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SPECIAL BIRTHDAY NUMBER
Jforb 'Rall Jfolhs
Vol. I.
No.
10.
l\farch
FIVE YEARS OF A NEW WORLD.
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We do not realize it, but there is
no precedent for what happens every
Snnday evening at Ford Hall. I know
of nothing that matches it, and never
heard of anything just like It.
The
Cooper Union meeting' is entirely without the definite, though all-inclusive,
religious note.
'fhe Chicago. Orcl1estra O!ub is frankly and . exclusively
Christian.
The Rochester· "Peo11le's
Sunday Evening" is more nearly · like
unto our work, but the· Ford Hall
Meetings are entirely unique in' that
they make the most unlimlteci and universal appeal and yet are founded· on
the limited base of an orthodox,. Protestant church,-the Bapthit! ·.
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For five years the Fdr'd ·mili' folks
have seen Protestant, Catholic, .Tinvlsli
and Agnostic leaders give their mes·sages to an audience made up of _the
same varied elements, and . the audience in turn ha~ been privileged to
catechise these speakers without Jet or
11indrance. The most vital issues of
religion, economics and civics have
been freely discussed.
Great crowds
l1ave thronged tlie- place of assembly.
Never once in all these five years has
there been any violence or serious distnrbance, and as chairman of the meetlugs I have never once had occasion
to use even a gavel to preserve order.
At the beginning it was promised by
i:he Boston Baptist Social Union,
through me as the chairman of its
Committee on Christian Work, that
these meetings should not be used as
a propaganda by any one not even by
itself, but shotild be co1;ducted without prejudice to race, cla,ss or creed,
That pledge has been kept both in the
spirit and In the letter, and the meetlugs have thus become a. blessing to a
multitude who could be helped In 110
.other way,
They have been carried
911 with the sole purpose of serving the
community and with no thought of
benefitting exclusively any particular
orga(1ization, be it religions, social or
polit1cal.
·
·. I want to take advantage of this op. portunity to express my pride and de-'
1lght in the patience, forbearance,
broacl-mincleclness and independence ·of
2,
Price Ten Cents
1913.
my own brethren of the Baptist Social
Union who have ,so nobly upheld my
hands during all the difficulties and
ti;ials necessarily incident to this pioneer work. I often wonder whether
the men of some other sect would have
stood the test so well. At all events,
it makes me' 'glad again for the thousandth Ume that I am a Baptist.
· And· as· 'for the part played by the.
lamented Daniel Sharp Ford in mak·irig all this possible, I am quite certain it must rejoice Ms soul If he can
·1n1ow· but' a tenth part of the nure joy
and 1111alloye·c1 ·delight which his hene·factio1i · has already brought to thou·sands· who until now have had but
li_ftl~ ·ch~nce · to understand or appre·mate the kind of Christianity he stood
.for: · · ·
·
. , As fo!' myself, although the obllgat10ns have ·been onerous, and tne strain
and stress very exhausting, I count it
·the greatest· privilege and joy of my
life to lwve served in this cause. Some
of my dearest friends are among the
Ford Hall 'folks and my heart goes out
to every last one of them, and generally the more to those who sometimes
make it rather strenuous for me.
There isn't one toward whom I do not
have the utmost ·good will-even Urbansky, whom I was fast learning to
love when the law ·made Mm itl; v'c•
tlm for nn]Jermltted sfreet:pi·eaching.
Looking Into the future,· I cannot
tell what lies in store for us, a1iy·more
than l could have foretold· in· the beginning that .we would last "even five
years. But I feel fafrly certai'n;' nevertheless, that at our · tenth annlversary we shall see s·o'me remarlrnhle developments beyond our. ])resent lines
of activity, I have· bee11 looldn°· for
it from the· begh111fog. It seems"'very
much nearer now .pian ever befor~.
Most of us belie:ve in praye1~1et us
pray hard. Let the others wish hard
Goel will imclerstand the one as well a~
the other. And ·any psychologist wlll
tell yon .that wishing hard for a thing
'is. the best possible beginning for
bringing it to pass.
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FORD HALL FOLKS
JIUS, MAUICS
JI H. UOJU~I!'l'S
It was eminently fitting that, Immediately following the musical numbers,
,vlth which the exercises of our Fifth
Anniversary
program opened, we
should listen to Mrs. Marks' "Singing
Man," that wonderfully beautiful ode
to a time when conditions of labor
were such that men could sing at their
work. The poem was read by l\Irs,
Marks herself (whom most of us know
better as Josephine Preston Peabody).
and ,vas given with rare taste and feeling-the author making, as she faced
that upturned sea of earnest faces, a
very beautiful picture-as a poet eel'·
tainly should.
Then came the following appreciative tribute to Mr. Roberts and to the
two conis of ushers:·
It is with great pleasure tlrn,t on
this occasion of the fifth birthday of
Ford Hall meetings we take this op•
portunlty of expressing our true admiration of your work, and the noble
elements of character which have directed and ins]Jired It. Your services
in the cause of education have taught
us to rely on that voluntary principle
which has inspired the best life in all
ages of the world. We' congratulat(l
you upon the splendid work you have
done, to help to make .these meetings
a success, and may you long continue
to help on this noble cause, with
which we all feel proud to be associated,
THE BIRTHDAY PRAYER.
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Almighty God, blessed Father of us
all, we rejoice with joy unspeakable
that it is our privilege to come to Thee
as the children of one household, not·
withstanding our fathers before us
have never been able to realize their
common inheritance and could not sit
together at the great Father's table to
enjoy -the wonderful feasts in spiritual
things which he 'has provided for all
his children,
·we aclmowledge our unworthiness,
our short-sightedness, our weakness,
but we love Thee and all thy works,justlce, truth and mercy, Elven when
we lose sight of thy face and cannot
hear thy voice and doubt If Thou livest, still we cling to 'I'hee in everything that is beautiful and sweet and
strong,
Our hearts are overflowing With
gratitude for the way in which Thou
hast gathered together and shepherded
tills ]Jecullar flock, Ofter we have not
known which way to turn, and frequently we have feared that we would
be scattered,
But a power greater
than our own has preserved us, guided
us, and brought us safely and happily
to this fifth milestone In the life of
our fellowship. vVe give thanks, with
all our strength, with all our minds,
with all our hearts.
Hel]J us as we go forward enjoying
the great boon of free speech on all
subjects, in the presence of all men, to
realize that its price is an eternal vigilance over ourselves and a constant
recognition of the rights and feelings
of others.
Do Thou grant to ·us
through this wonderful privilege o!
looldng deeply into the minds and
hearts of all sorts and conditions of
our fellowmen, a continually widening
vision of the. truth, an ever-increasing
te11derness of sympathy, a constantly
broadening tolerance of understanding a dee]Jenlng sense of brotherly ob~
ligation, and an ever-growing .firmness
of determination to see justice done in
this world here and now.
,ve commit our way unto Thee. .we
pray. for strength and grace. We re•
joice in what ,has been given us. WEl
go forward trustfully, humbly,. expec; ·
tautly, . Amen, .
]IH'. (:ll'J"I
Nor was the i\lusil'
Meetings overlooked
bears witness.
TESTIMC
To John Harris Gut
Director of M uslc,
lngs,
vVe desire to expr
tlon of your ea1·nes1
our lives with the ,1c
We feel that In y,
is also a great. deslr,
gospel of better llvh
of true brotherhood.
As a teaclH•r anc
work of inducing h1
tlons through the gll
mony In music, we e
in your ability and p
and trust ~'Oil will ac
as one of the rewnr<ls
service,
Committee of I
All this portion of
: should be said, was 1
manship of George 1
who with Miss H. V.
Pennington, Miss :1!ln1
John J. Snllivnn. has I
weelcs to see t hn t a II
Birt.II day celehl'flt Ion
, smoothly.
What tac·I
this whole, COlllllllttee
how splendid an exam
tlon! Each member Im
Jar duty to perform on
Ing, and nil did their
Pennington, Se('J'etary
Hall Folks, quite co
, with glory, as he mad
. tlon speech to the ush
it with a ston' about
when the head usher
Hall· had to be ca I led
settle a fracas hetwee1
ll.lld an EJlephan t !
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FORD HALL FOLKS
appreciand to the
iha,t on
l'thday of
•, this op•
trno adthe noble
have di•
· services
1e taught
prlnci))le
i fe in all
gratnlate
\'Oil have
meetings
continue
,e, with
lrn assollt'e of
ks, with
· minds,
,njoying
1 on all
men, to
'nal vig,onstant
feelings
to us
!ege ot
·ls and
ions of
icleniug
·reasing
1stantly
•rstand!l'ly ob-
nnness
lone in
•e.
We
We re·
s. We
expec,
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Nor was the Musical Dir ector of the
Meetings overlooked-as this tribute
bears witness,'
TESTIMONIAL.
To
John Harris Gutterson,
Director of 'Music, Ford Hall Meet•
ings,
'iVe desire to express our appreciation of your earnest efforts to color
our lives: with the joy of good music,
'vVe feel that in your service there
is also a great desire to promote the
gospel of better living and the alms
of true brotherhood,
As a teacher and leader in the
work of inducing harmonious conditions through the gift of divine harmony in music, we express our belief
in your ability and professional skill,
and tl'Ust you will accept our thanks
as one of the rewards of your devoted
· service,
Committee of Ford Hall Folks,
All this portion of the program, it
: should be said, was under the chairmanship of George Brewster Gn llup,
who with Miss H, V. Hathaway, J, 'l',
Pennington, Miss Minnie A, Noyes and
John .J, Sullivan, has been working for
weeks to see that all details of the
Birthday celebration should go off
, smoothly,
What -tact and jndgment
this whole committee displayed and
how splendid an example of co-operation ! Ela ch member had some parti.cular duty to perform on the festal evening, and all did their parts well, Mr,
Pennington, Secretary of the Ford
Hall Folks, quite covering himself
, with glory, as he made his presentation speech to the ushers and capped
it with a story about one pccasion
when the head usher at Noah's Ark
Hall had to be called to the roof to
settle a fracas between a Bull Moose
0.11{! an Elephant!
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As Miss Hathaway arose to read her
share of the committee's formal Apprec!a·tlons, a huge florist's box was
borne in from the dressing room by
two of the ushers, When opened this
revealed an enormous ·bouquet of exquisite pink and white roses, tied with
streamers of pink and white chiffon
ribbon, This, with appropriate sentiments, was presented to the surprised
and delighted Secretary of the 1\foetings, to whom also Miss Hathaway
read the following:
TESTIMONIAL.
To Miss Mary Caroline Crawford,
Secretary of Ford Hall Meetings.
In attempting to express our appreciation of the work you have done for
Ford Hall we are forced to admit that
we realize only in faint degree the
task involved In arranging programs
year after year which offer variety
and worth,
But we are, nevertheless, filled with
a deep sense of gratitude for the part
you have played in the attainment of
the
e1i1!,nently satisfactory results
which the Ford Hall fifth anniversary
shows us, Nor could we fail to be
delighted, instructed, Inspired by the
speakers who have come to us from
year to year! Indeed, they have fired
us with a buming desire to live grandly for God and humanity, 'rhus your
efforts are not lost if not quite fully
measured, and like the child who·
never feels the full force of the mother love and care until he is grown
and faces his own life problems, so by
and by, perchance, some Ford Hall
members leaving the home nest and
attempting to launch elsewhere another Ford Hall, may come to lrnow
somewhat of your labors and will then
emulate with gratitude the work so
well do110 by our esteemed Secretary,
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FORD HALL FOLKS
Mr. John J. Sullivan's part of the
J)rogram brought out one of the de•
llghtful surJ)rises of the evening, For
in response to It President Bentley, of
the Social Union, eloquently pledged
his organization to continued· service
In the field which George W. Cpleman
has so successfully developed.
