Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

Page 9 text:

THE GOLDEN-ROD. THE DEDICATION. Quince’s Grand New Higl) 5dI)ool building For- mally Opened. —TI)e Governor of Common- wealfl) and Offers Address ci Very Ear ere Gathering. [From the Quincy J)a ily Ledger.] One of the largest indoor gatherings which ever assembled in Quincy was that on Tuesday afternoon at the dedi- cation of our grand new High School bui ding. The attractions were many —the tine building, of which the Daily Ledger gave a fine description on Monday, the presence of the Governor of the commonwealth ; the presenta- tion of a flag by the Grand Army ; and a band of music But many were there because they take a pride in our High School and the great progress it has made of late. Many of the alumni wished they might again be enrolled where there was so much to encourage one to strive for a high education. They noticed arrange- ments which were unfamiliar to them and were surprised at the grandeur of everything. All the conveniences of a modern High school are there. It was a popular gathering. No in- vitations had been issued except to the Governor and our city government, and seats were reserved for these only. The pupils of last June, however, oc- cupied seats on the right of the plat- form, and under the direction of Mrs. Smith led the singing, which was a feature of the programme. The main study room, although the largest hall in Quincy, was entirely inadequate to accommodate the crowd. Shortly after the appointed hour the exercises commenced and were carried out according to the following pro- gramme : President of the Day, Dr. Joseph M. Sheahan Chorus, High School Invocation, Rev. DanielMunro Wilson Delivery of Building to Mayor, Commissioner of Public Works William N. Eaton Response, His Honor, Mayor William A. Hodges Acceptance, Chairman of School Board Emery L. Crane Reception of Keys, Head Master Frederic Allison Tupper Remarks, Superintendent II. W. Lull Address, His Excellency Gov. Frederic T. Greenhalge Ode, “ My Quincy by the Sea ” High School Words by Frederic Allison Tupper Presentation of Flag, Paul Revere Post 88, G. A. R. I. M. Holt, Commander Star Spangled Banner, High School Soloist, Miss Mary F. White Joseph n. Sheahan, fl. D., Sub-committee of the High school, was introduced as president of the day, and spoke as follows : I have just received a letter from one whose name is familiar to us all, and who has served us faithfully many years in the capacity of superintendent, Mr. George I. Aldrich (applause), in which, regretting his inability to be present, he speaks of this as an im- portant event. It is, indeed, an im- portant event. It marks an era in the history of our High school. We of the school board have been painfully conscious of the defects of the former building and we recognized

