■!!il:i!'!: ntUlOttr.ifUta4~^ n mlmi t t ^ ^mm»^s^n'*lau^9*%llu^M^m^^^t* fl" .•«-j t/«m«f.i? "Phinnet^ Baxter m iu»ti mmmlMiuiii nui K m mimna»iMuuM: J Class_t 'I^ PKKSKNLKI) nY CITY f>P mSTflSJ, FJlf^«1Cmi??nT^, Oe«Ql»p 8, WW TO t3h» Pft^idotic People of reB.l to the State Governments and the Citizens and PeoTDle of the six (6) Hew iingland States and to those citizens of other States who are descended from Hew England ancestors, and I suggest that this Appeal be made jointly by the Commonwealth of Llassachusetts, by said City of Boston, by the said Societies herein named and by others who may be interested in the pur- poses of this Trust. It is my wish that this Commemorative Building be built and be xised for the purposes outlined in an Address "To the Patriotic People of Hew England en- titled "■ Hew .::ngland Pantheon" which Address was published' b:/ me in the year 1917. a copy of which ac- companies this 'Vill. If after accepting said Trust sum on the terms above mentioned, the said City of Boston at any t;inie fails to comply v/ith all and singular the conditions herein mentioned and fails to complete the building P?o^ded for before December ;31, A.D. 20E5 or before the^xpiration of five (5) years after said accumulated fund shall have amounted to one million ( ol.OOO.OOO. ) d^lars, then the said Trustees or their successors shall have and recover from said City, all said sums 30 paid said City by ray Trustees and all accumulated income ¥ajot Peters - 4 - July Twenty-fifth 19 2 1. thereon, and my Trustees shall pay said sxims so re- ceived or recovered from the City of Boston to the City of Portland, Ilaine, a hody corporate and pol- itic to "be held in Trust and invested by said City in United States, State or iimiicipal Bonds until said sum and aocumizlated income thereon shall amount to one million ( ;;i,000,000. ) dollars, and v.'hen said sum and acouiaulated income thereon shall amount to one million ( ,|;l, 000.000. ) dollars, the said City of Portland shall use and expend the same upon the Trusts hereinafter provided: and in case the City of Boston declines or fails to accept said Trust in writing with my Ti'ustees within the time hereinbe- fore limited then my Trustees sliall pay from the in- come of my Trust Instate to the City of Portland the sum of two thousand (2,000.) dollars per year for a period of twenty (20) years, the first payment to be made within six (6) years after the final probate of my Will, i^rovided the said City shall accept said be- quest and Trust in writing with my Trustees within the said period of six (6) years, and the said City of Portland shall hold and invest said sum and accum- ulated income thereon in United States, State or Liunicipal Bonds until said sum and accumiilated income thereon shall amount to one million {^>1,000,000. ) dollars, and when said sum and acciuniLlated income thereon shall amount to one million ( vl,000,000, ) dollars, the said City shall use and expend the same upon the Trusts hereinafter provided: '/hen the said Triist Fund and accumulated inccaie thereon shall amount to one milli02i ( Jl,000,000. ) dollars whether the whole or part thereof shall have been received or recovered from the City of Boston by my Trustees and thereafter paid to City of Portland, or whether said sum shall have been paid in whole or in part in aimual install- ments by my Trustees to said City as provided herein, the City of Portland shall thereon use the whole of said one million { vl,000,000. ) dollars either for the establishment, foxmding and maintenance of a public, humane, charitable, educational or beiievolent institution July Twenty-fifth liayor Peters - 5 - or institutions or parks within the City of Portland, the same to be used solely for public purposes or for the maintenance of such public, huraane, charitable, edticational or benevolent institution or institutions or parks within the City of Portland as are already founded and established or for both said purposes, but these bequests to the City of Portland are upon condition that said City obtains a legislative act within three (3) years after said Trust Puiids shall be received and recovered from said City of Boston, or vdthin three (3) years after said City of Boston declines or fails to accept said Trust as aforesaid Y/hich Legislative Act shall authorize and empower said City to have, hold and expend such sums for the ptar- poses and trusts above mentioned. In case said sum is paid to the City of Portland for the T3urt)0ses above mentioned, I request that one or more of my descendants, if any be worthy of said positions be iDlaced upon the Board of ilanasers or Trus- tees of each institution so founded or established or so receiving any of the said money and that one of my said descendants be on the Commission or such other body as has charge and control of the parks of said City provided said City shall receive any of said money for Park Purposes. In case said City of Portland declines or fails to acoex)t said Trust within three (3) years after aaid Trust ?unds shall be received or recovered from the City of Boston or within three (2) years after said City of Boston declines or fails to accept said Trust as aforesaid, my Trustees shall thereupon pay the whole of said 'I'rust Funds received or recovered from the City of Boston without holding it for further accumulation of interest either to humane, charitable, educational or benevolent institution or institutions v/ithin the City of Portland, or for the founding, erecting, b\iilding aad maintaining of a humane, charitable, educational or July (Evveii Hayor Peters - 6 - 1 9 £ 1 Cvveiity- fifth benevolent institution or institutions in said City of Portland in their judgment or discretion, and when so oaid said Trust shall terminate. Hhould, however,' both the City of Boston and City of Port- land decline or fail to accept this Trust as afore- said, no sums havin.