F 542 .L27 Copy 1 ILLINOIS DAY CELEBRATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON ILLINOIS DAY CELEBRATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON Urbana-Champaign Illinois 1917 Copyright. 1917 By William Chau.ncy Langdon All Rights Reserved ©CI.D 4851 G DEC 10 1917 THE PERSONS OF THE ^ CELEBRATION ^ The President of the University of Illinois ^ The Deans of the University of Illinois Members of the Constitutional Convention of 1818 : Governor Ninian Edwards Governor Shadrach Bond Pierre Menard Nathaniel Pope Jesse B. Thomas Edward Coles Elias Kent Kane Daniel Pope Cook John McLean America Illinois ILLINOIS DAY CELEBRATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS On the Platform of the Auditorium of the University of Illinois is raised a high dais, on ivhich are tivo seats, one a little loiver than the other. In froyit at either side are groups of seats. Steps go doivn from the Platform to the central aisle. The Music plays a Processional March. From one side there enter the President and Deans of the University of Illi- 7iois in their academic caps, goivns ayid hoods. From the other side there enter a group representing Governor Ninian Ed- ivards. Governor Shadrach Bond, and other leaders of the Illi- nois Constitutional Convention of 1818. They go to their seats on either side at the front, and sit down. When the Processional March comes to an end, the President of the University rises. President: Men, Women of the University, My fellow-members of the Faculty, And Students in these various Colleges : — This is the day whereon the sovereign State Of Illinois was born, December third, Eighteen-eighteen, the Senate cast its vote Without division granting finally The fair petition of our fathers for Admission to the Union of the States. Wherefore this day by law is duly held In honor and in grateful memory, And I today as President have called The University of Illinois In worthy Convocation, fittingly To celebrate the admission of the State. As specially his high occasion brings Together here the present and the past, So those who laid the State's foundations sure Are here in those who led our fathers then. In Ninian Edwards, Territorial Governor, In Shadrach Bond, first Governor of the State, In Pierre Menard and in Nathaniel Pope, His nephew, Daniel Cook, and E. K. Kane, In Edward Coles, McLean and Thomas, — men Who, though they builded better than they knew, Looked far into the future as they worked, — As also in our day, God grant, do we ! The President of the University resumes his seat and Governor Ninian Edwards rises. Edwards : As when we came, keen pioneers, from out The tangled wilderness, from out the dark Dense wooded swamp, through which we had cut our way. Into the open prairie and the sun, — So was it when we came at last from out The territorial status and became A State. In our own hands our destinies ! [6] No danger lurked which we might not forefend. The open grassy fields stretched mile on mile Before us till our view was lost to sight Far off in distant years. These prairies were The State of Illinois, and over all The deep blue shining sky of Heaven ! My friends here with me were among the men Who then so boldly wisely did their part In organizing this State government And in securing its admission as A State. Nathaniel Pope, our Delegate In Congress, in the first month of the year Presented our petition in the House. On April eighteenth the Enabling Act Was signed. Therein two clauses specially Worked for the great upbuilding and the power Of the future Commonwealth. The first one gave The State some fifty miles of shore upon Lake Michigan, thus making possible her port And intimate relations with the North, To match the commerce that the Mississippi Swept along its flood of waters toward The South. The second clause provided well For making roads to lead into the State ; So should the immigration come straight through And not be hindered by the forest tracts That lay forbiddingly across the pathways From the east. Then too still other clauses gave, According to the noble precedent Of other States, endowment for the Schools, And for a public University, In final consequence whereof these walls Afford us shelter now, and serve the great Unfathomable destinies to which God leads the State. Pursuant to this Act, We met in August at Kaskaskia To draft a Constitution for our State, m And organized with Thomas in the Chair. Most of us were farmers, settlers, men Of practical experience but not Of legal learning. But Elias Kane Though young was learned in the law, and he Did most to guide and codify our work. Thereunder was elected Shadrach Bond First Governor of the State of Illinois, And Pierre Menard Lieutenant Governor, While Jesse Thomas to the Senate went With me, and John McLean received the vote For Congress. There he put the measure through Admitting Illinois, and James Monroe, As President, affixed his signature To that foundation stone of Illinois The day the Senate voted to concur, December third, eighteen-eighteen. As Governor Ediuards finishes his recounting of the early days, the President of the University again rises. President : Such the beginnings. Now our State maintains Imperial her position on the Lakes And on the prairies of the Middle West ! The second city of the