Show A areat anniversary benjamin franklin who WM was born january 17 1700 1706 tag bas been called americas greatest philosopher and public benefactor thomas jefferson clas classed smil him as a second only to washington in point of 0 public service and de declied elred red that a broad line had been drawn Ie between tween washington and franklin on the one aide alda a and rid the tha rest at 0 the world on the a other it it la is proper and very instructive on the occasion ot of this bicentennial anniversary to contemplate the char acte the men raised up by the divine providence to be the builders of the american republic for that illustrates the great truth that this w wonderful structure was erected by master builders who knew how to lay solid foundations and place thereon 0 n a monument to stand for or ages in spite of the storms and commotions of the tha world it indicates that theirs was a mission for or tbt abs benefit of 0 mankind not only tor for the self belt interest of 0 a comparatively small part but for or the entire human family for there were giants in those days when the lord forth hta his hand to establish tills this gAvern mout and they left to a sacred inheritance to guards and to use uee as a trust tor for the berdat of 0 4 ace he world perhaps thi th true worth alfrank ila nver naver shone with brighter lustre than when ire be filled hl bid oma VA I 1 ap 1 V l cured the aid that mate riPy 0 tribute dU the odthe revolution luti on he went there technically as the representative 0 t 0 p bels bele 1 but akas was received as a standard boarer bearer of liberty france went at out ti to him in almost adoration the the trench made s bons eons ns abou thim th thur r published engravings of him hiiri he became as familiar ae a the fac acs lof ot the king on the jho trench french coins the pit rose when he be entered a theatre the court made him the hero here of 0 the day the louns and lovely queen marle antoinette was most gracious toward him and the languid angeld court courtiers igra crammed natural science so as to be able to talk alt him and yet in the midst of 0 all flattery he remained the simpleminded simple minded pher whose only interest centered lit in the mission with which he had been entrusted when he ha was the honored guest of royalty he thought of 0 the das daa of his poor boyhood when his father used to quote to him hirthe the words of the wise raan man seest thou a man diligent in hla his business he 11 ball stand before kings 1 l he heard the echo of tho the paternal voice a and nd saw a light as of prophecy fulfilled illuminating immortal words would to god that franklin had many true disciples lit in the official c circles of the republic he helped to establish few perhaps none can hope anywhere near his level but there them is no bar to an anybody standing on his platform piat form of morality everyone no matter what his oklie Is ie can be as true to himself hla his fellow ami and hla his god as aa franklin was if ie be has tho the disposition two incidents in the life of this great statesman tta are remembered by his bis biographers ile he it was who amov ed that tho the constitutional convention open its meetings with Il prayer rayer and his last public oct net was war to from his death bed as president of the tha society tor for the abolition of slavery a noble and touching appeal tor for those unhappy men who amidar the tha general joy of surrounding tree free men are groaning in servile subjection it la 11 impossible to conceive of a more worthy ending to a so BO great and glorious career deseret news newa |