- been -paid by my Trustees to either of said Cities, then this Trust shall ter- minat e • In oase the said City of Portland, however, after aooe-cting said Trust on the terms above men- tioned, fails to comply v.lth all and singiaar the conditions herein mentioned, then the said Trustees, or their successors, shall have and recover from the said City of iortland, all sums so paid said City by ray Trustees and all accumulated income thereon, and the said Trustees thereupon without holdiiij^ it for further accumulation of interest shall pay the v/holo of said Trust Fund and accvuaulated income thereon provided the said Trust Fund is in their hands, or whenever the Trustees shall receive or reG0%'er the same from the City of Portland, either to a humane, charitable, educational or benevolent institution or institutions, within the State of Llaine, or for the founding, erecting, building and maintaining of a humane, charitable, educational or benevolent institution or institutions in the State of Ilaine, according to their discretion and judgment, and when said sum is so paid to such institution or institutions or when it is so i^aid by my Trustees for the erection, founding, and building of such institution or in- stitutions and the balance given to such inst^taoion or institutions for its or their maintenance, said Trust shall terminate," I e>>close herewith that copy of the Address herein referred to, entitled "To the Patriotic People of Kew England", "A Hew liigland Pantheon". In order that I may comply with the provisions of my Jiily Twenty-fifth Mayor Peters - 7 - 1 9 S 1 , father's '"111, will you please present this matter to the proper authorities, and if the City of Boston deeias it advisable to accept the bequest upon the conditions outlin-^d therein, send me the necessary doounents so that i may have authority to pay this bequest to the City of Boston, Article SIZTSilTTH of ray father's iVill places cer- tain restrictions upon the practice of Vivisection by "any person, corporation or institution", but exception is made to certain bequests given to Bowdoin College, the City of Boston and the City of Pcrtland. In order that you may understand this iteni, I am giving it to you herev/ith - "SIXTIiJHUTH - I hereby direct that none of my property or the income thereof shall ever be given or paid or be otherwise permitted by my Trustees to go to any person, corporation, or institution excepting the two bequests given to Bov/doin College under item Second and Seventh of this V/ill and e:cceptiug the City of Boston or City of Portland, who or which in any v/ay shall practice or psrmit Vivisection so-called or j^xperimentation upon either living animals or persons, and I hereby provide that all bequests and devises contained in my .Till to or for the benefit of any individual, institution or corporation excepting the two bequests to Bowdoin College heroin referred to and excepting the City of Boston and City of Portland, are hereby expressly conditioned that in case Vivisection or Sxperimentation upon living animals or persons is at any time practiced anywhere by such person, iii- stitution or corporation receiving or entitled to re- ceive any bequest herein mentioned, then said bequest or devise either or the principal or income of a^ estate to such person or corporation, except to the City of Boston and the City of Portland, and the two bequests to Bowdoin College herein specified under items S:^COND and SST^ITH of this '.Vill as aforesaid, shall immediately become null and void and the Jtay Ivventy-fifth 19 2 1. Mayor Peters - 8 - property so "beoueathed cr deviRecl shall revert and go to the Trtistees and becorae part and parcel of the resid- uum of ray estate. The income from ail devises and be- quests of the principal of niy instate whioh shall so revert to my Trustees, and any "bequests of income from rny Sstate that sliall so revert, shall becon\e part and parcel oi! the residuura of my Estate. In oase Vivi- section or /Ilxperimentatlon upon either livirjg animals or peryons is practiced, performed, permitted or allowed to be iiracticed or performed at or on any of the property devised or received under this V.'ill or by any person, corporaition or Institution herein mentioned or referred to excepting as to the City of Boston and the City of Portland provided they do not practice Vivisection or jlnimal lijcperimontation on or upon any property reoeiT-ed by them under this V/ill, and except- ing Bov7doin College in so far as the beq.uosts in items Second and Seventh of this "/ill are concerned, but not excepting 3o\'jdoin College in rogard to any other bo- q.uests or devises it may receive or be entitled to under this '..'ill, then and in either of said above men- tioned events, the bequest, bequests or devises herein to such person, corporation or institution practicing, allowing' or ponaitting such practice on the property bequeathed to siioh person, corporation or institution or on any other property belonging to the same, shall immediately become null and void and the property be- queathed to such