TESTIMONIAL.
To The Boston Baptist Social Union.
This is a significant occasion, the
fifth anniversary Of the incep,tion, by
Mr, George Vv. Coleman, under the
auspices of the Boston Baptist Social
Union, of these F:ord Hall meetings.
It is indeed a happy occasion for the
promoters and participants alike,. as
it marks another milestone In the
progress and development of this Institution, which during its brief existence, has taken a high rank among the
many social and moral endeavors tha.t
have marked the progress of this city,
These meetings have been developed under the direction of the mem·
bers of Boston Baptist Social Union
In the true spirit or Daniel Sharp
Ford, the founder, with marked liberality and enterprise. Through and
by them, we have been given a splen•
did exposition of a true religious
spirit, that transcends all sectarian
bias and affiliations, a radiant exem·
p!lfication of
inclusiveness
that
ignores all racial lines, caste and
class divisions and distinctions.
These prominent features
have
caused these meetings to be fraught
w 1th blessings to all who have been
11rlvlleged to participate In them, and
they have been fruitful by ins11lrlng us
with courage and zeal, to gra11ple with
tbose social and economic problenrn
that challenge public attention and are
11ressing for solution ..
·we extend our sincere co~gratulaticms and felicitations to the Boston
Baptist Social Union upon the arrival
of this happy occasion, and we are
glad to embrace the opportunity
which It affords, to acknowledge our
indebtedness to them and to that ·,vonderful man, Daniel Sharp Ford whosc
gift they administer, for the benefits
conferred, and to assure them of our
sincere appreciation of the many op· vortunlties they have afforded us for
mental improvement and moral Instruction.
"\Ve respectfully urge upon the mem•
bel's of the Boston Baptist Social
Union the prot)l'iety and expediency of
a. continuance and JJOSsible extension
of these meetings, as each successive
year Is making them more and more of
a factor for good, not only In the In-
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divldual lives. of those· who attend tho
meetings, b1it also in til'e., communal
v.nd civic life of those communltes of'
which Boston Is the comm01~ center,
and lastly, because these meetings are
a visible expl'ession on the part, of the·
Social Union of Its good-will, sympathy and co-operation with all°' those
moral and social forces that are!work•
ing to promote the general welfare,
and of all who are longing for a reallzv.tlon of the greatest of all religious
ideals, "Peace on earth, good-will to
all men."
Committee o( Ford Hall Folks.
Prof. Zueblin appropriately headed
the list In the letters from friends and
admir(lrs of the Ford Hall Meetings,
which Miss Noyes now read.
To Mr. Coleman,
Dear Father Superior:
"On the fifth anniversary ol the birth
of your child, for which I. am one of
the Innumerable Godfathers, I want to
congratulate you and re)oice with you
in the gratifying progress of the infant.
"If we are to get free speech on the
one hand and an expression of our
national faith on tlie other, it will be
largely by multiplying big, reasonable
catholic and spiritual forums, like the
Ford Hall meetings, They prove that
we can voice .our common faith without fearing or being demoralized by
·our differences.
"!\lay you get your compensation in
their perpetuation and extension."
Then, cam(1 the "prize letter," the
one selected by the committee from the
scores of letters sent In to be printed
on the Birthday Souvenir Program as
particularly typical of the Ford Hall
sentlmen,t. There Is a lot to be read
between the lines in this letter from a
Jew to the Movement he so dearly
loves, A lesson Is here for us all if
we have but the eyes and heart for It.
December 24, 1912,
Ford Hall,
Cradle of Fraternity.
Greetlngs:Ford Hall: what magic in its name;
what a charmed atmosphere surrounds it! 'Tis Christmas Eve; I am
penning these lines while the Christmas rarols are being chanted in the
adjoining streets:
"Peace on earth,·
good will to men," Ah, the dream of
the millennium! I arise sore at heart,
open the window of my rear room;
there stands Ford Hall: how· silent,
how mute, but hold,-how eloquent .
and majestic it is, even in Its mute-
. !less, for It see
11ight,-"Why e
rich or poor, n
ground as broth
•where!" "'Tis S
from whatever ,
:faith, and ente1
portals, dedlca t<
of man." Note
appears to be!
negro, the Irish
kee, aye, even I
turbance, neve1
· word, my hono
.have been stan<
out for two hon
·five sea('lons paE
·nights; how I I
and genial Co
•sweet and slst.c
her faithful pos
Gutterson at ti
·contented smile,
song.
A so111
Happily, no; fo1
now and 'lls I
'The fa th er hood
·air. And to th
lng theatre ('Oil<
for me; oh, th
·speaker has rP
·many have dis:
:mark you, not.
,has been noted
know, and some
I possess were
haters.
But s
exist In Ford
melts. And ye
·that I in ret nn
my Christian
them. Such Is
as Ford Hall e:
Members of the
A pal'tlng "
·Chairman at F<
a Jew on behn
truthfully state
that the name ,
Is held with U
. while his loftl1
lllned with snc
has attained f
among them, ti
1mto another In
IN I\
Daniel Sharp
forever be link
11ls life's work
-ers to go and <
Peace t
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FORD HALL FOLKS
lil'es of those who attend tho
but also in tii'e,, communal
life of those communites of
)ston is the common, center,
, because these meetings are
~xpression on the part-, of t110,
lion of its good-will, i,ympaeo-operatlon with air°' those
l social forces that are\work'omote the general welfare,
who are longing for it realI he greatest of all religious
Peace on earth, good-will to
, ness, for it seems to cry out in the
night,-"Why can Jew and Gentile,
rich or poor, meet here on common
ground as brothers all, and not every,where!" "'Tis Sunday, come Stranger,
from whatever clime, professing what
,faith, and enter with me, within its
portals, decllcatecl to the brotherhood
of man." Note how joyous everyone
appears to be! 1'here is the Jew, the
negro, the Irish, the Italian, the Yan•
Jrne, aye, even the Turk; never a ells·
turbance, never even an ill-spoken
word, my honor for it, though they
,have been standing in the colcl without for two hours full. And this, for
'five sea~ons past!
Ah, the Sunday
'Bights; how I long for them!
Kind
and genial Coleman in the chair;
, sweet and sisterly Miss Crawford at
her faithful post; while there is Bro.
Gutterson at the piano. Observe his
'contented smile, for his soul Is in the
song,
A song of dogmatic creed?
Happily, no; for you are In Fo1'cl Hall
now and 'tis the brotherhood song,
The fatherhood of Goel Is in the very
air. And to think that Sunday even'lng theatre concerts once held charms
for me; oh, the horror of it.
The
·speaker has rendered his discourse;
-many haV\l, disagreed wit]} him, but
:mark you, not one discourteous act
,has been noted.
I am a Jew, you
know, and some of the clearest friends
I possess were, formerly rabid Jewhaters.
But such animosity cannot
exist in Ford Hall atmosphere; it
melts. And you may rest assured
that I In return have learned to love
my Christian neighbors, God bless
·them. Such is Christianity, Stranger,
as .Ford Hall expounds it.
llmittee o( Ford Hall Foiles.
11eblin appropriately headed
the letters from friends and
of the Ford Hall Meetings,
s Noyes now read.
,leman,
er Superior:
ti fth anniversary of the birth
tild, for which I, am one of•
erable Godfathers, I want to
te you and rejoice with yori
ttifying progress of the inrn to get free speech on the
und an expression of our
iith on tlie other, it will be
multiplying big, reasonable
1d spiritual forums, lilce the ,
meetings, They prove that
ke our common faith with~ or being demoralized by
IlCeS,
11 get your compensation in
,tnatlon and extension." ,
1ne the "prize letter," the
l l;y the committee from the
,tiers sent in to be printed
l1day Souvenir Program as
, typical of the Ford Hall
There is a lot to be read
i lines in this letter 'from a
Movement he so dearly
•sson is here for us all if
t the eyes and heart for it.
Members of the Baptist Social Union:
A parting word as regards your
,chairman at Ford Hail. Speaking as
a Jew on behalf of the Jews, I can
truthfully state with all sincerity,
that the name of George W. Coleman
is held with the tenderest affection;
while his loftiness of purpose, com•
bined with such genial personality,
has attained for him a popularity
among them, that cannot be likened
1mto another in our midst.
December 24, 1912.
Vraternity,
: what magic in its name;
harmed atmosphere sur'Tis Christmas Eve; I am
,se lines while the Christare being chanted in the
t reets:
"Peace on earth,'
) men." Ah, the dream of
111111! I arise sore at heart,
'indow of my rear room;
s Ford Hall: how, silent,
!Jilt hold,-how eloquent
" it Is, even in its mute'-
' IN MEMORIAM.
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Daniel Sharp I•'ord: may his name
forever be linked with posterity, and
111s life's work an inspiration for oth-ers to go and do lllrnwise.
Peace to his memoty!
Samuel Sackmary,
45 Joy street, Boston.
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THE BROAD, FREE VIEW',
(Written for The Birthday)
The broad, f1;ee view of earth and sky,
, Our human natures truly seek,
'Is gained along the path of life
That leads to some great mountain
peak.
'For as we make the upward climb,
The earth exp::incls in larger plan,
And all the circling worlds evolve
· The grander thought of God and
man.
Set free from narrow, crooked ways,
Old party walls and creecl::il bars,
With joy, we take the open road,
At night, we see the glorio1111 alars.
And he who gains the oletll', calm
height,
Where heaven's blue b/urner is unfurled,
May kindle with the torch of truth
, A beacon light for all the world.
WILLIAM W. LOCKE,
( Civic Service Ho11se, Boston.)
Rabbi Maurice H. Harrla, D. D.,
'I'emple Israel,
Harlem, New York,
"Five years is a short period in the
life of an inclivicluaJ, 11till shorter in
the life of an institution; yet within
that brief span Ford Hall as an uplift•
Ing centre has come to be known and
felt not only in Boiiton, the city of its
immediate locatl011, qut in localities
far and wide, 'I'hls people's forum,
among other things, has become an
unsectarian church, Its platform broad
enough to hospitably accommodate all
1 eligions.
Its eclectic creed includes
the self-denial of Buddha, the contagious enthusiasm of Mohammed, the
ethics of Confucius, the compassion of
Jesus, the clecalogne of Moses.
"It has also feel the artistic side of
the vast throngs it welcometl and contributed to their elevating pleasure.
H would be impossible to measure its
protective service, the sordid inclnl·
gence from which it may have drawn
many of its attendants by its inviting
and instructive program. In this re•
spect it has offered a model ot' what
almost, eVery church might be.
.
It Is the new worlr needed for this new
age. 'l'he fittest survives. Ford, Hall
will live because it deserves to live."
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FORD HALL FOLKS
Rev . .John Haynes Holmes,
Minister, Church of the :Messiah,
Naw York.
"I am indeed proud and happy to be
i?Jclucled In the great. army of your
friends and admirers who are banding
themselves together on this occasion
or the fifth anniversary of the Ford
Hall movement to testify to you their
affection for you personally and thelt
unbounded enthusiasm for the wonderful work which you have clone, and are
still doing for the cause of politicnl
democracy, industrial freedom and socialized religion, I salute you, sir, as
one of the wisest, bravest and most
comradely' leaders of this age of farYlsionecl' prophets and heroic crusaders,·"
Henry Abrahams,
Secretary,
Cigarmakers'
International Union, No. 97.
"A trade unionist. pure and simple,
who believes in the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man, I desire
to express my appreciation of what
Ford Hall Is doing for the masses.
There,. on every Sunday evening, one
has the opportunity to listen to some
master mind, hear fine singing, beautiful music, and all without any cost of
any kind. · Here .Jew and Christian,
white and black, men and women from
all walks of life mingle.
