Ohio History Journal

Dedication of the Haves Memorial.      437

 

Bless, we pray, the Republic of which we are a part. Be

with all who are in places of leadership. Guide the Nation

through all dangers to a safe harbor. Help us to become to all

nations the truest expression of the divine program for human

government.

We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ who has given us

the ideals upon which all lasting human civilizations must stand.

Amen."

"The Star Spangled Banner" was then sung by the Col.

George Croghan Chapter, D. A. R., and the Fremont Church

Choirs (who were seated on a specially constructed platform to

the right of the speakers' stand), and led by Prof. Alfred Arthur,

leader of the 23d Regiment Band; accompanied by the Woodman

Band.

President Wright then introduced his Honor, Mayor George

Kinney, of Fremont, who gave the following address of welcome:

 

 

ADDRESS OF MAYOR GEORGE W. KINNEY.

Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society, through and by whose

grand achievements and devotion to duty we are able to dedicate

this magnificent memorial- this historic mansion - this match-

less grove-this place of beauty-to the sacred memory of

Rutherford B. Hayes, I bid you welcome.

To all you aged soldiers of the War for the Union who were

his allies in war and his comrades in peace, who come here to

evidence your love and devotion to your old commander, I bid

you welcome.

To all you honorable gentlemen, representatives of this great

nation and state who honor us by your presence in this dedicatory

service to the memory of one of the noblest of America's great

men, I bid you welcome.

To all other organizations and associations, and especially the

Odd Fellows, of which he was an active and devoted member for

fifty years -some of you have known him all these years, yet

none knew him but to love, and none named him but to praise, and

any and all of you come to express your love, respect and ad-

miration for your townsman and your friend, I bid you welcome.

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438       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

The thing we dedicate here today has not been erected as a

temporary expedient, but will stand as a monument for all time

to the glory of this society, this state, and the distinguished dead.

It will serve as a perpetual reminder to your children's children

of the many kind acts done, the many kind words spoken by this

noble man and still more noble woman, whose ashes lie at rest

in this consecrated ground.

It will arouse inspirations and aspirations and create ideals

for the young they can never forget. May its influence go with

them through life and when aged and gray, may they be truthfully

able to say:

"Still over these scenes my memory walks

And fondly broods with miser care;

Time the impression but stronger make

As streams their channels deeper wear."

 

We are not unmindful of the jewels placed in our keeping

this day. By erecting this memorial building of the everlasting

rock, and placing such priceless treasures therein of books and

parchments, you have made this a city of refuge for future

scholars--a Mecca for future ages, for which we are indeed

deeply grateful.

History is always tardy to do justice to the great-it is

too soon for his eulogy - too soon for his history - but a future

age will render the honor and glory to him which has been un-

justly withheld by this.

Possessed of the wisdom of the present and the past - he

knew how to become great without ceasing to be virtuous - fame

should be earnest in her joy, and proud of such a son. He fought,

but not for love of strife -he struck but to defend-he never

became estranged from any man before he sought to be his friend.

He stood the firm, the wise, the patriot sage-he cherished

his neighbor, he loved his country, and revered his God.

When time shall have come, and come it will, that the his-

torians will have recatalogued the galaxy of America's greatest

men, you will find written at the poll, or very near the poll, the

fair fame and sacred name of R. B. Hayes.

Once again I bid you all a solemn and cordial welcome, and

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Dedication of the Hayes Memorial.        439

 

ask each and every one of you to register here on this consecrated

spot a solemn vow to preserve this nation forever and forever to

the American - peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must, but for

America, America forever and forever.

Mr. Charles R. Williams, of Princeton, biographer of Ruth-

erford Birchard Hayes, then delivered the following address:

 

 

ADDRESS OF CHARLES R. WILLIAMS.

We are met today to signalize the formal dedication of the

Hayes Memorial building. There has been no occasion like this

in all the history of our beloved country. It is made possible by

the gracious cooperation of filial affection and worthy public

appreciation, for which I recall no parallel in our annals. By

deed of gift, a few years ago, Colonel Webb C. Hayes conveyed

to the state, for the benefit of the Archaeological and Historical

Society, this beautiful historic grove, through which ran the

famous Indian trail by which William Henry Harrison marched

his forces to Lake Erie, and whose ancient oaks had sheltered

savage wigwams and been lighted by the bivouac fires of hardy

frontier soldiers of 1812. The gift was on condition that the

society should procure the erection of a suitable fireproof build-

ing for the permanent preservation of the books and papers and

personal belongings of President and Mrs. Hayes. Of course the

society, of which Mr. Hayes was long president, and which has

done so much to gather, to investigate, and to preserve records

and documents and objects of historical and archaeological sig-

nificance, was rejoiced to accept the gift and to undertake the

trust. And the state, through legislature and governor  both,

as it happened, Democratic at the time -was not slow to mani-

fest its appreciation of the gift and to do its share to make the

gift secure, rightly esteeming its patriotic purpose and its large

and permanent worth. To Senator T. A. Dean, of Fremont, for

his effective presentation of the cause before the legislature, we

should not fail, on this day of rejoicing, to give special credit and

praise. He saw clearly, he spoke persuasively -  for the honor

of Ohio's greatest President, for the dignity and glory of the

state.

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