person, corporation or institution shall revert 4nd go to my Trustees and become part and parcel of the residuum of my Estate. The income from all devises and bequests of the principal of my Instate which shall so revort to my Trustees and any bequests of income from my >iState that sliall so revert shall become part and parcel of the residuum of my Estate. nothing herein shall be construed to hinder or prevent the City of Boston or the City of Portland from oonduoting Vivisection or jlsqaerimentation upon either living animals or persons at places other than on any of the property ovmod by me and bequeathed here- JvOLy Twenty-fifth 19 2 1. Mayor Peters - 9 - under, but it is my liope that neither of the said Cities will ever do so and it is my meaning and intertion that no othor corporation, institution or persona practicing or permitting Vivisection or :ixperinentation any/;here under any circuiistances aiter my decease, excepting Eovvdoin College which shall receive the two (2) he- quests imder Items Second end seventh of this 'ill, hut not otherwise, shall receive or he paid or retain any hequest of either principal or income from my Ilstate under this //ill, I also direct that all deeds or conveyances of any of my real estate by my Trustees shall contain a stip- ulation and provision that in case Vivisection or 3x- perimentation upon living animals cr persons is at any time practiced or permitted or allowed or in any way carried on or performed by the grantee, named in such Deed, his heirs or assigns or its successors or assigns or by any person acting under his, its, or their author- ity upon the property therein descrilred, thsu suoh con- veyance shall become null and void and the property described in such Deed shall revert to said"^ Trustees and become part and parcel of the residuum of my Kstate. The income from all devises and bequests of the .principal of my Estate which shall so revert to my Tmstees and any bequests of income from my Iiistate that shall so revert shall become part and parcel of the residuum of my Estate", Yours very truly, (Signed) Percival P. Barter axeoutor 2. Letter trcm 3. V. B. Parke of laayor's Office, Boston to Governor Baxter. CITY OF BOSTON OPFICS OF THE MAYOR UIDRH;\7 J. PETBRS MAYOR Boston 9 August 9, 1921 Hon. Percival P. Baxter, Governor, State of Llaino, Augusta, Llaine Dear Sir: In the a"bsenoe of Mayor Peters I am acknowledging the receipt of your letter of July 25th which has just come to this office. I shall bring your letter to the iiayor's attention when he returns. Very truly yours. (Signed) E. V. B. Parke CAM 3. Letter from su, V. B, Parke of Uayor's office, Boston to Governor Baxter. CITY 0? BOSTON 0FFIC3 OF TH:3 LIAYOH AlIDRS?/ J. PETERS MAYOR Boston 9, Aug. 19, 1921. Hon. Percival P. Barter, Grovernor of Maine, Aiigusta, Llaine. Dear Sir:- In the Mayor's absence, and at the suggestion of the Corporation Counsel of the City of Boston, I am writing to inquire wheth- er the Estate of the late James PMnney Baxter is financially able to pay the legacy of $50,000 to the City of Boston in case the City accepts the bequest. The Corporation Counsel desires this information in order that he may determine what course the City should follov^. Very truly yoiu'S, (Signed) E. V. B. Parke STOP: RMW 4. Letter from Governor Baxter to E. V. B. iarke of Mayor's office, Boston August Twenty-fifth, 19 2 1 Dear Sir:- Replying to your letter of August ninth, I would say that the Es- tate of my father the late James P. Baxter of Portland, is financially able to pay the legacy to the City of Boston in accordance v/ith the terms of the Will. Yours very truly, (Signed) Percival P. Baxter Governor of Maine. To S, V. B. Parke, Esq., Office of the Llayor, Boston, Mass. . 5. Letter from Governor Baxter to Llayor Curley. STATS OF MAIUB OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AUGUSTA Novemljer tv/enty-seven 19 2 3 IJy dear Mayor Curley :- I enjoyed my call upon you the other day and appreciate the courtesy which you extended to me. Under separate cover I am sending you a little story I v/rote about my dogs, thinking that some of the young x>eople in your faniily may he inter- ested to read it. At your convenience will you please have the proper city official send me a certified copy of the vote accepting my father's bequest, so that I can have it in my files, and I v/ill then make prompt remittance of the first payment due the city of Boston, The key to your city which you so kindly presented to me now occupies a place of honor on the mantel-piece in the Governor's office, and I am pleased to show it to my friends. Believe me Faithfully yours, (Signed) Percival P. Baxter Governor of Liaine To- Hon. James 11. Curley, llayor of Boston, City Building, Boston, Mass.. 6. Letter from Mayor Ciirley to Governor Baxter. CITY OF BOSTOH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY HALL JALIES M. CURLBY litAYOR llovember 23, 1923. Hon. Percival P. Baxter, Governor , Axigusta, Maine. Dear Friend:- I "beg to for'.mrd herewith copy of order adopted "by the City Coimoil under date of July 24, 1922 and in conformity v/ith the provisions of this order you are at liberty to begin making payments whenever agreeable to you. With every good wish. Sincerely yours, (Signed) James M. Gurley Mayor. 7. Order of City Coimcll of Boston accepting Trust imder "Jill of James Phinney Baxter, CITY OF BOSTON ni CITY COUIICIL July 24, 1922. 