The Temple of Thought: Snohomish Builds Its Own Athenaeum

The light of the celebrated blue grotto at Capri has been examined with the spectroscope by a learned physicist—H. W. Vogel. The marvelous bounty of the blue within.

[Poem Omitted for Brevity]

Admission to this event is free.

THE LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE SNOHOMISH ATHENAEUM.

One well known to fame in the Old World, after visiting the New, and seeing our land of progress cities and towns containing all the institutions of advanced civilization, springing up with magic like rapidity, gave expression to the idea that if he was in his youth, with life before him, and could select that upland of action where he could exercise all of his faculties to the best advantage for his own benefit, as well as at his fellow's, he would leave the old haunts of civilization; would come to the frontier, and there would assist in creating and establishing all the institutions of the most advanced civilization, freed from the fetters and hindrances to their growth found in older communities.

Friends of the Athenaeum, and citizens of Snohomish, upon a work like this you are now engaged, and it is with no ordinary feelings of emotion I participate in these exercises. Around me are many familiar faces of brave, true-hearted pioneers, who, a few years ago found this valley a wilderness, uninhabited by civilized beings.

It seemed to most of them; upon settling here, that they had abandoned forever all that pertained to civilized life; but soon homes were made in the wilderness; resources previously unknown were developed, and a community with its varied phases of social life was produced. That was once only a wilderness became a center of civilizing influences, and men begun to hope, that they might live to establish upon the banks of this beautiful river, institutions that would benefit themselves as well as their successors, and cause them to be spoken of with gratitude long after their human career should be ended here.

Communities in their progress obey a law of motion like unto the beating of the human pulse, or the ebb and flow of the tide. This accelerated and man decreed progress keeps time in a rhythmic manner to the spirit of the age, or those dominant influences that for the time being seem to control the actions of the race.

Those who attempt to oppose this force are usually carried resistlessly onward... but the wisdom of the wise is always found in understanding the spirit of their times and in knowing how to direct it into such channels as they have learned to judge proper.

The news of the community receiving that plan full almost irresistible tendency toward a general result and form lay all eyes upon those who have observed the laws of human progress.

Thus at one time we see the nations move on military glory, and the fame of those who conquer. The blood stained records of Assyria, of Egypt, of Greece and Rome illustrate this point... As out came, oppressed for centuries by their contending conquerors, so severely under their iron yoke, where it had little chance of escape from its bondage, to despair of this life, and to fix its hopes upon a life beyond the grave.

The virtues upon which it builds are many, its pleadings are as earnest, that the victor by the vanquished shall submit. Those who thought of this life, and became so absorbed in the future, when they realized the control of nations, looked upon the graves and monuments of life as temptations to be battled with, while all the triumphs and achievements of the human intellect, poured out contemptibly compared with the joys of heaven, that the heavenly inspiration was neglected, and new requirements added to its exhausted stock, until finally nearly all of ancient Civilization was destroyed.

The darkness of centuries fell over the world. The empire of our race appeared buried forever, until little by little the spirit of fanatic enthusiasm took possession of the people... They began to observe, to consider, to reflect. The classics had filled the Siracoon and the Turk served long as an introduction to a long contest between the awakening intellect of Europe, and the traditionalism of the pew, that so long had kept it chained.

The conflict is still going on, each generation gaining some advantage over the traditions of ignorance and superstition... wide amidst still wider exults the field of knowledge. Hand in hand with the struggle for mental and religious freedom, is fought the hum of civil liberty.

We inherit the results of all human struggles; They all have left their impress upon us.

Men of science claim that instincts are inherited habits. Thus our present actions, in a measure, lay future by the struggles of our ancestors, and we become the children of the past, as well as the parents of the future.

In view of these facts, it becomes proper to ask, what do we inherit from our ancestors? What habits of theirs are liable to be instinctive in us and what do we transmit to our successors, to mold their characters, and to leave our impress upon them?

We are children of ancestors who have battled for a thousand years for civil liberty, and free thought, who have always managed their own local affairs; who have learned to think, and investigate for themselves upon all subjects presented to their minds; who have spread the influences of civilization across the whole American continent, and defended it against all assaults upon its liberties, both domestic and foreign.

We live in an age of investigation and restless inquiry, when all the traditions of the past are examined and tested by the closest methods known for the detection of error, and the discovery and preservation of truth; when the secrets of nature are unfolded, and her forces made subject to the will of man to a greater extent than ever before known.

The individual who is all powerful... works in harmony with the tide of the age... In this way that I believe in 'who labors with him, that he can make his life sublime.'

What is this community? How does its spirit harmonize with the tendencies of the age and what is the work we have in hand by which we hope to leave behind us a monument at the ninth of action?

If I mistake not 'the character of the settlers of Snohomish, and I have reviewed your views to the study of their nature,' they represent the purest form of civilization and of thought more fully, and powerfully loose from the shackles of bigotry and intolerance, and are determined to drink, and study for themselves to a degree never achieved in a community akin to this. They make a leading figure in representing the most advanced thought and culture of our day; and the work now have in hand is to erect this edifice as a temple of science, or literature, and of art; as a means of carrying out more fully the work of that our representative society, The Snohomish Athenaeum.'

This institution started by our citizens three years ago, has been so well supported by them, that already it has become of territorial influence, and has effected a work here that can never be effaced.

Undoubtedly the expenditure required in now placing this, our cherished author pres... will be a tax upon all; yet will be cheerfully borne, and no noble act of intelligent and beneficial work will be left unaccomplished. This is already the result of the past efforts of our patrons. Then the work of our Athenaeum will continue us in the past, only with manifold increased power for usefulness, fully to instruct, to improve and train their minds and to found our larger conceptions, and true and complete ideals. It will wage humming war upon ignorance and illiteracy; it will make itself as well its good supporters known, and their influence felt until all adopt the thoughts and actions of each other people, that, though this building may be ruined and useless, Though the relics of literature, art and science here may become scattered by the hands of time, and this place, which we are about to erect this noble building, may be forgotten, or the existence of the Athenaeum may be lost in the progress of time. Yet the influence of the Snohomish Athenaeum, in ennobling, elevating and improving the minds of those subject to its influences will be felt through all coming time, and thus, your noble work be perpetuated forever and ever.