Truly the
Christian is beginning to understand
Christianity, And It was left to the
Baptist Church to solve the problem of
why men do not go to church,
May
Goel speed yon and your able secretary in your noble mission!"
Rev. Charles Stelzle,
The Board of Home Missions of the
Presbyterian Church of America.
Bureau of Social Service Superintendent,
"Whether it knows It or ndt, the
Protestant Church, . to say nothing
about the ,Jewish Church and the Cath•
ollc Church, Is under a distinct obligation to you and those associated
with you for the splendid work that
you have done at Ford Hall during the
past five years. The men and women
or. labor are indebted to you. for you
have given .inspiration to their highest
hopes and aspirations through the
speakers invited to address the audieuces at Ford Hall. There has come
out of these open Fornm discussions a
better understanding of the problems
of the people. Most of all, the men
and women who have never had a
touch on the life of the workers are
Indebted to you for they haYe had
their own lives enlarged as they
caught the vision which has already
come to their humbler brothers and
sisters. I am personally Indebted to
you, for It was at Ford Hall that I
leanied more of the SJJll'it so much
needed In my own work,"
Rev, Edmund F'. i\ler
Of the Watrhman,
Boston, l\lass,
",'rhe old cry that
not take any inte1·es1
people· ls seldom hen
Ford Hall meetings b,
refutation of thn t ch:
Rev. Lymai1 Abbott, D. D.,
'l'he Outlook.
"You have proved in Dos ton as theSunday Clnb has proved In Chicago,
and as other lesser entei•prlses. have·
proved in other· J)arts of the ronntry,
that whenever the Chu!'ch forgets It•
self and thinks only of the service
·which it can re11der, It finds that the
people are interested In problems of
the religious life more jll'ofoundly than
in any other problem, and will flock In
great numbers to hea1· these problems
discussed In a vital way by vital men."
J, J, Fraser.
I am an agnostic,
Social Unl011 deservef
.its liberal s11lrlt in
meetings, Mr, G. Col
wire and the man he!
Rev. Harold :Marshall,
Melrose.
"For a hundred years we Unlversal11,ls have been proclaiming a bellet
that religion ls a human attribute;
but here In the cradle of liberal
Christianity we left it to you to conduct the flrst serious laboratory experiment to test the theory. Some
clay Ford Hall will be recognized as.
a spiritual Plymouth noel~."
Livy S. Richard,
Editor The Boston Common ..
"As I am about to leave Boston
after a study of the ])eople and 1 nstitntioils covering nearly three years, I
wnnt to ·JJut on record a brief estimate·
of one of the most exhilarating personalities I have met, and one of the·
most stimulating of the Institutions.
"To find in one person a well-baJ:-anced combination of physical virility,
mental prJwer, spiritual insight ancf
fine humai1 sympathy is to locate
what I conceive to be the best asset
that· exists. Boston Is mighty lucky
to have such an asset in George .vV.
Coleman.
"I put the person first because he
explains the Institution,
"In the I~ord Hall meetings you·
have answered the question-What Is.
to be the salvation of onr American·
. Democracy-Only by Its members com-Ing to know each other as brothers:
will that democracy survive."
Louis A. Chandler,
Boston.
These meetings stand for the high-est type of moral and educational Influences.
F'reda Rogolsky, .
115 Chamhers strec
"Ford Hall Is likP
ting too small lo hol
who come from nil
'turn~cl a way.
"Ford Hall could
the 'melting trnt,' wh
together, forgetting al
are brothers listening
better the conditions
world a better place t
next. generations.
.. "There arc many pl
the doors are hclnp; o
people, but they hn l'e
Mr. Coleman, like a
us In the hour of 11<
thing seemed dark."
"To tltink thnt we
the same platform a
ed In schools, a .Tewlsl
tlan minister, a Soci
woman and a .Jewish J
more than I can 11ncl
tbat the time Is cornln
recognize that we all
each other, and th:
l'rothers in spite ol' t
a.re of different rellgi,
Miss Mary Mason.
"One of the most pl,
connection with I.he l
ment Is the melting
prejudice, more esp,
Jew and Gentile.
"The Gentile In th
badly for an eye-ope1
to his brother .Jew. B
heard Harris, Wise,
Fleischer from the Fo1
light begins to dawn 11
"And those professo
ologlcal seminaries,
young preachers are
send out?
Not stanc
Ford Hall will have
laurels soo11,
Chnrcl
leadership may overta
Meanwhile, jnst wait
five years the lrnven
, 'I
FORD HALL FOLKS
for they haVEl had
,cs enlarged as they
;ion which has already
humbler brothers and
personally indebted to
is at Ford Hall that I
ol' the spirit so much
own work."
lll
clibott,
n.
D.,
Rev. Edmund F. Merriam, D.D.,
Of the Watchman,
Boston, Mass.
".The old cry that the churches do
not take any interest in the working
people· is seldom heard now since the
Ford IIall meetings became a standing
refutation of that charge,"
.J . .J. li'raser.
I am an agnostic, and the Baptist
Social Union deserves great 1fraise for
.its liberal spirit in continuing the
meetings, Mr. G, Coleman is the live
wire and the man behind the gun.
·
iroved In Boston as thel1as proved in Chicago,
lesser enterprises. have
•r parts of the country,.
the Chm'ch forgets it1,s only of the service·
ender, it finds that the
erested In problems of
re more p1'ofoundly than
1·01.Jlem, and will flock in
to heat these problems
vital way by vital men."
I arshall,
red years we Unlversal11 p;·oclaimlng a belief,
is a human att\'ibute;
the crndle of liberal
·e left it to you to conserious laboratory ex,~st the theory. Some
I will be recognized as.
·month Roel~."
rd,
Boston Common ..
n bout to leave Boston
ot' the people and lnstl·
1g· nearly three years, I
1 record a brief estimate,
most exhilarating 11er1ve met, and one of the·
i11g of the institutions.
one person a well-bal~
t ion of physical virility,
spiritual insight. and'
Hympathy is to locate
ve to be the best asset
loston is mighty lucky
n n asset In George .W.
p1,rson first because he·
nst!tution.
,rd Hall meetings you:
l the question-What is,
vation of our American·
11 ly by its members co~1,,nch other as brothers:
1ocracy survive."
i11gs stand for the hlgh'oral and educational in-
.Freda Rogolsky,
115 Cham hers street, Boston.
"Ford Hall is like om· hai·bor, getting too small to hold all the people
who ... come fl'om all parts and are
turned a way,
"Ford Hall could be compared to
the 'melting pot,' where we all come
together, forgetting all ])rejudices, and
are brothers listening to how we may
l.JEJtter the conditions and make this
world a better place to live in for our
next generations.
.. "There are m'any places now where
the doors are being o])ened to all the
])eople, but they have no Mr. Coleman.
l\fr. Coleman, like a compass, guided
us in the hour of need when everything seemed dark."
"To think that we can hear from
the same platform a woman interested in schools, a .Jewish Rabbi, a Christian minister, a Socialist, a Chinese
woman and a .Jewish philanthropist, is
more than I can understand. I feel
that the time ls coming when we sha11
recognize that we all have to llve for
each other, and that we are all
l•rothers in spite ot' the fact that we
are of dlft'eren t religions."
Miss Mary Mason.
"One of the most pleasing results in
connection with the Ford Hall movement ls the melting away of racial
prejudice, more especla1ly between
,Tew and Gentile.
'"l'he Gentile in the main suffers
badly for an eye-opener with regard
to his brother .Jew. But when he has
heard Hanis,. Wise, Schulman and
Fleischer from the Ford Hall platform
light begins to dawn upon him.
"And those professors from the the•
ologlcal seminaries, what kind or
· young preachers are they going to
send out?
Not stand-])atters, surely.
Ford Hall will have to look to her
laurels soon.
Churches under this
leadership may overtake and pass her.
Meanwhile, just wait and see. Within
five years the leaven of Ford Ha11's
7
])rogresslve thought wlll have leavened the whole lump of orthodox religions thinking In Boston town and
far beyond."
Pres, David Starr .Jordan,
Stanford University, Callfornia.
"As one interested in the work at
I•'ord Hall and as one. who has had the
exciting pleasure of addressing the
p(~o])le there, I send a word of congratulation and good will. I am deeply
impressed with good which can be
done in institutions like this in which
men who have a mission of some kind
are brought in contact with the people, and, peop'e have opportnnity
freely to talk back."
Prof. Charles P, Fagnani, D. D.,
Union Theological Seminary, New
York.
"Like father like child. How· could
I<'ord Hall be anything but fine, democ1:atic, inspiring and Chrlstia11 (in the
true sense of that ninch abused word)
when it has George vV. Coleman for Its
a.Im.us vater I 'I'he greatest life work
e,mceivable, a privilege reserved only
fo1· a few, is that of being the founder
ot a great institution, of incarnating
cne's highest ideals and aspirations
and edeavors in the enduring organhim of a social strncture which will go
on flourishing when the heart and
l•rain that gave it birth have graduated into spheres of higher service still.''
Russell B, Kingman,
New York City,
"In the Ford Hall meetings you have
brought me my religion, for up to the
time I had the good fortune to know
this movement, I must frankly confess
a backsliding tendency, and now that
I nm launched in a new field, I so miss
Forrl Hall that I am prompted to plant.
Rimllar seed in this community. Before a year expires I believe you will
hear of a similar movement in Newark, New .Jersey, Moreover if I have
111y way I am going to call the movement Ford Hall meetings,
"I never believed it possible to love
in such a personal sense every mem·
her of an aggregation of people."
Hev. Charles C, Earle, D.D.,
Ruggles Street Baptist Church.
"Like .John, the Baptist, of the llrst
century and Martin Luther of the sixteenth, you have been in the vanguard
o1 the great awakening which Is of
chief importance in modern times.
. . . Your task is comparable to
t11at of Moses or Lincoln, leading the
y;ay to the Promised Land of Emancipation from Social Bondage."
/
I'
r:
,,,
·I
I
FORD 1!:\LL FOLKS
you have accomplished this seeming
miracle full tes-tilllony is bol'lle in this
multitude of astonishing letters. What
may be the future influence of this
movement, which won have inaugurated, U]Jon society at large no one can
know. It might be well If the great
captains of material resources of om·
times could elllulate your example and
establish 1.0,000 such groups tomorrow
throughout the world.
vVe, however, are chiefly concerned
tonight to turn over to you this recorrl
of what you have accomplished for us
v,1i'd with us here In these five years-.
We belie?e in you ai1d youi' lende1'ship; we make you the ex]lonent of
our choicest and highest hopes; we
even believe that should you be called
upon to make the· supi'eme sacrifice
for the success of this work and the
spiritual evolution of humanity, you
would gladly make It, ·so we bring
here and present to you tonight, :Mr.
Coleman, this carefully 11repared vol•
ume which contains the best we have
to glve,-our purest thoughts, In a
truest sense, a gift of ourselves, and
we ask you to accept and cherish it
aP.' an historical
monument of the
work which you have begun and a lllemorial of ~ur highest esteen and
affection. It is a pledge of the blood
brotherhood which you have inspired
us to feel in our hearts and to manifest in our lives.
In the name of Daniel Sharp Ford,
and for the Ford Hall Folks, and all
sympathizers with the Ford Hall
movement. I give you this book. (Applause.)
IJlg, I would clasp it to my heart as
an expression of my npp1·ec!atlon of.
what you have brought to me in tl!ese
lwautiful sentiments.
·
I do want to s-ay this much: that
in ·aclditlon to thanking so many In
the Social Union and out of the Social
Union for the help they have given,
and for what they have contributed
in making these meetings possible, I
thank God from the bottom of my
h1.mrt, when J stop to think of how
many hundreds of times, on hui1drecls
of occasions, our work might have all
gone for naught because of obstructions and difficulties and hindrances,
over which no one of us could pos;sibly have had any control whatever.