0RDSR3D: That the City of Boston accept the "bequest contained in the will of James Phimiey Baxter, late of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, State of llaiiie, upon the terms and con- ditions therein imposed, and that His Honor the I'.ayor, in the name and hehalf of the city, file forthwith an acceptance of said "bequest in writing with the trustees under said will. Order passed. Approved by the ilayor July 25, 1922, Attest : (Signed) W. J. Doyle Assistant City Clerk. 8. Letter jfrom Governor Baxter to Llayor Curley. STATE OP UAJliS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AUGUSTA January one 19 2 4 Dear Mayor Curlay:- I remembor with pleasure my recont Qall upon you and extend to you and those associated with you my best wishes for the coming year. Enclosed I hand you a check for $5000 payable to the "City of Boston Trustee under Will of Janes Phinney Baxter late of Portland, Llaine". This check is sent you in accordance with the City of Boston's acceptance of the provisions of the terms of the late Mr. Baxter's will, and I shall appreciate your courtesy if you will send me proper receipt so that I can file it with my papers as trustee of the estate. Believe me Faithfully yours, (Signed) Peroival P. Baxter Governor of Maine To- Hon. James M, Curley, Mayor of the City of Boston, Boston, Llassachusetts. 9. Checlc to CI ty of Boston in payment of First Instalment of James r'hlnney ; Baxter Trust Fund. ♦ •f ♦ -»■ T" Portland, Llaine. Dec. 26, 1923 Ilo. 99 ESTATE OF JAMiiS P. BAXTER Pay to the Order of City of Boston Trustee under v.'ill of ;tf5000.2£v. James Phinney Baxter of Portland, LTe. ^ ^ FIVE THOUSAIID- Dollars To (Signed) James P. Baxter Jr. ) The (Signed) Rupert H. Baxter ) TRUST BATH TRUST COLk'AIIY (Signed) Percival P. Baxter ) 52-72 BATH, M^'iIHE 3|C Ifv 3|C 3|C 3|C EITDORSBLIiiaTTS For deposit to credit of City of Boston City of Boston Trustee hy John J. Curley, City Treasurer. Pay to the order of Webster & Atlas national Banlc Boston, Mass, Hibernia Savings Bank 5-151 Boston, Mass, 5-151 Albert P, Hill, Treas, Pay to the order of Federal Reserve Barilc Prior Endorsements Guaranteed Webster .5: Atlas National Bank J, L, Foster, Cashier Jan, 4, 1924. Pay Any Bank or Trust Company Prior Endorsements Guaranteed Federal Reserve Bank Boston, Mass, PAID *1.*5.24 (Perforated) t 10. Reoelpt of City of Boston for ySOOO. Trust Fund. TRBA3DRY DEPAHOMElIiP 00 |5000i 100 Office of City Treasurer, Boston, Jan 3, 1924 Received of Percival P. Baxter 'trustee Five Thousand Dollars 100 on a/c James I-hinney Baxter Bequest City of Boston Trustee by JOHU J. CDRIHY City Treasurer 11. Letter from Mayor Ciirley to Crovernor Baxter . CITY OF BOSTOII OFFICE OP THE liAYOa CITY HALL January 3, 1924. James M. Curley Mayor Hon. Perolval P. Baxter, JSxeoutlve Department, State House, Augusta, llaine. My dear Governor: I beg to aclmowledge receipt this day of check in the sum of $5000. payable to the City of Boston, Trustee under the will of James Phinney Baxter, late of Portland, Maine. This check has been forwarded to the City Treasurer and I enclose herewith his receipt for the same. The City of Boston is indeed fortunate in being designated by jowc father as the City in which will be located an institution whose influence for the good of mankind is being constantly emphasized. May the fondest hopes of your father be realized and may every happiness attend you and yours throiigh the year 1924. Sincerely yours, (Signed) JAMBS M. CURLEY Mayor 12. Tvcwtaes undas* tho ill of 3ei3&9 PhiiiBty Baxter to ttM City of BOi^en» liaasMt»2sett» Fly tbOBumaaA (QfiOQO.QQ) dQlltu»g Decactogp 80, 1925 UMlMlf t« IW ■ 39* Copies of Tills Pra^jhlet Have Bean Dopoalfced as FoUoirs: Casig2»03sional Jjl'orary, Boston ;\iblic ;>ibrary, i3oston Athenaetm, liassaclmsetts Historical society, If«w England IIlstoric-Genealooical Anerlcan Antiquarian Society, Portland Public library, Maine State 'Abrary, City of Boston, iiaaoadiusetts City of Portland, MaiiM Viaahin^-ton, D. G, Boston, : aao. Boston, Ijiaa. Boston, i:as3 iiociety, Boston, Liass, V/orcester, Haas. Portland, ialno Augusta, I'alne /c2 'l 'yioo^t^o^t.^-^c 5^. ^:> ^, 14. harxih 21, 1D04 I IwoMjby o©rti?/ t^ait th© Tiltliln docurienta arc- fcruo ajid accurate 04^«o or «ie opl(5lnals, and that tJj^y constltutQ a tjeiB^lete i-«c9rS «r t^© Tsniat C3«©at«d l?7 Jssea i^iiniiST BKSt«»r In ftivap or ^w Cltj Off Bosptosi, tlis jaii'nos^ of ?^Ticlt 4« th« founOfifciosi tsad ereetivRi of uovemor of ^aSjie Ecnnebad j '^ ' ?^sn p«p««saliy sppaar^d the ^xiv* aHnA Perclval ; . Bftxtop and iMtde oath to the above certificate. 3ef«»«9 ao ^^!-<;^^c^-c^>t. Sotsry Pttbllc A NEW ENGLAND PANTHEON, TO COMMEMORATE THE PRINCIPLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PIONEERS WHOSE IDEALS WERE THE SEED OF FREE GOV- ERNMENT HOW CAN IT BE MADE WORTHY OF TIIK PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND. PORTLAND: STEPHEN BERRY CO., PRINTERS. 