largely attended, the capacity of the auditorium being taxed to its utmost. The audience was representative in character, containing members of every sect and nationality. Many civic organi- zations turned out en masse. They were seated for the most part in the balconies. In one of these was the Second Regiment Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, two hundred and fifty strong, representing Preux Chevalier, Cleveland, Oak, Red Cross, Standard and Argonaut divisions: The Scottish Volunteers, in Highland costume, were also in attendance. Near these a large number of members of the Grand Army of the Republic were seated. Other organizations were the Doan Guards, the Cleveland Patriarchs Lodge of Odd Fellows, Forest City Division, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, and the various commanderies of the Knights of St. John. The Cleve- land Vocal Society, whose members furnished music for the occasion, oc- cupied seats back of the speakers. The president of the day was J. G. W. Cowles, chairman of the Section of Re- ligion. The speakers were Rev. Dr. Levi Gilbert, of the Methodist Episco- pal Church; Monsignor T. P. Thorpe, of the Catholic Church, and Rabbi Moses J. Gries, of the Jewish Church. At the hour set for opening the exer- cises, a voluntary was rendered, fol- lowed with singing by the Cleveland Vocal Society. Mr. Cowles then in- J. G. W. COWLES. troduced Rt. Rev. William A. Leon- ard, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, who invoked divine blessing. At the conclu- sion of the prayer Mr. Cowles addressed the meeting, saying in part :
In this historic hour, closing the century, we are gathered here without distinction of race, or sect, or creed, to review the records and recall the memories of the first one hundred years of our city's life. What can be more appropriate than that this first Centennial observance should be upon the Sabbath day? and from what higher summit or with what clearer and larger outlook can we survey this period than from the stand- point of religion?
Looking back one hundred years to this place where we now are, "the woods were God's first temples." In that vast solitude, the primeval forests, stirred by the sum- mer winds, lifted their leaf-clad arms in strong acclaim to the Creator-God of Nature -waiting. Sovereign there, as in all waste places, to crown and bless, as the God of grace, the few first comers, and then the multitudes of people who have transformed that wilderness into this great city and built here thousands of homes and hundreds of churches filled with his worshipers.
This point of contact between God and man is our moral nature; his control is
33
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES.
through our conscience. So that when we ask what religion is, and what it has been and has done for Cleveland in these one hundred years, the answer lies in the spiritual and moral life of the people during that time. We stand upon this platform represent- ing two, perhaps I should say, three, great world movements in religion, the Jewish and the Christian, and of the latter the Catholic and the Protestant.
The first settlers in Cleveland were not religious men; though from New England, they were not Puritans. The motive that brought them was not that of their fathers, to found a Christian commonwealth, but was to improve their fortunes in this new Connecticut. The distillery flourished before a schoolhouse or a church was built. But this bad primacy could not long continue. Providence, together with heredity, was too powerful a force. The seeds of religion were in the soil of those men's lives, though showing such small fruitage in those earliest days. As other immigrants came, mostly from New England, bringing wives and children, always hostages to goodness, what result could come to pass other than such homes, such social customs, such schools, churches, and government, as they had left behind?
Growth was small and slow, but the type remained. The germinal period con- tinued through the first one-half of the century, before greater activity and more vigor- ous development began to show the future city. In 1830, with less than 1, 100 popula- tion, there were only three churches. In 1835, the first Catholic, and in 1839, the first Jewish church was organized. In 1846, or at the mid-period of the century, 12,000 population had eighteen churches, including two Jewish and two Roman Catholic. In 1855, this number had increased to 32, of all creeds; in 1860, to 42; in 1870, to 61; in 1880, to 164; and in 1895, to 250, or 300, including missions and miscellaneous religious organizations, existing and in operation at the present time. * x
Cleveland is a city of domestic sanctities superbly developed. The Puritanic in- fluence has had its effect in the business community. The commercial and industrial life of Cleveland is founded upon principles of honesty and conservatism. It is free from the spirit of rash speculation. It is based on the fundamental code of morality. In the realm of justice, note the effect of Puritan influence. The Puritans did not dis- criminate sufficiently between the fields of private vice and public lawbreaking, but they did reverence law and order and justice. Like Angelo's statue of Moses, their jurisprudence was awful and sublime. Toned by later modifications of sentiment, its basic principles remain and have been interpreted in this community by such jurists as Pease, Hitchcock, Tod, Andrews, and Ranney. * * *
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