,Working as ha!'d as -we might, with
all the patience and skill that we could
command, with all the love and sympnthy In our hearts, we might stl!I
liave blundered 'so fearfully as to
have made it impossible for us to continue this unique work. 80 I say from
my heart, and I know from many of
your hearts that we thank Goel that
we have been permitted during these
five years to carry on this work,
This has• been a place, literally,
where the Ilon and the lamb could
Ile down together without clanger of
being eaten up.
(Applause.)
The
,Jew and the Gentile, the Catholic and
the Protestant, the believer and the
unbe!lever, the rich and the poor, the
conservative and the radical, men and
women all representing our entire
community life, have been privileged
tu come together here every Sunday
1iight and discuss the· most vital things
that concern the hmmm mind ancl the
human heart. And yet, as you all
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY MR.
know, !n all these five years, with· the
COLEMAN.
hall crowded full, with sometimes the
most Intense interest prevailing, never
Before I speak a word for myself 011ce, as the Chairman of these meetram going to say a few words for the Ji1gs, have I been obliged to use even
speaker of the evening. I waS' pre- AS much as a gavel to maintain order.
pared not to say anything, In order to
(Applnnse.)
give him an opportunity, but Miss
There is a great deal in my heart
Crawford has JJrovided a very happy
that I would l!ke to say to you but I
way out of !t, and that ls that we ask will not detain you in order to do so
Dr. Gifford to be our special S]Jeaker, You know me well enoue-h (laughter
on the subject that he hacl selected and applause) to know that I do not.
for this evening, on our last S'unday· fake ail that has been said about me
night in the season-the S'econcl week
literally (laughter), but you know me
in April. I !mow he has a splendid
,veil enough to know, also that I do
mes·sage for you.
take it, full measure and running
· l\Ir. Galjup and friends: If I couhl
over, as an expression of the love ancl
escape this moment I think I would
good will of your hearts. (Applause.)
be willing to go with Sheriff Quinn
No gift that you could have made
over to Charles Street ,Jail. (Laugh
to me of silver or gold, clone with the
ter.) The hour is so late that I will best workmanshiJJ; nothing studded
not attempt to tell yon anything like with the most precious gems, coulrl
11ihat is in my heart. I wonlcl simply have stood in comparison at all with
say,• this: If that book were not so what Is in· these letters and In the
I',•
I
beautif
wish!n1
short '
away a
(La11gh
going t
minute
them f
bring
strengt
we go
have I'·
snld, \'
these l
possib!,
sample
yon wo
to get :
hoolc !I
portuni"
l\lrs. C
you all
applam
hlb!tioi;
that n!
Wlil CO)
· other E
Then ,,
yon lo
than ye
ahle to
Imm
prec!att
to me i
bt'ginni
spienrli1
ford hn,
busy bt
hf.Bides
engage
been al
have cl1
ford hn
done BO
I hail n
ingen11i1
meant,
than Rll
It al
necessri.
flllr "'01
has to I
iu the I
to me,
usefn!, r
Mr. Rol
newspaJ
that, hr
that lhE
ly Mr. J
lnr; to
out (IIJJJ
and als
lig!ous 1
ment co
public c
the clall
t
+
,
~,
,
:.·.
~
Pf'
FORD HALL FOLKS
J11ld clasp it to my heart as
ssion of my apprncla'tiou of.
lmve brought to me in Hlese
sentiments.
·
·ant lo say this much: that
Dll to thanking so many in
I llnion and out of the Social
r the help they have given,
\\'hat they have contributed
g these meetings possible, I
:id from lhe bottom of my
ll'll I stop to think or' how
1clrnds of times, on hm1dreds
)llS, Olli' work might have all
naught because of obstrucdifflculties and hindrances,
·h no one of us could poss had any control whateve1'.
as hard as -we might, with
ience nnd skill that we could
with all 'the Jove and symom hearts, we might still
l!llered · so fearfully as to
e it impossible for us to conunique work. flo I say from
and I know from many of
ts that we thanlc God that
ieen permitted during these
to cany on this work.
1;,: been a place, literally,
, lion and the Iamb could
together without danger of
Pl!
llP,
(Applause.)
The
IH1 Genti~e, the Catholic and
;tant, the believer and the'
, the rich and the poor, the
n, and the radical, men and
I representing 011r entire
life, have been privileged
Dgether. here every Sunday·
l isc11ss tl\e· most vital things
l'll the lrnmnn mind and the
art. And yet, as you all
II these five years, with· tho
('d full, with sometimeB the~
ale interest prevailing, never
1(, Chail'man or these meetI heen obliged to use even
; a gavel to maintain order.
a great deal in my heart
Id like lo Bay to you b11t I
Iain yoll in order to do so.
me well enoue-11 (laughter
se) to luiow that I do not
.it has been said about me
((\ghter), but you lrnow me
h lo know, also that I do
11! measure and running
Hxpresslon of the love and
,r yonr hearts. (Applause,)
that yon could have made
Iyer or gold, clone with the
llanship; nothing stndclecl
11ost prnclous gems, coulrl
in comparison at all with
these letters and in the.
beautiful book. I have almost been created among· church people by two
wishing that I might be sick for a or three friendly religious papers that
short time .in order that I could go saved the day when, as you know
many a time this worJc hung in th~
away and have a chance to read them.
(Laughter and applaus'e,) But I am halance,
I must s·ay one more word
going to read them, inch by Inch, and
(laughter), and that is this:
Alminute by minute, and· then re-read
them for the blessing that they will tilough, perhaps, my chief struggles
bring to my own heart, and the in the beginning were with my own
strength that they will bring to me as brethren of the Baptist Social Union,
we go on with this work. And as I nevertheless, I want to say to them,
have read them, one by one, I have and I want to say it in your presence,
said, Vfell, I wish you all could read tl!at I am more than ever proud and
these letters; but · that · may not be happy to be a Baptist because of what
possible; you have heard splendid they have done during these five years
samples of them here tonight. I think and in standing by these meetings<,.
you would like to get. an opportunity You must remember that it was en-·
to get a little clos·er inspection of the tl!'ely a unique work-never heard of
book than you will tave time and op- before-a clenomin;:ttional church with
itf! limitations, supporting·, cherishing
portunity for tonight, and I hope, wltil
l'virs. Coleman's permission, to invite extending a great work, universal i~
you all up to the house (laughter and its appeal. 'I'he church literally spending itself, its money, Its time, its
applause), and have the book on exhibition, and we will keep open house energy, its love in service of the comthat night and the Ford Hall Folks munity and never once thinking of Itwill come and' go, according to their self. It has' never been clone before,
other engagements for the evening·. that I know of. (Prolonged applause.)
'l'hen will be given an opportunity to And when you remember that these·
you to examine the book more closely men ln the Social Union, all of them
than you have been able or will be laymen, business men, most of them
ahle to do this evening, (Applause.)
deacons and superintendents in the·
I must say one word In a way of ap- Church a majority of them -of middle
preciation of the help that has come age, or past middle age; when you
to me In all this work from the very think that they had the patience and
beginning, after the first series, in the gentleness and trust and confidence
splendid assistance which Miss Crnw- ' and good will to let me go ahead with
ford has rendered, (Applause.) As a this thing when I could not promisebusy business man, with many things them a~ all what it was going to be,
b€sides this• outside of my business to for I did not know myself, you will
engage my attention, it would have understand that they really deserve a
been absolutely impossible for me to very great deal of the credit on this,
have done the work that Miss Craw- our Fifth Anniversary, (Applause.)
And just let me say in closing; yes,
ford has done,
I never could have
do
not
wonder
you
laugh.
done some of the work half as well If · I
I had all the time In the world! Her (Laughter.) But this Is really and
ingenuity, energy and faithfulness has truly the closing, (Laughter.)
meant, as the resolutions said, more
[It was 10 o'clock by this time and
we ha(] not even got to the speaker
than any of us can know,
It always• happens, and It must or the evening,l
necessarily Ile so, I suppose, that in
I have had a good many Je~sons in·
any work, some one particular person my life to the effect that "It is more
has to be rather, more than the rest
blessed to give than to receive." ·well,
in the lime light, and that has falle~ you may say I am not in a position to
(Laughto me, but there are others just as preach thnt gospel tonight,
useful, and when I think of the ushers, ter.) -But If there had been no such
Mr. Roberts, llfr. Gutterson and the expression as this superb book reprenewspaper men-It is literally true sents, and these beautiful testimonials
that, had it not been for the work represent; if nothing of that sort had
that the newspaper men did, especial- come to me this evening; If I only had •
ly Mr. Philpott of the Globe-I am go•
the support of the work that has been
ing to mention him and single him done in the last five years, as I have
out (applau'se)-in the very beginning, looked into your faces Sunday night .
and also the work done by the re- after Sunday night, I would say to
ligious papers in this city, this move- you frankly, that in all my life, in all ·
ment could not have lived .. It was the the church work that I have been
public opinion created in the city by thro11gh (and I worked from one
the dally press, and the good opinion branch to another, all the way up),
,,
•
12
FORD HALL FO.LKS
nothhlfo that I have ever done, or tried
to -do, that was altruistic In Its principle, or was brotherly In Its motives,
lrns brought .me so much satis•factlon
and jor and contentment as has what
J ha1·e tried to do here In connection
with these meetings, And I want to
recommend, from my own experience,
that no matter how busy you are, no
matter how driven you are, no matter
Ill
I
what other responslbilltles you have,
It PAYS, It PAYS, it PAYS, every
time, money aside, even the· good wlll
and respect and regard of those whom
yon have been accustomed·' to· associate ,vith aside, and ,vho do not at
all understand what you are struggling for. The satisfaction of such
service as this is like unto nothing
else on the face of the earth.
MR, COLEMAN
DEDICATORY.
This book is the unique tribute of a
nrnltitude to one man, as well as an
hlstorica'J monument to a marvelous
viol'k. Even those who have contrlb•
uted to this extraordlnal'y recorc(
";hile prophes'ying of the future o( the
I~ord Hall. meetings and of their leader, George vVilliam Coleman, are not
wholly competent to predict how
great. will be the influence of this
work and this man on the social
evolution that is taking 1Jlace. The
study of the· letters· which make up
this collection will reveal to keen
critics, historians and philosophers at
soine futul'e pei'lod how gl'eat a con-tribution has been made to the future
political state, and a )rnrer, better
social fabric, by this' institution under
the inspil'ation and direction of a
great leader.
To us who assist in this worl{ and
help to shape this record, nothing appears more clear than that the Ford
Hall meetings typify the long her-
aided dream of a true brotherhood of
man, and that our beloved leader was
chosen as the prophets of old, to
bring this work to pass. We believe
its Inspiration wlll endure and extend
in some form to all lands and to all
people. Herein wlll be discove11ed, in
this unexampled collection of letters,
the fervent hope, the irresistible
aspiration of men and women of every
race and· c1'eed, yearning towards that
success in living and that unity of belief and action which, like a sacred
beacon, have flamed in the heart and
guided the will of our friend, brother
and devoted way-shower, George
William Colemah.
The letters from . a multitude of
friends and the printed tributes from
the periodical press best tell the story
of. all time of the work and the ·man:
We give and deaicate this record
to the good of all hunianit'y, with deep
affection for the recipient; in whose
possession \ve desire it shall alwa·ys ·
remain as a monument· to his fidelity :
and a perpetual testiinonlaJ to our
good will arid ·farth )n the fofore.
~81
·'
./
'
I:
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY NUMBER
Jforb 'Rall Jfolhs
Vol. I.
No.
10.
l\farch
FIVE YEARS OF A NEW WORLD.