1917. A New England Pantheon. To the Patriotic people of New England who are to take part in the tercentenary of the Landing of the Pilgrims in 1620, and to those interested in other nohle men and women who followed them to these shores, and by their united efforts laid the founda- tions of this Republic, thereby earning the title of the Fathers of New England: In three short years, which will be pregnant with events of world wide importance, since they promise to go far in determining problems of government among the nations of Europe, New England will celebrate the birth of popular government on this continent, initiated by that unique body of English- men who established the Plymouth Colony on the shores of Massachusetts. No greater event than this can be imagined, and it calls for the erection of a memorial befitting the occasion. Eight centuries ago, by the efforts of a pious King, Westminster Abbey was founded to preserve the mem- ory of the great men of England, and to-day it stands as an example of wise foresight to other nations. Says Dean Stanley in his " Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey " written in commemoration of its eighth hundred anniversary, " These memorials ought to be in fact the History of England in Westminster Abbey," for it " stands alone amongst the buildings of the world," When Dean Stanley wrote these words, eminently true, the great Rathaus of Hamburg had not been completed, which, in some respects, better represents the ideals of its people than the Abbey, since the latter perpetuates the memory of many Kings and political favoi'ites who were unworthy of the honor be- stowed upon them, while the former more particularly commemorates the men who devoted themselves to the welfare of the great free city in which they lived. This splendid edifice is built of native materials wholly by native workmen, from corner stone to finial, and is decorated wholly by native artists. Its wood work, its carvings, its fine metal grill work, its massively wrought hinges and locks, its stained glass, its great clock, its ponderous bell; in fact, everything in it is of native workmanship, and on the walls of its several divisions is depicted the history of Hamburg, from the little gathering of its founders to the meeting of its magis- trates to celebrate the completion of this unique build- ing. Besides the notable events of its history which are depicted upon its walls, there are busts and por- traits of its rulers and those who have honored it by noble achievement ; indeed, when one has devoted a few hours to the study of this building, so vivid are the impressions left upon his mind, that he feels when he leaves it, that he knows more about the history of Hamburg than he could have learned from books in a month of reading. In 1620, in this then New World inhaljited by a savage people, a band of men and women, especially devoted to the establishment of a free Commonwealth, landed upon the wintry shores of Massachusetts. Be- fore landing, with but a partial conception of the perils before them, they drew up in the cabin of the little ship in which they had been confined for nearlv four months, a compact which, says Senator Hoar, was " the beginning of a State." Probably no band of men actuated by so high a purpose as inspired the forty-one men who signed this compact ever associ- ated themselves together under like conditions. You know Bradford's immortal delineation of them : " They knew they were Pilgrims, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, and so quieted their spirits." To that country to which they calmly looked, one- half of them went through suffering unspeakable before the close of the terrible winter which thev encountered. But only a score of these men were left. You know what these Pilgrims accomplished, for it illustrates one of the most important pages of American history and of the world. They were followed in 1622 with that memorable landing at Cape Ann, and six years later by Endicott at .Salem with his little company actuated by like high motives. These men prepared the way for the founding of Boston in 1630 by Winthrop and his associates, and the extension of government by the Massachusetts Bay Colony over Plymouth and other Massachusets settlements. To-day we recognize no difference between the men of the Colonial period and know tliem all as the founders of this great Com- monwealth. The memory of these men is precious to us all. We regard them conjointly as the Fathers of New England to whom we owe a debt which we can only repay by keeping their memory ever bright. To do this their descendants should endeavor to give ex- pression to their ideals in a lasting memorial which shall not only vividly preserve to future generations the memoi"}' of their forefathers, but reflect imperish- able honor upon the men of this generation who rec- ognize their duty in honoring them. There can be no doubt that the memorial, which will best serve these purposes is a noble building — call it what you please, a Pantheon, a Temple of Honor, or any other fitting name — in harmony with New England ideals, capable of serving the purposes of a people whose test of merit is meritorious achievement. To accomplish this will not only be of incalculable importance to the people of New England, and, re- flectively, to the Nation, many of whose ideals derived from the fathers of New England have inspired it in achieving its present position among the nations of the world. The men who in the early part of the seven- teenth century landed on our North American shores, were men of vision, animated by a great purpose — the founding of Commonwealths — and their descendants, inheriting the virtues of their fathers, blazed a path through the vast wilderness which barred their way to the west, until they reached the golden gates of the Pacific, and made it possible to exclaim : 5 " No pent up Utica contracts our powers For the whole boundless continent is ours." These men with hearts throbbing with the blood of the Fathers of New England, and inspired by their ideals, have given to the nation