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. “ Parthenon ” they called that temple, temple of Athena fair, Virgin goddess, wisdom-lover, Queen of Athens sun-lit air, Fearless ’mid the din of battle, Patron of the Athenian town, Lover of the Attic olive, lov6r of the violet crown. Stately columns simply Doric beauty lent unto that fane, Artists of the old-time genius to grand thoughts gave loosened rein; Architraves above the columns, pediment, and glorious frieze, With its Pan-Athenian pageant, and its eternal power to please. Noble, sacred Architecture! Sculpture pure and ne’er surpassed! Manhood reaching up toward heaven, earthly burdens earthward cast! When the golden Attic sunshine fell in splendor o’er the land, And the blue iEgean murmured ocean mys- teries to the strand : Or when moonlight beauty lingered round that marble temple fair, And the nightingale with music filled the soft, caressing air, Then the soul was all enraptured with the majesty and charm, Stilled was every baser passion, hushed was every alarm. Athens, I have ever loved thee, even from my childhood days; I have pictured thee in fancy in the sunset’s golden haze; I have loved thy bards and prophets, archi- tects and sculptors grand, Loved thy orators and statesmen, world- renowned and peerless band. And the music of thy language lingers in my memory still, All its majesty and sweetness gloriously ray being thrill, Aud thy thoughts forever spoken, and thy deeds of deathless fame, Through the ages aye shall echo, city of illus- trious name. I had hoped ere yet last autumn taught our Quincy woods to glow, With the crimson, golden splendors that New England’s forests know, Greek might be among the studies offered to our Quincy youth, As the finest means of culture in the eternal search for truth. hi. The City of the Seven Hills her Colosseum built, And there before Rome’s greedy eyes a sea of blood was spilt; Those gloating eyes beheld with joy the pangs of man or beast, As starving eyes with ravenous glare devour a forbidden feast. Ten times ten thousand people watched the gladiators’ fight, And hailed each deftly given thrust with frenzies of delight. Here maiden martyrs, pure as suow on some lone Alpine height, Took one last lingering look of earth, then turned to Heaven’s light. And while the Roman eagles flew victorious o’er the world, And while ihe Roman banners waved to every breeze unfurled, Such scenes at home sapped Roman strength, and gave Rome to the foe; And those who smiled at captive’s pain, be- wailed their own dire woe. What though they built of massive stone a theatre of gore? What though the eager thousands swept through every crowded door? What though imperial Caesars sat in guilty luxury then, To watch the struggles, wounds and death of their own fellow-men? Not stately buildings reared on wrong can “ constitute a state.” Not stone on stone, however graud, can make a nation great. The storm-cloud gathering mighty force in Gothic Northern sky, Burst on the vaunted power of Rome, and found that power a lie. And thus fell Rome, and Athens, too, fell thus Egyptian power— Remorseless Fate aye bids her time, and waits the appointed hour. Egypt to build her royal tombs must crush the people’s right, Athens a fane to fancied gods must ever keep in sight, And Roman cruelty must gloat o’er martyrs’ dying breath. Within a Colosseum reared for torture and for death. God grant these lessons be not lost on this fair land of ours! God grant no poison lurks unseen in fair Columbian flowers! And, when we build, we’ll question first what is the corner-stone; On Truth and Right we’ll rear our walls, on these, and these alone! {Continued on last page.]

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. that neither the long devotion of Mr. Keith, nor the restless energy and well directed activity of Mr. Lull, nor the originality of Mr. Horne, nor the en- thusiasm and high culture of our pres- ent incumbent, Mr. Tupper, could make up for the lack of those material accessories, without which every en- deavor may be rendered in a measure sterile. Words are utterly inadequate to ex- press the satisfaction which we feel in the contemplation of this vast, com- modious and beautiful edifice; forming so striking a contrast to the ill-arranged quarters heretofore occupied by our JOSEPH M. SHEAIIAN, M. D., Sub-committee of High School. pupils, and I hope that the old building will be retained to serve for all times as a monument, both of the patience of the teachers, and the perseverance of the scholars. We dedicate this building today to the cause of education, and to the still higher principle of equal rights of man- kind. We know that all are not cre- ated alike, but we contend that every one is entitled before the law to the full development of his mental re- sources, and to the full fruition of any intellectual culture which he may have given himself. In the words of the great Napoleon, “ Every career should be open to talents,” or as Abraham Lincoln expressed it later in more homely phrase, “ Every man has the right to be the equal of another, if he can.” Here no race, no creed, no color shall form a discrimination, but united in a sacred brotherhood all our children shall learn to respect and esteem each other as citizens of this great Com- monwealth and of this glorious repub- lic. And we dedicate this structure to the common Father of us all, believing as we do, that in no other wav can a more worthy appreciation of His love and providence be acquired then through the study of His works. “ For we doubt not, through the ages, one increasing purpose runs, And the thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns.” And it is in that reverent spirit that we shall begin the exercises with a choral by the children, after which I will ask our kind friend, Rev. Daniel Munro Wilson, to invoke the divine blessing. flusic and Prayer. The school had but one brief rehear- sal in the morning, but such is the musical proficiency of High school pupils that the chorus was well ren- dered. Rev. D. M. Wilson’s prayer was ap- propriate to the occasion. Contractor Mellen was not present to announce the completion of the building. Commissioner Eaton, In delivering the building spoke as follows : Mayor Hodges, at the beginning of the year I was appointed Commissioner of Public Works by you, and with other duties, came the erection of this building. I have attended to my duty and the building is finished, and as commissioner; it is my duty to present you with the keys of the building.