Ohio History Journal

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THE McGUFFEY SOCIETY AT THE LOGAN ELM

THE McGUFFEY SOCIETY AT THE LOGAN ELM

 

The McGuffey Society of Columbus was organized

to perpetuate the memory of Dr. William H. McGuffey.

He was one of Ohio's greatest educators, but his place

in history and in the affections of thousands is fixed by

his famous series of Readers familiar to the present

and last two generations.  The officers of this Society

conceived the original and unique idea of a gathering

of its members and guests beneath the shadowing

boughs of the historic Logan Elm, near Circleville in

Pickaway County, and there with other exercises,

formally read the Indian Chief Logan's speech, one of

the striking features of McGuffey's Fourth Reader, of

the edition of 1853. This eloquent and tragic expres-

sion of savage oratory was made imperishable in Amer-

ican history by Thomas Jefferson's Notes on Virginia,

and its subsequent repetition in the McGuffey's school

books.  So on June 24th, there assembled three hun-

dred people to commemorate one of the most dramatic

incidents of American history.     From  Columbus,

Circleville, Chillicothe, and the surrounding country

came the visitors to hear the program of the occasion.

It was a faultless day, reminding one of Lowell's lines:

 

"And what is so rare as a day in June,

Then, if ever, come perfect days;

When Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,

And over it softly her warm ear lays."

The old Elm is still in the full vigor of robust age,

for it was ancient one hundred and forty-eight years

(355)