many of its noblest characteristics, which must be cherished and preserved if it is to lead as the exemplar of Liberty, Justice and Brotherhood, among the nations of the world. But to accomplish this these descendants of New England fathers must be united in the purpose which, three centuries ago, animated the men in the little cabin of the Mayflower when they signed their names to that remarkable declaration of principles, which gave vital- ity to our national constitution. We have reached a period when without the co-operation oi the millions who bear the blood of the founders of New England, our high hopes for the future welfare of this countiy may fail of fruition. Let us reflect upon what has happened since the day when we achieved our Independence, and threw wide our gates with an all too generous impulse of hospitality. Actuated by a laudable ambition to bet- ter their condition, vast numbers of the people of all parts of the world who had been oppressed by exacting laws flocked to our shores, many of them valuable additions to our population. Among them however, were many, who, unfit to avail themselves of the blessings of free government, have proved to be a menace to the nation's welfare. These advocates and supporters of theories attractive to untrained minds, if not checked, may be the cause of a destructive revo- lution. How can this be met successfully ? The only answer is by instruction in the principles which actu- ated the men and women who laid the foundations of those free commonwealths, whose principles have been wrought into our National constitution, which the I. W. W. and their allies would destroy, and substitute in its place a thing of their own in which License would take the place of Liberty, Class Favoritism, of Equality, and the Nullification of Property Rights, of Justice. During the last few years we have been receiving a larger percentage than ever before of undesirable immi- grants, and when the war closes the nations engaged in it will hold back their abler men, and pour a flood of diseased and feeble ones into this country unless Congress puts up sufificient barriers which it is hardly likely to do. To the men whom dangerous theorists are daily making their dupes, the history of the founders of our Nation is a closed book, and I believe that the most effective way to deprive the dangerous advocates of false theories of government of an audience, is to in- struct the uninformed in the principles of those who created the early history of our country. Our churches, our schools, all our philanthropic agencies, are doing good work in this field, but they cannot sufficiently impress the uninstructed masses of our varied popula- tion. They must be reached by readier means, and few will deny that a building such as is here advo- vated, would not only be a pious tribute to our fore- fathers, but a most effective method of instruction to the masses who would throng its pictorial halls which would visualize to them, not only those who devoted their lives to making here a refuge for the oppressed of all lands, but the striking events of our history. Such a temple would exert an educational influence upon the uninstructed of incalculable worth. But we must not rest here. We must unite the people of New England blood who are scattered through every State of the Union in our undertaking. We need a roster bearing all their names, that their influence may be consolidated in the preservation of the principles of their forefathers. There are patriotic societies in most of the States which may be made available in collecting these names, which should be inscribed in a volume to be preserved forever in this building. This enrollment secured, we may be sure that our efforts will be generously seconded. Attention has been called to the Hamburg Rathaus which seems suggestive of the memorial we need. Of course you will agree that such a structure should be of imposing character, emphasizing the worthiest ex- pression of strength, dignity and simplicity ; that it should be built of material from New England quar- ries ; wrought by the hands of New England people, and adorned by the skill of New England artists, and that upon its walls should be pictorially recorded the chief events of New England history ; the landing at Plymouth, at Cape Ann, at Salem, at Boston ; of the ' genesis of Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine ; in fact, this building should not only be a memorial of New England's benefactors, and a credit to its builders, but it should also be a monument to the skill and art of New England in the twentieth century. If it be thought too great an undertaking, then the conception of Westminster Abbey by Edward the Con- fessor, and of the Rathaus of Hamburg by her citizens, may be considered Utopian. Surely all agree that New England has a history to commemorate as worthy as they had, and her financial ability is far greater than was that ^of the people of England or Hamburg. Should the objection be made that the time has not arrived for such an enterprise, and that it would be wise to leave it for future accomplishment, it can be answered that it is unquestionably wise to do a worthy thing at the earliest moment, and that our own genera- tion should exercise the privilege and enjoy the reward of so important an achievement. The financial question may be raised, but no more forcibly than at any future time. Surely the people of the great States that this building would represent would not fail to respond to an undertaking so patri- otic in its design as this. If necessary, the money for the undertaking could be raised in Massachuetts alone. If this plan meets with approval, steps should be at once to formulate plans for its accomplishment, for "Art is long and Time is fleeting." JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER. a iSeto CnglanlJ ®emple of ?