OCR Text |
Show AMONG PLAIN PEOPLE London's Tribute to Abraham Lincoln in Appropriate Spot Tower Erected hy American and English Eng-lish Admlrera of the Great Emancipator Not as Vell Known as It Might Be. Among the American visitors who throng London tuich summer there are few who know that In South London Lon-don there is a memorial to Abraham Lincoln. It is a graceful tower and spire attached to Christ Church, an independent non-conformist church, in Southwark. Over the entrance are the words, "Lincoln Tower." A large stone tab- TO let Inside records, among other things, that the tower "was built in commemoration commem-oration of the abolition abo-lition of slavery effected ef-fected by President Lincoln, and as a token of international interna-tional brotherhood." One of the two large rooms In the tower is named Washington. When first erected, erect-ed, and before the smoke of London had blended all in uniform blackness, there could be seen on the spire of the tower stars and stripes in red and white stone. - The Lincoln Tower was inaugurated inaugur-ated July 4, 1876. The newspapers of the time were crowded with accounts of the great centennial celebration, so that it is not strange that the ceremony cere-mony of opening the tower was overlooked. over-looked. The idea of the memorial originated with the Hon. William E. Dodge of New York, who at the time was visiting visit-ing the Rev. Newman Hall, widely known as "the dissenter's bishop," one of the most popular English preachers of the day. Except for the first thousand dollars, the whole cost of the tower, which amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, was contributed, con-tributed, half in English sixpences and half In American dimes! entirely through the efforts of Mr. Hall, who counted the work all joy for the hove that he bore to Lincoln. Southwark Is a district of modest homes, its inhabitants are people of small means, if not actually poor, just the kind of plain people whom Lincoln especially loved and trusted. It would please the great president that his memorial should stand among such surroundings, rather than in a more conspicuous situation or a more fashionable neighborhood. Youth's Companion. |