·,1
; I
/.
/
We do not realize it, but there is
no precedent for what happens every
Snnday evening at Ford Hall. I know
of nothing that matches it, and never
heard of anything just like It.
The
Cooper Union meeting' is entirely without the definite, though all-inclusive,
religious note.
'fhe Chicago. Orcl1estra O!ub is frankly and . exclusively
Christian.
The Rochester· "Peo11le's
Sunday Evening" is more nearly · like
unto our work, but the· Ford Hall
Meetings are entirely unique in' that
they make the most unlimlteci and universal appeal and yet are founded· on
the limited base of an orthodox,. Protestant church,-the Bapthit! ·.
· ·:
For five years the Fdr'd ·mili' folks
have seen Protestant, Catholic, .Tinvlsli
and Agnostic leaders give their mes·sages to an audience made up of _the
same varied elements, and . the audience in turn ha~ been privileged to
catechise these speakers without Jet or
11indrance. The most vital issues of
religion, economics and civics have
been freely discussed.
Great crowds
l1ave thronged tlie- place of assembly.
Never once in all these five years has
there been any violence or serious distnrbance, and as chairman of the meetlugs I have never once had occasion
to use even a gavel to preserve order.
At the beginning it was promised by
i:he Boston Baptist Social Union,
through me as the chairman of its
Committee on Christian Work, that
these meetings should not be used as
a propaganda by any one not even by
itself, but shotild be co1;ducted without prejudice to race, cla,ss or creed,
That pledge has been kept both in the
spirit and In the letter, and the meetlugs have thus become a. blessing to a
multitude who could be helped In 110
.other way,
They have been carried
911 with the sole purpose of serving the
community and with no thought of
benefitting exclusively any particular
orga(1ization, be it religions, social or
polit1cal.
·
·. I want to take advantage of this op. portunity to express my pride and de-'
1lght in the patience, forbearance,
broacl-mincleclness and independence ·of
2,
Price Ten Cents
1913.
my own brethren of the Baptist Social
Union who have ,so nobly upheld my
hands during all the difficulties and
ti;ials necessarily incident to this pioneer work. I often wonder whether
the men of some other sect would have
stood the test so well. At all events,
it makes me' 'glad again for the thousandth Ume that I am a Baptist.
· And· as· 'for the part played by the.
lamented Daniel Sharp Ford in mak·irig all this possible, I am quite certain it must rejoice Ms soul If he can
·1n1ow· but' a tenth part of the nure joy
and 1111alloye·c1 ·delight which his hene·factio1i · has already brought to thou·sands· who until now have had but
li_ftl~ ·ch~nce · to understand or appre·mate the kind of Christianity he stood
.for: · · ·
·
. , As fo!' myself, although the obllgat10ns have ·been onerous, and tne strain
and stress very exhausting, I count it
·the greatest· privilege and joy of my
life to lwve served in this cause. Some
of my dearest friends are among the
Ford Hall 'folks and my heart goes out
to every last one of them, and generally the more to those who sometimes
make it rather strenuous for me.
There isn't one toward whom I do not
have the utmost ·good will-even Urbansky, whom I was fast learning to
love when the law ·made Mm itl; v'c•
tlm for nn]Jermltted sfreet:pi·eaching.
Looking Into the future,· I cannot
tell what lies in store for us, a1iy·more
than l could have foretold· in· the beginning that .we would last "even five
years. But I feel fafrly certai'n;' nevertheless, that at our · tenth annlversary we shall see s·o'me remarlrnhle developments beyond our. ])resent lines
of activity, I have· bee11 looldn°· for
it from the· begh111fog. It seems"'very
much nearer now .pian ever befor~.
Most of us belie:ve in praye1~1et us
pray hard. Let the others wish hard
Goel will imclerstand the one as well a~
the other. And ·any psychologist wlll
tell yon .that wishing hard for a thing
'is. the best possible beginning for
bringing it to pass.
·· .
,,
.;
· · .
·
tr ~~
··
(} ·
'
o.,.._,..._,,
2
FORD HALL FOLKS
JIUS, MAUICS
JI H. UOJU~I!'l'S
It was eminently fitting that, Immediately following the musical numbers,
,vlth which the exercises of our Fifth
Anniversary
program opened, we
should listen to Mrs. Marks' "Singing
Man," that wonderfully beautiful ode
to a time when conditions of labor
were such that men could sing at their
work. The poem was read by l\Irs,
Marks herself (whom most of us know
better as Josephine Preston Peabody).
and ,vas given with rare taste and feeling-the author making, as she faced
that upturned sea of earnest faces, a
very beautiful picture-as a poet eel'·
tainly should.
Then came the following appreciative tribute to Mr. Roberts and to the
two conis of ushers:·
It is with great pleasure tlrn,t on
this occasion of the fifth birthday of
Ford Hall meetings we take this op•
portunlty of expressing our true admiration of your work, and the noble
elements of character which have directed and ins]Jired It. Your services
in the cause of education have taught
us to rely on that voluntary principle
which has inspired the best life in all
ages of the world. We' congratulat(l
you upon the splendid work you have
done, to help to make .these meetings
a success, and may you long continue
to help on this noble cause, with
which we all feel proud to be associated,
THE BIRTHDAY PRAYER.
_l
Almighty God, blessed Father of us
all, we rejoice with joy unspeakable
that it is our privilege to come to Thee
as the children of one household, not·
withstanding our fathers before us
have never been able to realize their
common inheritance and could not sit
together at the great Father's table to
enjoy -the wonderful feasts in spiritual
things which he 'has provided for all
his children,
·we aclmowledge our unworthiness,
our short-sightedness, our weakness,
but we love Thee and all thy works,justlce, truth and mercy, Elven when
we lose sight of thy face and cannot
hear thy voice and doubt If Thou livest, still we cling to 'I'hee in everything that is beautiful and sweet and
strong,
Our hearts are overflowing With
gratitude for the way in which Thou
hast gathered together and shepherded
tills ]Jecullar flock, Ofter we have not
known which way to turn, and frequently we have feared that we would
be scattered,
But a power greater
than our own has preserved us, guided
us, and brought us safely and happily
to this fifth milestone In the life of
our fellowship. vVe give thanks, with
all our strength, with all our minds,
with all our hearts.
Hel]J us as we go forward enjoying
the great boon of free speech on all
subjects, in the presence of all men, to
realize that its price is an eternal vigilance over ourselves and a constant
recognition of the rights and feelings
of others.
Do Thou grant to ·us
through this wonderful privilege o!
looldng deeply into the minds and
hearts of all sorts and conditions of
our fellowmen, a continually widening
vision of the. truth, an ever-increasing
te11derness of sympathy, a constantly
broadening tolerance of understanding a dee]Jenlng sense of brotherly ob~
ligation, and an ever-growing .firmness
of determination to see justice done in
this world here and now.
,ve commit our way unto Thee. .we
pray. for strength and grace. We re•
joice in what ,has been given us. WEl
go forward trustfully, humbly,. expec; ·
tautly, . Amen, .
]IH'. (:ll'J"I
Nor was the i\lusil'
Meetings overlooked
bears witness.
TESTIMC
To John Harris Gut
Director of M uslc,
lngs,
vVe desire to expr
tlon of your ea1·nes1
our lives with the ,1c
We feel that In y,
is also a great. deslr,
gospel of better llvh
of true brotherhood.
As a teaclH•r anc
work of inducing h1
tlons through the gll
mony In music, we e
in your ability and p
and trust ~'Oil will ac
as one of the rewnr<ls
service,
Committee of I
All this portion of
: should be said, was 1
manship of George 1
who with Miss H. V.
Pennington, Miss :1!ln1
John J. Snllivnn. has I
weelcs to see t hn t a II
Birt.II day celehl'flt Ion
, smoothly.
What tac·I
this whole, COlllllllttee
how splendid an exam
tlon! Each member Im
Jar duty to perform on
Ing, and nil did their
Pennington, Se('J'etary
Hall Folks, quite co
, with glory, as he mad
. tlon speech to the ush
it with a ston' about
when the head usher
Hall· had to be ca I led
settle a fracas hetwee1
ll.lld an EJlephan t !
''I
',\
FORD HALL FOLKS
appreciand to the
iha,t on
l'thday of
•, this op•
trno adthe noble
have di•
· services
1e taught
prlnci))le
i fe in all
gratnlate
\'Oil have
meetings
continue
,e, with
lrn assollt'e of
ks, with
· minds,
,njoying
1 on all
men, to
'nal vig,onstant
feelings
to us
!ege ot
·ls and
ions of
icleniug
·reasing
1stantly
•rstand!l'ly ob-
nnness
lone in
•e.
We
We re·
s. We
expec,
~II SS
Nor was the Musical Dir ector of the
Meetings overlooked-as this tribute
bears witness,'
TESTIMONIAL.
To
John Harris Gutterson,
Director of 'Music, Ford Hall Meet•
ings,
'iVe desire to express our appreciation of your earnest efforts to color
our lives: with the joy of good music,
'vVe feel that in your service there
is also a great desire to promote the
gospel of better living and the alms
of true brotherhood,
As a teacher and leader in the
work of inducing harmonious conditions through the gift of divine harmony in music, we express our belief
in your ability and professional skill,
and tl'Ust you will accept our thanks
as one of the rewards of your devoted
· service,
Committee of Ford Hall Folks,
All this portion of the program, it
: should be said, was under the chairmanship of George Brewster Gn llup,
who with Miss H, V. Hathaway, J, 'l',
Pennington, Miss Minnie A, Noyes and
John .J, Sullivan, has been working for
weeks to see that all details of the
Birthday celebration should go off
, smoothly,
What -tact and jndgment
this whole committee displayed and
how splendid an example of co-operation ! Ela ch member had some parti.cular duty to perform on the festal evening, and all did their parts well, Mr,
Pennington, Secretary of the Ford
Hall Folks, quite covering himself
, with glory, as he made his presentation speech to the ushers and capped
it with a story about one pccasion
when the head usher at Noah's Ark
Hall had to be called to the roof to
settle a fracas between a Bull Moose
0.11{! an Elephant!
3
()It,\
W J•'() H II
As Miss Hathaway arose to read her
share of the committee's formal Apprec!a·tlons, a huge florist's box was
borne in from the dressing room by
two of the ushers, When opened this
revealed an enormous ·bouquet of exquisite pink and white roses, tied with
streamers of pink and white chiffon
ribbon, This, with appropriate sentiments, was presented to the surprised
and delighted Secretary of the 1\foetings, to whom also Miss Hathaway
read the following:
TESTIMONIAL.
To Miss Mary Caroline Crawford,
Secretary of Ford Hall Meetings.
In attempting to express our appreciation of the work you have done for
Ford Hall we are forced to admit that
we realize only in faint degree the
task involved In arranging programs
year after year which offer variety
and worth,
But we are, nevertheless, filled with
a deep sense of gratitude for the part
you have played in the attainment of
the
e1i1!,nently satisfactory results
which the Ford Hall fifth anniversary
shows us, Nor could we fail to be
delighted, instructed, Inspired by the
speakers who have come to us from
year to year! Indeed, they have fired
us with a buming desire to live grandly for God and humanity, 'rhus your
efforts are not lost if not quite fully
measured, and like the child who·
never feels the full force of the mother love and care until he is grown
and faces his own life problems, so by
and by, perchance, some Ford Hall
members leaving the home nest and
attempting to launch elsewhere another Ford Hall, may come to lrnow
somewhat of your labors and will then
emulate with gratitude the work so
well do110 by our esteemed Secretary,
'
1i',
'I
r
'
4
FORD HALL FOLKS
Mr. John J. Sullivan's part of the
J)rogram brought out one of the de•
llghtful surJ)rises of the evening, For
in response to It President Bentley, of
the Social Union, eloquently pledged
his organization to continued· service
In the field which George W. Cpleman
has so successfully developed.