|onor 1 A NEW ENGLAND TEMPLE OF HONOR SPARTAN PRESS INC. 146 OLIVER STREET BOSTON, MASS. A NEW ENGLAND TEMPLE OF HONOR By Hon. JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER, A.M., Litt. D. President of the New England Historic Genealogical Society Reprinted from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April. 1920) BOSTON 1920 A NEW ENGLAND TEMPLE OF HONOR* By Hon. James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt. D., President of the New England Historic Genealogical Society Members of the New England Historic Genealogical So- ciety, Ladies and Gentlemen: We have assembled to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of our Society in this Pilgrim year, so fraught with precious memories of an event the most important in the annals of New England save the landing of Winthrop, and which will prove to be an acknowledged inspiration to the world if we are able to live up to the ideals of our forefathers; hence I may be pardoned for repeating the trite saying that history is but the record of God's providence, as its repetition cannot fail to be useful until it takes its place among the self-evident truths of the human mind. In the history of nations there is none in which this truth is more apparent than in our own, since never before has there been a like opportunity afforded to develop a form of government in which the best aspirations of men could find free play. In the Old World autocratic governments, devised for the aggrandizement of a privi- leged class, have been instrmiiental in submerging many of their best subjects, which checked their growth and impaired their stabiUty. When James Stuart succeeded Elizabeth Tudor in the royal govern- ment of England, he brought with him ill-conceived theories of govern- ment, which contributed largely toward precipitating the great revo- lution in which liis son was brought to the block and England made a republic. Elizabeth had been autocratic enough, but she had been wisely restrained by that greatest of Enghsh statesmen, William Cecil, while her successor came under the influence of lesser men, who played upon the weak points which he so conspicuously displayed. His excursions into the fields of theological controversy, bringing him into contact with sectarians of extreme views, stinmlated his zeal to enforce his own opinions, and, as dissent from the more rigid and artificial forms of doctrine was increasing, he adopted the unwise pohcy of expatriation, which resulted in the ever memorable landing on Plymouth Rock, the Winthrop colony, and the founding of New England. Never in the history of any country has so remarkable a body of men as the Pilgrims and the Puritans been so providentially brought together to build a nation ; for, whatever may be said to the contrary, history makes evident the fact that the spirit of New England is the true Americanism which is to-day the spirit of the •Address delivered in Ford Hall, Ashburton Place. Boston. IS Mar. 1920. at the celebration of the aeventy-Eftb anniversary of the incorporation of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 6 Nation, for it has been aptly said of these pioneers that God sifted the best seed of Old England for planting New England. In this hearing it hardly seems proper to eulogize these men; they need no eulogy here. For some time, and especially during the past year, there has been a persistent attempt to defame and beUttle the Pilgrim and the Puritan, who together rightly earned the title of New England's Founders. Certainly their descendants do not desire to exaggerate the virtues of their ancestors. They would, however, shield them from misrepresentation. That they wrought faithfully under hardships and privations to lay the foimdation of a great commonwealth we have the evidences about us after nearly three centuries. If they sometimes made mis- takes, their accomplishments cast their errors into the shade, and these should not be dragged forth by carping critics to obscure their virtues. The institutions of learning, in which we class not only our schools, our colleges, and churches, but our antiquarian, historical, and genea- logical societies, will see to the preservation of the true history of the beginnings of our national history, and none other more faithfully than tliis Society, whose founders had this single object in view — the study and preservation of the memories of those whose spirit has stamped itself ineffaceably upon the consciousness of New England. The memory of these men, whose ideal was the creation of a com- monwealth in which all men loyal to God and the brotherhood of man should enjoy under His providence civil Uberty and the exercise of the rights of private conscience, is especially precious to this Society. Three years ago, as you know, I advocated the erection of a memorial building or Temple of Honor, to commemorate them on this ter- centenary of the landing at Plymouth. Several meetings were held to discuss the subject, but the great World War broke upon us, and it was found impossible to carry out the project at this time. Though it is