Nation hers ; The central market of the continent ! The mighty Mississippi highway binds In mutual interest Northern wheat and corn With Southern cotton, sugar, lumber, rice ; While long transcontinental railroad lines Unite Atlantic and Pacific coasts ! Thus from her central vantage-point the State Of Illinois has still looked forth to find Her onward way. So has she specially Been favored as America has grown. To Illinois all her preeminence [8] America has given, and Illinois Full service has in loyal love returned. The century gives way to other years, But thus forever shall it be. So now In this commemoration of the State, Oh may that glorious spirit be with us Which growing mightily through all the years Has nursed our growth, as men, and as a State, The eagle-crested, star-crowned, golden one For whom we pray, — America ! The Music plays The Star Spangled Banner. All rise. Doivn the centi^al aisle comes the figure of America, escorted by soldiers of the Brigade of the University of Illinois. She is 7'obed in ivhite, with a golden girdle and a golden liberty cap. She carr^ies the Amey-ican Flag in her right hand and wears the Shield of the United States on her left shoidder. She goes up the steps onto the Platform and on up the steps of the dais, tak- ing her place in front of the higher seat. Her escorts stand on either side at the foot of the dais. At the close of the national air Governor Edwards and the President of the University greet her in tribute for the present and for the past. Edwards : Hail ! Dream of all our early strivings ! Hail President : Hail ! Inspiration of the common hope Wherein we guard and guide the good of all ! The Mu^ic again plays and the Convocation joins in sing- ing two stanzas of America My County ! 'Tis of thee, Sweet land of Liberty, Of thee I sing ! Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let Freedom ring ! [9] Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, To Thee we sing ! Long may our land be bright With Freedom's holy light ! Protect us by Thy might. Great God, our King! At the close of the hymn the people resume their seats. America : Together all the People, north and south, From ocean, east and west, to ocean join, And all the generations too unite In praise and prayer before the Great White Throne Of Him Whose dearest Law is Liberty ! Behold, an hundred years ago your prayer Was Liberty ! An hundred years have passed, Your praise is Freedom ! So eternally Do praise and prayer commingled rise to Heaven, And so eternally His Spirit rules ! Then may the God of Freedom bless and keep The State of Illinois, and all the States, And all the Nations of the Earth. Amen ! America sits down and addresses all the people assembled before her. America: Remember the creation of your State And call to mind the meaning of those days! Read o'er the instruments whereby was made Your government an hundred years ago ! Nathaniel Pope steps forivard and reads from the Enab- ling Act of 1818. [10] Pope: From The Enabling Act of April 18, 1818:— "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the inhabitants of the territory of Illinois be, and they are hereby, authorized to form for themselves a constitution and State government, and to assume such name as they shall deem proper ; and the said State, when formed, shall be admitted into the Union upon the same footing with the original States, in all respects whatever," Elias Kent Kane then steps forward and reads from the Constitution of Illinois, 1818. Kane: From the first Constitution of the State of Illinois, 1818. "The people of the Illinois Territory, having the right of admission into the General Government as a mem- ber of the Union, consistent with the Constitution of the United States, the Ordinance of Congress of 1787, and the law of Congress approved April 18, 1818, ... in order to establish justice, promote the welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity, do, by their representatives in convention, ordain and estab- lish the following constitution or form of government; and do mutually agree with each other to form themselves into a free and independent State, by the name of the State of Illinois. Article I, Section 1. The powers of the government of the State of Illinois shall be divided into three distinct departments, and each of them confided to a separate body of magistracy, to wit : Those which are legislative, to one ; those which are executive to another; and those which are judiciary, to another. Article VIII. That the general, great, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recog- nized and unalterably established, we declare: "Section 1. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights; among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, and of acquiring, possessing, and protect- ing property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness. [11] "Section 2. That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness. "Section 3. That all men have a natural and inde- feasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences." America: Now bring her hither whom you choose to stand As figure of the State of Illinois. Governor Edwards and Governor Bond go to meet the State of Illinois and escort her to America. Illinois stands he- fore America facing her. She is robed in a siyigle garment of pale gold. The Music plays all through the ceremony of inves- titure. America at first addresses Illinois, and then the People. America : All simply clad in native gold you come, The color of your leagues of ripened corn. If this be she whom you have chosen for Your State, upraise your arms ; acclaim her. All The People : Hail ! America : Invest her with the garment of her Statehood ; Robe her in the blue of sovereignty ! An overvesture of blue velvet is brought and placed upon the State of Illinois. Upon the breast is a golden I. America : Upon her shoulders cast the ample cloak Of federal protection, federal right. A long floicing cloak of blue is brought and affi.vcd to her shoidders. [12] America: Give her the Flag into her hand; the Shield. The State Flag is brought and give^i to Illinois; also the State Shield. America then rises in her place, giving her Flag and her Shield to tivo of the soldiers, and addresses Illinois. America: Thus, Illinois, in the name of American People I receive you. I create you a State by your chosen name of Illinois. I place the Star of Statehood on your forehead and I admit you to the Union of the United States. With the words, America places a golden wreath upon Illi- nois' head heariyig a star. Then Governor Edwards and the President of the University) turn Illinois around to the People, and the Music sivelling forth fortissimo all the people join in singing three sta7izas of the State Song, Illinois By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois, O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois, Comes an echo on the breeze, Rustling through the leafy trees. And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois ! Thou didst hear thy country calling, Illinois, Illinois, Mid the din of war appalling, Illinois, Illinois, Then thy courage and thy will Rose each heart to fire and thrill. Brave and loyal thou art still, Illinois, Illinois ! While thy glory we are singing, Illinois, Illinois, Loyal homage to thee bringing, Illinois, Illinois, Let us praise His holy name. Through whose might all good we claim. Who has wrought thy wondrous fame Illinois, Illinois ! (C. M. Chamberlain and F. M. Steele.) [13] At the end of the State Song America resumes her seat, Illinois takes her seat on the dais beside America and all the people sit down. Then the President of the University delivers ayi address, or iyitroduces the Speaker of the Day. After the Address, there is sung : — On Forever, Illinois! Illinois!' Above the prairie High thine eagle wings his flight, Watching, vigilant and wary. Over human toil and right ! Eagle-pinioned, on with joy ! On forever, Illinois! Through the storm sweep on with joy ! On forever, Illinois! Illinois ! The times are calling Souls that fear no sacrifice ! Men for Liberty are falling; Will your sons refuse the price? Scorning danger, on with joy! On forever, Illinois! On through death ! On, on with joy ! On forever, Illinois! Illinois ! Thy meed of glory That all men, till years are dust, Shall thy sons, high famed in story, Silent, heaven-borne eagles, trust ! On through death ! On, on with joy ! On forever, Illinois! Eagle-pinioned, on with joy! On forever, Illinois! The Benediction is then pronounced by the President of the University. [14] President: Now may He Who breathes the breath of life into all men breathe His Spirit into the State of Illinois, and into the United States of America, and into All the ■ Peoples of the Earth, inspiring them to do His Holy Will under the perfect Law of Liberty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Music plays a Recessional March. America and Illi- nois rise from their seats arid descend, the steps of the dais. Then, preceded by the Members of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1818 and followed by the President and Deans of the University, they go out straight up the central aisle while the people of the Convocation stand in their places. [16] THE ILLINOIS DAY CELEBATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ivas presented in the Auditorium, December 3, 1917, by the Committee on Convocations, luith the cooperation of the Illinois Dram,a Federation THE PERSONS IN THE CELEBRATION The President of the University of Illinois The Deans of the University of Illinois The Members of the Constitutional Convention, 1818: Governor Ninian Edwards R. A. Bryant Governor Shadrach Bond H. W. Gibson Nathaniel Pope R. S. White E. K. Kane A. A. Dailey Jesse B. Thomas George Salladin Pierre Menard J. H. Armstrong Daniel Pope Cook Joel Greene Edward Coles Charles Fairman John McLean Newman Romero America Gertrude Sawyer Illinois Lucille Peirson Escort to America and the Colors, Arthur H. Bodenschatz, Rex R. Thompson, and Cadets The Music for the Celebration was composed by J. Law- rence Erb, FA.G.O. The singing was led by the com- bined Glee Clubs of the University. The Costumes of America and Illinois were designed by Mrs. William Chauncy Langdon. The Committee on Illinois Day Convocation consisted of Daniel Kilham Dodge, Chairman; Dean Fanny C. Gates, Dr. Allene Gregory, Francis Keese Wynkoop Drury, and William Chauncy Langdon. [16] [Twin City PniNTiNC Company "I Champaign, Illinois J LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 014 751 929 1 ^ ]