TESTIMONIAL.
To The Boston Baptist Social Union.
This is a significant occasion, the
fifth anniversary Of the incep,tion, by
Mr, George Vv. Coleman, under the
auspices of the Boston Baptist Social
Union, of these F:ord Hall meetings.
It is indeed a happy occasion for the
promoters and participants alike,. as
it marks another milestone In the
progress and development of this Institution, which during its brief existence, has taken a high rank among the
many social and moral endeavors tha.t
have marked the progress of this city,
These meetings have been developed under the direction of the mem·
bers of Boston Baptist Social Union
In the true spirit or Daniel Sharp
Ford, the founder, with marked liberality and enterprise. Through and
by them, we have been given a splen•
did exposition of a true religious
spirit, that transcends all sectarian
bias and affiliations, a radiant exem·
p!lfication of
inclusiveness
that
ignores all racial lines, caste and
class divisions and distinctions.
These prominent features
have
caused these meetings to be fraught
w 1th blessings to all who have been
11rlvlleged to participate In them, and
they have been fruitful by ins11lrlng us
with courage and zeal, to gra11ple with
tbose social and economic problenrn
that challenge public attention and are
11ressing for solution ..
·we extend our sincere co~gratulaticms and felicitations to the Boston
Baptist Social Union upon the arrival
of this happy occasion, and we are
glad to embrace the opportunity
which It affords, to acknowledge our
indebtedness to them and to that ·,vonderful man, Daniel Sharp Ford whosc
gift they administer, for the benefits
conferred, and to assure them of our
sincere appreciation of the many op· vortunlties they have afforded us for
mental improvement and moral Instruction.
"\Ve respectfully urge upon the mem•
bel's of the Boston Baptist Social
Union the prot)l'iety and expediency of
a. continuance and JJOSsible extension
of these meetings, as each successive
year Is making them more and more of
a factor for good, not only In the In-
j
divldual lives. of those· who attend tho
meetings, b1it also in til'e., communal
v.nd civic life of those communltes of'
which Boston Is the comm01~ center,
and lastly, because these meetings are
a visible expl'ession on the part, of the·
Social Union of Its good-will, sympathy and co-operation with all°' those
moral and social forces that are!work•
ing to promote the general welfare,
and of all who are longing for a reallzv.tlon of the greatest of all religious
ideals, "Peace on earth, good-will to
all men."
Committee o( Ford Hall Folks.
Prof. Zueblin appropriately headed
the list In the letters from friends and
admir(lrs of the Ford Hall Meetings,
which Miss Noyes now read.
To Mr. Coleman,
Dear Father Superior:
"On the fifth anniversary ol the birth
of your child, for which I. am one of
the Innumerable Godfathers, I want to
congratulate you and re)oice with you
in the gratifying progress of the infant.
"If we are to get free speech on the
one hand and an expression of our
national faith on tlie other, it will be
largely by multiplying big, reasonable
catholic and spiritual forums, like the
Ford Hall meetings, They prove that
we can voice .our common faith without fearing or being demoralized by
·our differences.
"!\lay you get your compensation in
their perpetuation and extension."
Then, cam(1 the "prize letter," the
one selected by the committee from the
scores of letters sent In to be printed
on the Birthday Souvenir Program as
particularly typical of the Ford Hall
sentlmen,t. There Is a lot to be read
between the lines in this letter from a
Jew to the Movement he so dearly
loves, A lesson Is here for us all if
we have but the eyes and heart for It.
December 24, 1912,
Ford Hall,
Cradle of Fraternity.
Greetlngs:Ford Hall: what magic in its name;
what a charmed atmosphere surrounds it! 'Tis Christmas Eve; I am
penning these lines while the Christmas rarols are being chanted in the
adjoining streets:
"Peace on earth,·
good will to men," Ah, the dream of
the millennium! I arise sore at heart,
open the window of my rear room;
there stands Ford Hall: how· silent,
how mute, but hold,-how eloquent .
and majestic it is, even in Its mute-
. !less, for It see
11ight,-"Why e
rich or poor, n
ground as broth
•where!" "'Tis S
from whatever ,
:faith, and ente1
portals, dedlca t<
of man." Note
appears to be!
negro, the Irish
kee, aye, even I
turbance, neve1
· word, my hono
.have been stan<
out for two hon
·five sea('lons paE
·nights; how I I
and genial Co
•sweet and slst.c
her faithful pos
Gutterson at ti
·contented smile,
song.
A so111
Happily, no; fo1
now and 'lls I
'The fa th er hood
·air. And to th
lng theatre ('Oil<
for me; oh, th
·speaker has rP
·many have dis:
:mark you, not.
,has been noted
know, and some
I possess were
haters.
But s
exist In Ford
melts. And ye
·that I in ret nn
my Christian
them. Such Is
as Ford Hall e:
Members of the
A pal'tlng "
·Chairman at F<
a Jew on behn
truthfully state
that the name ,
Is held with U
. while his loftl1
lllned with snc
has attained f
among them, ti
1mto another In
IN I\
Daniel Sharp
forever be link
11ls life's work
-ers to go and <
Peace t
Si
4
FORD HALL FOLKS
lil'es of those who attend tho
but also in tii'e,, communal
life of those communites of
)ston is the common, center,
, because these meetings are
~xpression on the part-, of t110,
lion of its good-will, i,ympaeo-operatlon with air°' those
l social forces that are\work'omote the general welfare,
who are longing for it realI he greatest of all religious
Peace on earth, good-will to
, ness, for it seems to cry out in the
night,-"Why can Jew and Gentile,
rich or poor, meet here on common
ground as brothers all, and not every,where!" "'Tis Sunday, come Stranger,
from whatever clime, professing what
,faith, and enter with me, within its
portals, decllcatecl to the brotherhood
of man." Note how joyous everyone
appears to be! 1'here is the Jew, the
negro, the Irish, the Italian, the Yan•
Jrne, aye, even the Turk; never a ells·
turbance, never even an ill-spoken
word, my honor for it, though they
,have been standing in the colcl without for two hours full. And this, for
'five sea~ons past!
Ah, the Sunday
'Bights; how I long for them!
Kind
and genial Coleman in the chair;
, sweet and sisterly Miss Crawford at
her faithful post; while there is Bro.
Gutterson at the piano. Observe his
'contented smile, for his soul Is in the
song,
A song of dogmatic creed?
Happily, no; for you are In Fo1'cl Hall
now and 'tis the brotherhood song,
The fatherhood of Goel Is in the very
air. And to think that Sunday even'lng theatre concerts once held charms
for me; oh, the horror of it.
The
·speaker has rendered his discourse;
-many haV\l, disagreed wit]} him, but
:mark you, not one discourteous act
,has been noted.
I am a Jew, you
know, and some of the clearest friends
I possess were, formerly rabid Jewhaters.
But such animosity cannot
exist in Ford Hall atmosphere; it
melts. And you may rest assured
that I In return have learned to love
my Christian neighbors, God bless
·them. Such is Christianity, Stranger,
as .Ford Hall expounds it.
llmittee o( Ford Hall Foiles.
11eblin appropriately headed
the letters from friends and
of the Ford Hall Meetings,
s Noyes now read.
,leman,
er Superior:
ti fth anniversary of the birth
tild, for which I, am one of•
erable Godfathers, I want to
te you and rejoice with yori
ttifying progress of the inrn to get free speech on the
und an expression of our
iith on tlie other, it will be
multiplying big, reasonable
1d spiritual forums, lilce the ,
meetings, They prove that
ke our common faith with~ or being demoralized by
IlCeS,
11 get your compensation in
,tnatlon and extension." ,
1ne the "prize letter," the
l l;y the committee from the
,tiers sent in to be printed
l1day Souvenir Program as
, typical of the Ford Hall
There is a lot to be read
i lines in this letter 'from a
Movement he so dearly
•sson is here for us all if
t the eyes and heart for it.
Members of the Baptist Social Union:
A parting word as regards your
,chairman at Ford Hail. Speaking as
a Jew on behalf of the Jews, I can
truthfully state with all sincerity,
that the name of George W. Coleman
is held with the tenderest affection;
while his loftiness of purpose, com•
bined with such genial personality,
has attained for him a popularity
among them, that cannot be likened
1mto another in our midst.
December 24, 1912.
Vraternity,
: what magic in its name;
harmed atmosphere sur'Tis Christmas Eve; I am
,se lines while the Christare being chanted in the
t reets:
"Peace on earth,'
) men." Ah, the dream of
111111! I arise sore at heart,
'indow of my rear room;
s Ford Hall: how, silent,
!Jilt hold,-how eloquent
" it Is, even in its mute'-
' IN MEMORIAM.
I
I
I
I-
I
'.
Daniel Sharp I•'ord: may his name
forever be linked with posterity, and
111s life's work an inspiration for oth-ers to go and do lllrnwise.
Peace to his memoty!
Samuel Sackmary,
45 Joy street, Boston.
5
THE BROAD, FREE VIEW',
(Written for The Birthday)
The broad, f1;ee view of earth and sky,
, Our human natures truly seek,
'Is gained along the path of life
That leads to some great mountain
peak.
'For as we make the upward climb,
The earth exp::incls in larger plan,
And all the circling worlds evolve
· The grander thought of God and
man.
Set free from narrow, crooked ways,
Old party walls and creecl::il bars,
With joy, we take the open road,
At night, we see the glorio1111 alars.
And he who gains the oletll', calm
height,
Where heaven's blue b/urner is unfurled,
May kindle with the torch of truth
, A beacon light for all the world.
WILLIAM W. LOCKE,
( Civic Service Ho11se, Boston.)
Rabbi Maurice H. Harrla, D. D.,
'I'emple Israel,
Harlem, New York,
"Five years is a short period in the
life of an inclivicluaJ, 11till shorter in
the life of an institution; yet within
that brief span Ford Hall as an uplift•
Ing centre has come to be known and
felt not only in Boiiton, the city of its
immediate locatl011, qut in localities
far and wide, 'I'hls people's forum,
among other things, has become an
unsectarian church, Its platform broad
enough to hospitably accommodate all
1 eligions.
Its eclectic creed includes
the self-denial of Buddha, the contagious enthusiasm of Mohammed, the
ethics of Confucius, the compassion of
Jesus, the clecalogne of Moses.
"It has also feel the artistic side of
the vast throngs it welcometl and contributed to their elevating pleasure.
H would be impossible to measure its
protective service, the sordid inclnl·
gence from which it may have drawn
many of its attendants by its inviting
and instructive program. In this re•
spect it has offered a model ot' what
almost, eVery church might be.
.
It Is the new worlr needed for this new
age. 'l'he fittest survives. Ford, Hall
will live because it deserves to live."
6
FORD HALL FOLKS
Rev . .John Haynes Holmes,
Minister, Church of the :Messiah,
Naw York.
"I am indeed proud and happy to be
i?Jclucled In the great. army of your
friends and admirers who are banding
themselves together on this occasion
or the fifth anniversary of the Ford
Hall movement to testify to you their
affection for you personally and thelt
unbounded enthusiasm for the wonderful work which you have clone, and are
still doing for the cause of politicnl
democracy, industrial freedom and socialized religion, I salute you, sir, as
one of the wisest, bravest and most
comradely' leaders of this age of farYlsionecl' prophets and heroic crusaders,·"
Henry Abrahams,
Secretary,
Cigarmakers'
International Union, No. 97.
"A trade unionist. pure and simple,
who believes in the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man, I desire
to express my appreciation of what
Ford Hall Is doing for the masses.
