The William Penn Tercentenary 1644 - 1944

THE WILLIAM PENN TERCENTENARY 1644 - 1944 By Stanley R. Yarnall IN THE SPRING number of the Bulletin (vol. 33, pp. 31-33) the plans for the William Penn Tercentenary were outlined, and now that the Tercentenary has passed into history as a surprising success, it is appropriate for a fuller record to appear. The adjective "surprising" may seem strange, but the time was very short to project such an undertaking ; we were warned that there would be little interest in the celebration in the midst of global war; a presidential election due a few days after the Tercentenary date would make press notices impossible, and Pennsylvania had never succeeded in arousing enthusiasm or much real interest in its great Founder either within or beyond its boundaries. Our committee refused to be discouraged. The genesis of the Tercentenary was appropriately a concern expressed at a meeting of the Friends Peace Committee. The first important step was the gathering First Month 15, 1944, of a specially selected group of Friends representing pivotal Quaker committees and institutions of the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings . The spirit of this gathering is a happy memory. We seemed to be "cemented," as the old expression runs, or perhaps "covered" might be better, "in a desire to use the anniversary to revive and extend the knowledge of William Penn's life, ideals, and service in the many fields of his religious, social, and political endeavor,— not only through the Society of Friends but also within our city and State and even wider boundaries." A sponsoring committee of Friends was soon formed, with a working group and a small executive committee. Richard R. Wood acted as Secretary of this part of our work, ably seconded by Richmond P. Miller, to mention only two who were tireless in following up details, and resourceful in suggesting ways and means of promoting the movement among our meetings and schools and colleges, and stimulating Friends to be spark plugs. Later a finance committee, of which Jonathan M. Steere was 25Vol. 34, Spring 1945 26 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Chairman and Thomas Wistar, Treasurer, raised over $2400 to finance the Quaker features of the Tercentenary, the great Fourth and Arch Meeting on Tenth Month 24, and the provision of literature and a lending hand here and there as needed. The Friends Peace Committee contributed its office facilities and supplied much literature to the central committee, and the Book Stores at 15th and Race, and Fourth and Arch gave efficient advice and indispensable help. Anne H. Price, Secretary to the Speakef's Bureau on International Affairs, was most helpful in supplying speakers, mostly gifted and competent Friends, for 156 programs. The response of Monthly and individual meetings was prompt and cordial, and few failed to plan programs of true interest and significance. The movement extended beyond Pennsylvania. Apart from the central meeting at Fourth and Arch, the most interesting and important Quaker event was the Bucks Quarterly Meeting on Seventh-day afternoon, Tenth Month 14th, at Pennsbury Manor which, in spite of transportation difficulties, brought together more than seven hundred Friends and their guests to become familiar with William Penn's beautiful country home, and enjoy a well-planned program. To return to the main stream. After the initial meeting five Friends visited Governor Edward Martin at Harrisburg and found him not only responsive but enthusiastic. He promised full cooperation and expressed the hope that the Tercentenary might prove an outstanding feature of his administration, and that every man, woman, and child might "become William Penn conscious" in the coming months. Soon a committee of twelve was appointed with Charles F. Jenkins as Chairman, paternal, tactful and efficient, and Stanley R. Yarnall as Secretary. Dr. William W. Comfort was a tower of strength, particularly in editorial advice and labor in preparing the memorial volume Remember William Penn, issued as a State publication. Walter H. Annenberg of The Philadelphia Inquirer was invaluable because of his influence and experience in the field of publicity, and three members of the Governor's official family were indispensable , Dr. Francis B. Haas, Superintendent of Public Instruction ; Gregg L. Neel, Insurance Commissioner, and A. Boyd Vol. 34, Spring 1945 THE...