evident that a memorial building in honor of the Fathers of New England cannot be erected for some time to come, it is certain that it will be at a future day, and I am calhng the attention of this Society to the subject on this, as it seems to me, most fitting occasion, that it may be recorded and serve as a reminder of its importance to those who will succeed us. This Society, I know, will of necessity lead in this great work, and its accomplishment will be of incalculable importance to the people of New England, and, reflectively, to the Nation, many of whose ideals derived from the Fathers of New England have inspired it in achieving its present position among the nations of the world. The men who in the early part of the seventeenth century landed on our North American shores were men of vision, animated by a great purpose, the founding of commonwealths, and their descendants, inheriting the virtues of their fathers, blazed a path through the vast wilderness which barred their way to the West, until they reached the golden gates of the Pacific, and made it possible to exclaim : "No pent-up Utica contracts our powers. For the whole boundless continent is ours." These men, with hearts throbbinp; with the blood of the Fathers of New England, and inspired by their ideals, have given to the Nation many of its noblest characteristics, which must be (-herished and pre- served if it is to lead as the exemplar of Liberty, Justice, and Brother- hood among the nations of the workl. But to accomplish this these descendants of New England fathers must be united in the purpose which three centuries ago animated (he men in the little cabin of the Mayflower, when they signed their names to that remarkable declara- tion of principles which gave vitality to our national constitution. We have reached a period when without the cooperation of the miOions who bear the blood of the Founders of New England our high hopes for the future welfare of this country may fail of fruition. The policy of this Society should lae to encourage this union. Let us reflect upon what has happened since the day when we achieved our independence, and threw wide our gates with an all too generous impulse of hospitaUty. Actuated by a laudable ambition to better their condition, vast numbers of the people of all parts of the world, who had been oppressed by too exacting laws, flocked to our shores, many of them valuable additions to our population. Among them, however, were many who, unfit to avail themselves of the bless- ings of free government, have proved to be a menace to the Nation's welfare. These advocates and supporters of theories attractive to untrained minds, if not checked, may be the cause of a destructive revolution. How can this be met successfully? The only answer is, by instruction in the principles which actuated the men and women who laid the foundations of these free commonwealths, whose prin- ciples have been wrought into our national constitution, which anarchists and their allies would destroy and substitute in its place a thing of their own, in which License would take the place of Liberty, Class Favoritism the place of Equahty, and the Nullification of Property Rights the place of Justice. During the past few years we have been receiving a larger percentage than ever before of unde- sirable immigrants, and now that the war has closed, the nations engaged in it will hold back their able men and burden us with the diseased and feeble unless Congress puts up sufficient barriers against them, which it is unlikely to do. To the men whom dangerous theorists are daily making their dupes the history of the Founders of our Nation is a closed book, and I believe that the most effective way to deprive the dangerous advo- cates of false theories of government of an audience is to instruct the uninformed in the principles of those who created the early history of our country. Our churches, our schools, all ovir philanthropic agencies are doing good work in this field, but they cannot sufficiently impress the uninstructed masses of our varied population. They must be reached by readier means; and few will deny that a building such as I have advocated would not only l)e a pious tribute to our forefathers but a most eiTective method of instruction to the masses who would throng its pictorial halls, which would visualize to them not only those who devoted their lives to making here a refuge for the oppressed of all lands, but the striking events of our history. Such a temple would exert an educational influence upon the uninstructed of incalculable worth. 8 Of course you will agree that such a structure should be of imposing character, emphasizing the worthiest expression of strength, dignity, and simplicity ; that it should be built of material from New England quarries, wrought by the hands of New England people, and adorned by the skill of New England artists; and that upon its walls should be pictorially recorded the chief events of New England history — the landing at Plymouth, at Cape Ann, at Salem, at Boston, the genesis of Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine. In fact, this building should not only be a memorial of New England's benefactors and a credit to its builders, but it should also be a monument to the skill and art of New England in the twentieth century. I submit this to you, my friends, and to our successors, who in due time, I have full faith, will carry out this plan with such modification as they may deem wise.