There,. on every Sunday evening, one
has the opportunity to listen to some
master mind, hear fine singing, beautiful music, and all without any cost of
any kind. · Here .Jew and Christian,
white and black, men and women from
all walks of life mingle.
Truly the
Christian is beginning to understand
Christianity, And It was left to the
Baptist Church to solve the problem of
why men do not go to church,
May
Goel speed yon and your able secretary in your noble mission!"
Rev. Charles Stelzle,
The Board of Home Missions of the
Presbyterian Church of America.
Bureau of Social Service Superintendent,
"Whether it knows It or ndt, the
Protestant Church, . to say nothing
about the ,Jewish Church and the Cath•
ollc Church, Is under a distinct obligation to you and those associated
with you for the splendid work that
you have done at Ford Hall during the
past five years. The men and women
or. labor are indebted to you. for you
have given .inspiration to their highest
hopes and aspirations through the
speakers invited to address the audieuces at Ford Hall. There has come
out of these open Fornm discussions a
better understanding of the problems
of the people. Most of all, the men
and women who have never had a
touch on the life of the workers are
Indebted to you for they haYe had
their own lives enlarged as they
caught the vision which has already
come to their humbler brothers and
sisters. I am personally Indebted to
you, for It was at Ford Hall that I
leanied more of the SJJll'it so much
needed In my own work,"
Rev, Edmund F'. i\ler
Of the Watrhman,
Boston, l\lass,
",'rhe old cry that
not take any inte1·es1
people· ls seldom hen
Ford Hall meetings b,
refutation of thn t ch:
Rev. Lymai1 Abbott, D. D.,
'l'he Outlook.
"You have proved in Dos ton as theSunday Clnb has proved In Chicago,
and as other lesser entei•prlses. have·
proved in other· J)arts of the ronntry,
that whenever the Chu!'ch forgets It•
self and thinks only of the service
·which it can re11der, It finds that the
people are interested In problems of
the religious life more jll'ofoundly than
in any other problem, and will flock In
great numbers to hea1· these problems
discussed In a vital way by vital men."
J, J, Fraser.
I am an agnostic,
Social Unl011 deservef
.its liberal s11lrlt in
meetings, Mr, G. Col
wire and the man he!
Rev. Harold :Marshall,
Melrose.
"For a hundred years we Unlversal11,ls have been proclaiming a bellet
that religion ls a human attribute;
but here In the cradle of liberal
Christianity we left it to you to conduct the flrst serious laboratory experiment to test the theory. Some
clay Ford Hall will be recognized as.
a spiritual Plymouth noel~."
Livy S. Richard,
Editor The Boston Common ..
"As I am about to leave Boston
after a study of the ])eople and 1 nstitntioils covering nearly three years, I
wnnt to ·JJut on record a brief estimate·
of one of the most exhilarating personalities I have met, and one of the·
most stimulating of the Institutions.
"To find in one person a well-baJ:-anced combination of physical virility,
mental prJwer, spiritual insight ancf
fine humai1 sympathy is to locate
what I conceive to be the best asset
that· exists. Boston Is mighty lucky
to have such an asset in George .vV.
Coleman.
"I put the person first because he
explains the Institution,
"In the I~ord Hall meetings you·
have answered the question-What Is.
to be the salvation of onr American·
. Democracy-Only by Its members com-Ing to know each other as brothers:
will that democracy survive."
Louis A. Chandler,
Boston.
These meetings stand for the high-est type of moral and educational Influences.
F'reda Rogolsky, .
115 Chamhers strec
"Ford Hall Is likP
ting too small lo hol
who come from nil
'turn~cl a way.
"Ford Hall could
the 'melting trnt,' wh
together, forgetting al
are brothers listening
better the conditions
world a better place t
next. generations.
.. "There arc many pl
the doors are hclnp; o
people, but they hn l'e
Mr. Coleman, like a
us In the hour of 11<
thing seemed dark."
"To tltink thnt we
the same platform a
ed In schools, a .Tewlsl
tlan minister, a Soci
woman and a .Jewish J
more than I can 11ncl
tbat the time Is cornln
recognize that we all
each other, and th:
l'rothers in spite ol' t
a.re of different rellgi,
Miss Mary Mason.
"One of the most pl,
connection with I.he l
ment Is the melting
prejudice, more esp,
Jew and Gentile.
"The Gentile In th
badly for an eye-ope1
to his brother .Jew. B
heard Harris, Wise,
Fleischer from the Fo1
light begins to dawn 11
"And those professo
ologlcal seminaries,
young preachers are
send out?
Not stanc
Ford Hall will have
laurels soo11,
Chnrcl
leadership may overta
Meanwhile, jnst wait
five years the lrnven
, 'I
FORD HALL FOLKS
for they haVEl had
,cs enlarged as they
;ion which has already
humbler brothers and
personally indebted to
is at Ford Hall that I
ol' the spirit so much
own work."
lll
clibott,
n.
D.,
Rev. Edmund F. Merriam, D.D.,
Of the Watchman,
Boston, Mass.
".The old cry that the churches do
not take any interest in the working
people· is seldom heard now since the
Ford IIall meetings became a standing
refutation of that charge,"
.J . .J. li'raser.
I am an agnostic, and the Baptist
Social Union deserves great 1fraise for
.its liberal spirit in continuing the
meetings, Mr. G, Coleman is the live
wire and the man behind the gun.
·
iroved In Boston as thel1as proved in Chicago,
lesser enterprises. have
•r parts of the country,.
the Chm'ch forgets it1,s only of the service·
ender, it finds that the
erested In problems of
re more p1'ofoundly than
1·01.Jlem, and will flock in
to heat these problems
vital way by vital men."
I arshall,
red years we Unlversal11 p;·oclaimlng a belief,
is a human att\'ibute;
the crndle of liberal
·e left it to you to conserious laboratory ex,~st the theory. Some
I will be recognized as.
·month Roel~."
rd,
Boston Common ..
n bout to leave Boston
ot' the people and lnstl·
1g· nearly three years, I
1 record a brief estimate,
most exhilarating 11er1ve met, and one of the·
i11g of the institutions.
one person a well-bal~
t ion of physical virility,
spiritual insight. and'
Hympathy is to locate
ve to be the best asset
loston is mighty lucky
n n asset In George .W.
p1,rson first because he·
nst!tution.
,rd Hall meetings you:
l the question-What is,
vation of our American·
11 ly by its members co~1,,nch other as brothers:
1ocracy survive."
i11gs stand for the hlgh'oral and educational in-
.Freda Rogolsky,
115 Cham hers street, Boston.
"Ford Hall is like om· hai·bor, getting too small to hold all the people
who ... come fl'om all parts and are
turned a way,
"Ford Hall could be compared to
the 'melting pot,' where we all come
together, forgetting all ])rejudices, and
are brothers listening to how we may
l.JEJtter the conditions and make this
world a better place to live in for our
next generations.
.. "There are m'any places now where
the doors are being o])ened to all the
])eople, but they have no Mr. Coleman.
l\fr. Coleman, like a compass, guided
us in the hour of need when everything seemed dark."
"To think that we can hear from
the same platform a woman interested in schools, a .Jewish Rabbi, a Christian minister, a Socialist, a Chinese
woman and a .Jewish philanthropist, is
more than I can understand. I feel
that the time ls coming when we sha11
recognize that we all have to llve for
each other, and that we are all
l•rothers in spite ot' the fact that we
are of dlft'eren t religions."
Miss Mary Mason.
"One of the most pleasing results in
connection with the Ford Hall movement ls the melting away of racial
prejudice, more especla1ly between
,Tew and Gentile.
'"l'he Gentile in the main suffers
badly for an eye-opener with regard
to his brother .Jew. But when he has
heard Hanis,. Wise, Schulman and
Fleischer from the Ford Hall platform
light begins to dawn upon him.
"And those professors from the the•
ologlcal seminaries, what kind or
· young preachers are they going to
send out?
Not stand-])atters, surely.
Ford Hall will have to look to her
laurels soon.
Churches under this
leadership may overtake and pass her.
Meanwhile, just wait and see. Within
five years the leaven of Ford Ha11's
7
])rogresslve thought wlll have leavened the whole lump of orthodox religions thinking In Boston town and
far beyond."
Pres, David Starr .Jordan,
Stanford University, Callfornia.
"As one interested in the work at
I•'ord Hall and as one. who has had the
exciting pleasure of addressing the
p(~o])le there, I send a word of congratulation and good will. I am deeply
impressed with good which can be
done in institutions like this in which
men who have a mission of some kind
are brought in contact with the people, and, peop'e have opportnnity
freely to talk back."
Prof. Charles P, Fagnani, D. D.,
Union Theological Seminary, New
York.
"Like father like child. How· could
I<'ord Hall be anything but fine, democ1:atic, inspiring and Chrlstia11 (in the
true sense of that ninch abused word)
when it has George vV. Coleman for Its
a.Im.us vater I 'I'he greatest life work
e,mceivable, a privilege reserved only
fo1· a few, is that of being the founder
ot a great institution, of incarnating
cne's highest ideals and aspirations
and edeavors in the enduring organhim of a social strncture which will go
on flourishing when the heart and
l•rain that gave it birth have graduated into spheres of higher service still.''
Russell B, Kingman,
New York City,
"In the Ford Hall meetings you have
brought me my religion, for up to the
time I had the good fortune to know
this movement, I must frankly confess
a backsliding tendency, and now that
I nm launched in a new field, I so miss
Forrl Hall that I am prompted to plant.
Rimllar seed in this community. Before a year expires I believe you will
hear of a similar movement in Newark, New .Jersey, Moreover if I have
111y way I am going to call the movement Ford Hall meetings,
"I never believed it possible to love
in such a personal sense every mem·
her of an aggregation of people."
Hev. Charles C, Earle, D.D.,
Ruggles Street Baptist Church.
"Like .John, the Baptist, of the llrst
century and Martin Luther of the sixteenth, you have been in the vanguard
o1 the great awakening which Is of
chief importance in modern times.
. . . Your task is comparable to
t11at of Moses or Lincoln, leading the
y;ay to the Promised Land of Emancipation from Social Bondage."
/
I'
r:
,,,
·I
I
FORD 1!:\LL FOLKS
you have accomplished this seeming
miracle full tes-tilllony is bol'lle in this
multitude of astonishing letters. What
may be the future influence of this
movement, which won have inaugurated, U]Jon society at large no one can
know. It might be well If the great
captains of material resources of om·
times could elllulate your example and
establish 1.0,000 such groups tomorrow
throughout the world.
vVe, however, are chiefly concerned
tonight to turn over to you this recorrl
of what you have accomplished for us
v,1i'd with us here In these five years-.
We belie?e in you ai1d youi' lende1'ship; we make you the ex]lonent of
our choicest and highest hopes; we
even believe that should you be called
upon to make the· supi'eme sacrifice
for the success of this work and the
spiritual evolution of humanity, you
would gladly make It, ·so we bring
here and present to you tonight, :Mr.
Coleman, this carefully 11repared vol•
ume which contains the best we have
to glve,-our purest thoughts, In a
truest sense, a gift of ourselves, and
we ask you to accept and cherish it
aP.' an historical
monument of the
work which you have begun and a lllemorial of ~ur highest esteen and
affection. It is a pledge of the blood
brotherhood which you have inspired
us to feel in our hearts and to manifest in our lives.
In the name of Daniel Sharp Ford,
and for the Ford Hall Folks, and all
sympathizers with the Ford Hall
movement. I give you this book. (Applause.)
IJlg, I would clasp it to my heart as
an expression of my npp1·ec!atlon of.
what you have brought to me in tl!ese
lwautiful sentiments.
·
I do want to s-ay this much: that
in ·aclditlon to thanking so many In
the Social Union and out of the Social
Union for the help they have given,
and for what they have contributed
in making these meetings possible, I
thank God from the bottom of my
h1.mrt, when J stop to think of how
many hundreds of times, on hui1drecls
of occasions, our work might have all
gone for naught because of obstructions and difficulties and hindrances,
over which no one of us could pos;sibly have had any control whatever.
,Working as ha!'d as -we might, with
all the patience and skill that we could
command, with all the love and sympnthy In our hearts, we might stl!I
liave blundered 'so fearfully as to
have made it impossible for us to continue this unique work. 80 I say from
my heart, and I know from many of
your hearts that we thank Goel that
we have been permitted during these
five years to carry on this work,
This has• been a place, literally,
where the Ilon and the lamb could
Ile down together without clanger of
being eaten up.
(Applause.)
The
,Jew and the Gentile, the Catholic and
the Protestant, the believer and the
unbe!lever, the rich and the poor, the
conservative and the radical, men and
women all representing our entire
community life, have been privileged
tu come together here every Sunday
1iight and discuss the· most vital things
that concern the hmmm mind ancl the
human heart. And yet, as you all
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY MR.
know, !n all these five years, with· the
COLEMAN.
hall crowded full, with sometimes the
most Intense interest prevailing, never
Before I speak a word for myself 011ce, as the Chairman of these meetram going to say a few words for the Ji1gs, have I been obliged to use even
speaker of the evening. I waS' pre- AS much as a gavel to maintain order.
pared not to say anything, In order to
(Applnnse.)
give him an opportunity, but Miss
There is a great deal in my heart
Crawford has JJrovided a very happy
that I would l!ke to say to you but I
way out of !t, and that ls that we ask will not detain you in order to do so
Dr. Gifford to be our special S]Jeaker, You know me well enoue-h (laughter
on the subject that he hacl selected and applause) to know that I do not.
for this evening, on our last S'unday· fake ail that has been said about me
night in the season-the S'econcl week
literally (laughter), but you know me
in April. I !mow he has a splendid
,veil enough to know, also that I do
mes·sage for you.
take it, full measure and running
· l\Ir. Galjup and friends: If I couhl
over, as an expression of the love ancl
escape this moment I think I would
good will of your hearts. (Applause.)
be willing to go with Sheriff Quinn
No gift that you could have made
over to Charles Street ,Jail. (Laugh
to me of silver or gold, clone with the
ter.) The hour is so late that I will best workmanshiJJ; nothing studded
not attempt to tell yon anything like with the most precious gems, coulrl
11ihat is in my heart. I wonlcl simply have stood in comparison at all with
say,• this: If that book were not so what Is in· these letters and In the
I',•
I
beautif
wish!n1
short '
away a
(La11gh
going t
minute
them f
bring
strengt
we go
have I'·
snld, \'
these l
possib!,
sample
yon wo
to get :
hoolc !I
portuni"
l\lrs. C
you all
applam
hlb!tioi;
that n!
Wlil CO)
· other E
Then ,,
yon lo
than ye
ahle to
Imm
prec!att
to me i
bt'ginni
spienrli1
ford hn,
busy bt
hf.Bides
engage
been al
have cl1
ford hn
done BO
I hail n
ingen11i1
meant,
than Rll
It al
necessri.
flllr "'01
has to I
iu the I
to me,
usefn!, r
Mr. Rol
newspaJ
that, hr
that lhE
ly Mr. J
lnr; to
out (IIJJJ
and als
lig!ous 1
ment co
public c
the clall
t
+
,
~,
,
:.·.
~
Pf'
FORD HALL FOLKS
J11ld clasp it to my heart as
ssion of my apprncla'tiou of.
lmve brought to me in Hlese
sentiments.
·
·ant lo say this much: that
Dll to thanking so many in
I llnion and out of the Social
r the help they have given,
\\'hat they have contributed
g these meetings possible, I
:id from lhe bottom of my
ll'll I stop to think or' how
1clrnds of times, on hm1dreds
)llS, Olli' work might have all
naught because of obstrucdifflculties and hindrances,
·h no one of us could poss had any control whateve1'.
as hard as -we might, with
ience nnd skill that we could
with all 'the Jove and symom hearts, we might still
l!llered · so fearfully as to
e it impossible for us to conunique work. flo I say from
and I know from many of
ts that we thanlc God that
ieen permitted during these
to cany on this work.
1;,: been a place, literally,
, lion and the Iamb could
together without danger of
Pl!
llP,
(Applause.)
The
IH1 Genti~e, the Catholic and
;tant, the believer and the'
, the rich and the poor, the
n, and the radical, men and
I representing 011r entire
life, have been privileged
Dgether. here every Sunday·
l isc11ss tl\e· most vital things
l'll the lrnmnn mind and the
art. And yet, as you all
II these five years, with· tho
('d full, with sometimeB the~
ale interest prevailing, never
1(, Chail'man or these meetI heen obliged to use even
; a gavel to maintain order.
a great deal in my heart
Id like lo Bay to you b11t I
Iain yoll in order to do so.
me well enoue-11 (laughter
se) to luiow that I do not
.it has been said about me
((\ghter), but you lrnow me
h lo know, also that I do
11! measure and running
Hxpresslon of the love and
,r yonr hearts. (Applause,)
that yon could have made
Iyer or gold, clone with the
llanship; nothing stndclecl
11ost prnclous gems, coulrl
in comparison at all with
these letters and in the.
beautiful book. I have almost been created among· church people by two
wishing that I might be sick for a or three friendly religious papers that
short time .in order that I could go saved the day when, as you know
many a time this worJc hung in th~
away and have a chance to read them.
(Laughter and applaus'e,) But I am halance,
I must s·ay one more word
going to read them, inch by Inch, and
(laughter), and that is this:
Alminute by minute, and· then re-read
them for the blessing that they will tilough, perhaps, my chief struggles
bring to my own heart, and the in the beginning were with my own
strength that they will bring to me as brethren of the Baptist Social Union,
we go on with this work. And as I nevertheless, I want to say to them,
have read them, one by one, I have and I want to say it in your presence,
said, Vfell, I wish you all could read tl!at I am more than ever proud and
these letters; but · that · may not be happy to be a Baptist because of what
possible; you have heard splendid they have done during these five years
samples of them here tonight. I think and in standing by these meetings<,.
you would like to get. an opportunity You must remember that it was en-·
to get a little clos·er inspection of the tl!'ely a unique work-never heard of
book than you will tave time and op- before-a clenomin;:ttional church with
itf! limitations, supporting·, cherishing
portunity for tonight, and I hope, wltil
l'virs. Coleman's permission, to invite extending a great work, universal i~
you all up to the house (laughter and its appeal. 'I'he church literally spending itself, its money, Its time, its
applause), and have the book on exhibition, and we will keep open house energy, its love in service of the comthat night and the Ford Hall Folks munity and never once thinking of Itwill come and' go, according to their self. It has' never been clone before,
other engagements for the evening·. that I know of. (Prolonged applause.)
'l'hen will be given an opportunity to And when you remember that these·
you to examine the book more closely men ln the Social Union, all of them
than you have been able or will be laymen, business men, most of them
ahle to do this evening, (Applause.)
deacons and superintendents in the·
I must say one word In a way of ap- Church a majority of them -of middle
preciation of the help that has come age, or past middle age; when you
to me In all this work from the very think that they had the patience and
beginning, after the first series, in the gentleness and trust and confidence
splendid assistance which Miss Crnw- ' and good will to let me go ahead with
ford has rendered, (Applause.) As a this thing when I could not promisebusy business man, with many things them a~ all what it was going to be,
b€sides this• outside of my business to for I did not know myself, you will
engage my attention, it would have understand that they really deserve a
been absolutely impossible for me to very great deal of the credit on this,
have done the work that Miss Craw- our Fifth Anniversary, (Applause.)
And just let me say in closing; yes,
ford has done,
I never could have
do
not
wonder
you
laugh.
done some of the work half as well If · I
I had all the time In the world! Her (Laughter.) But this Is really and
ingenuity, energy and faithfulness has truly the closing, (Laughter.)
meant, as the resolutions said, more
[It was 10 o'clock by this time and
we ha(] not even got to the speaker
than any of us can know,
It always• happens, and It must or the evening,l
necessarily Ile so, I suppose, that in
I have had a good many Je~sons in·
any work, some one particular person my life to the effect that "It is more
has to be rather, more than the rest
blessed to give than to receive." ·well,
in the lime light, and that has falle~ you may say I am not in a position to
(Laughto me, but there are others just as preach thnt gospel tonight,
useful, and when I think of the ushers, ter.) -But If there had been no such
Mr. Roberts, llfr. Gutterson and the expression as this superb book reprenewspaper men-It is literally true sents, and these beautiful testimonials
that, had it not been for the work represent; if nothing of that sort had
that the newspaper men did, especial- come to me this evening; If I only had •
ly Mr. Philpott of the Globe-I am go•
the support of the work that has been
ing to mention him and single him done in the last five years, as I have
out (applau'se)-in the very beginning, looked into your faces Sunday night .
and also the work done by the re- after Sunday night, I would say to
ligious papers in this city, this move- you frankly, that in all my life, in all ·
ment could not have lived .. It was the the church work that I have been
public opinion created in the city by thro11gh (and I worked from one
the dally press, and the good opinion branch to another, all the way up),
,,
•
12
FORD HALL FO.LKS
nothhlfo that I have ever done, or tried
to -do, that was altruistic In Its principle, or was brotherly In Its motives,
lrns brought .me so much satis•factlon
and jor and contentment as has what
J ha1·e tried to do here In connection
with these meetings, And I want to
recommend, from my own experience,
that no matter how busy you are, no
matter how driven you are, no matter
Ill
I
what other responslbilltles you have,
It PAYS, It PAYS, it PAYS, every
time, money aside, even the· good wlll
and respect and regard of those whom
yon have been accustomed·' to· associate ,vith aside, and ,vho do not at
all understand what you are struggling for. The satisfaction of such
service as this is like unto nothing
else on the face of the earth.
MR, COLEMAN
DEDICATORY.
This book is the unique tribute of a
nrnltitude to one man, as well as an
hlstorica'J monument to a marvelous
viol'k. Even those who have contrlb•
uted to this extraordlnal'y recorc(
";hile prophes'ying of the future o( the
I~ord Hall. meetings and of their leader, George vVilliam Coleman, are not
wholly competent to predict how
great. will be the influence of this
work and this man on the social
evolution that is taking 1Jlace. The
study of the· letters· which make up
this collection will reveal to keen
critics, historians and philosophers at
soine futul'e pei'lod how gl'eat a con-tribution has been made to the future
political state, and a )rnrer, better
social fabric, by this' institution under
the inspil'ation and direction of a
great leader.
To us who assist in this worl{ and
help to shape this record, nothing appears more clear than that the Ford
Hall meetings typify the long her-
aided dream of a true brotherhood of
man, and that our beloved leader was
chosen as the prophets of old, to
bring this work to pass. We believe
its Inspiration wlll endure and extend
in some form to all lands and to all
people. Herein wlll be discove11ed, in
this unexampled collection of letters,
the fervent hope, the irresistible
aspiration of men and women of every
race and· c1'eed, yearning towards that
success in living and that unity of belief and action which, like a sacred
beacon, have flamed in the heart and
guided the will of our friend, brother
and devoted way-shower, George
William Colemah.
The letters from . a multitude of
friends and the printed tributes from
the periodical press best tell the story
of. all time of the work and the ·man:
We give and deaicate this record
to the good of all hunianit'y, with deep
affection for the recipient; in whose
possession \ve desire it shall alwa·ys ·
remain as a monument· to his fidelity :
and a perpetual testiinonlaJ to our
good will arid ·farth )n the fofore.
~81
·'
./