When the ordinance for approving the contract and sureties of James R. Floyd for the erection of the purifying house and other buildings for $25,000 was called up, Mr. Patton moved to postpone until time could be had to investigate "the illegal action of Director Wagner in making the award," before the work had been ordered by Councils and before an appropriation had been made.

"It is true," said Mr. Freeman, "that the Director has made a mistake. It is only a slight error, but he promises that he will not do it again.

"I will withdraw my motion to postpone," said Mr. Patton, "but I can not vote for the bill. I do not think this was a slight error. Had it been done by any other head of department before the Bullitt bill went into effect there would have been a great howl, and none would have been quicker to condemn than would have been the Director of the Public Works when he was chairman of the Finance Committee. I am opposed to approving a contract never authorized by Councils. This is an illegal act. A purifier may be needed, but I do not believe in curing no legislation by bad legislation."

"If Mr. Patton withdraws his motion to postpone," said Mr. Horn, "I will renew it. This contract has been entered into illegally, and I want to find out where the fault is. This being for over $25,000, is a very important matter. If Director Wagner wants to enter into contracts, let him come to us, as he should have done, and get the anthority."

"The Director's mistake," said Mr. Freeman, "has been one only of method. The Gas Trust has always made such contracts as these without consulting Councils, and he simply followed the precedent. He has admitted his error, and asks that Councils now make the award legal. It may be a little late."

"No one knows the laws governing these matters," said Mr. Patton, "better than Director Wagner himself. He knew that he had no right to do this thing, and he should not plead an ignorance of the law, a plea which would not be accepted in any court.'

The New Era says: "The Philadelphia Press, under the significant caption, 'Director Wagner Too Fast,' shows how that official has been reorganizing the Gas Bureau in his own way,' which is in direct violation of the city ordinance passed under the requirements of the Bullitt bill. The result is that the City Controller cannot countersign warrants for the payment of the employees unless Councils endorse his irregularity. Councilman Iseminger, of the Finance Committee, said 'it appeared to him that Gen. Wagner had far exceeded his authority, and should be made to conform to the law as he finds it, as much as any other

fittingly of the man and the occasion. We take but a single paragraph:

This is a meeting for no selfish purpose, to advance the interests of no individual or party, to start or build up no new enterprise. But all come here on a work of love, to honor the memory of a beloved teacher long since called to his rest. To us how many tender recollections cluster around the name of John Beck. We scholars looked up to him as the remarkable man of the age. He was a great and good man. The world is better for his having lived in it. He was our instructor, our guide, our friend. He sought to elevate our thoughts to high and noble purposes. He was a Christian, and only when the secrets of eternity are revealed, will be known the good influence he exerted upon the youth of this country; for he was a missionary for good, without and far beyond his own school

rooms.

Letters were read from persons who were unable to be present; and extended remarks were made by Hon. D. W. Patterson and perhaps a dozen others of Prof. Beck's old school boys. The line was then formed to proceed to the cemetery. Main Street seemed crowded with people assembled to see the gray-haired men pass by, a number of whom had been pupils in the little town more than half a century ago. At the church the line was joined by the Rev. Mr. Reinke, who led the procession up the long avenue leading to the city of the dead. It was "a perfect day in June. Hundreds had gathered to witness the ceremonies. After prayer, to the music of a dirge, the old pupils, with heads uncovered, passed silently around the grave, placing their floral offerings upon the low memorial stone. Singing by the Mænnerchor Society closed the exercises at the cemetery, after which the company returned to the Springs Hotel. In the afternoon an organization was effected, the purpose of which is the erection of a monument to the memory of the venerated teacher. The formal address of the day was by Simon P. Eby, esq., of Lancaster. We transfer it to our columns as a worthy tribute from the heart as well as the head, to the memory of a noble school-master who "being dead yet speaketh."

MEMORIAL ADDRESS BY MR. EBY.

To the soldier who has led the armies of his country to victory, to the statesman who has pleaded the cause of his people successfully, to the incorruptible judge who unmoved by the blandishments of power administers the law without fear or favor, to the physician who by patient research has unlocked the secrets of nature and alleviated pain and suffering, to the scientist who by his untiring efforts has subdued the elements and brought them to minister to man's comfort, to the inventor who by labor

saving machinery has lifted burdens from the toiling millions, to the pains-taking farmer who by long years of industry has clothed the barren hillsides with waving grain and caused luscious and wholesome fruits to grow where none grew before, to the skillful sailor who guides his ship through storm and darkness safely into port, to the brave engineer who remains at his post and goes down in the wreck, to save the lives of all the passengers entrusted to his care to all these belong the honor and gratitude of the people-over these we build costly mausoleums, sing their heroic deeds in verse, and care for their widows and orphaned children. But to him who has dealt with things far more precious than earth or sea or air--to the Teacher who has trained immortal minds to virtue, patriotism and usefulness-to him belongs the very best we can offer: we will enshrine his image within our loving hearts, and cause the pleasant story of his life to be told to our children's children.

To-day we do merited honor to such an one, John Beck, our beloved teacher—a shining example both as an instructor of youth and in his character as a man. He began his life's work, as he tells us, in a very humble way; teaching at first five apprentice boys three evenings in each week, in the then quiet and secluded Moravian village of Lititz. Having intended to follow a different calling, being modest of his own abilities and highly sensible of the responsibilities connected with the undertaking, he declined several times the offer of position as a teacher. Finally, however, upon the urgent request of the people of Lititz, he acceded to their wishes, and on January 2d, 1815, took charge, with many misgivings, of the village school of twenty-one boys, kept in a building once used as a blacksmith shop. From that eventful day and from that small beginning in the red-tile-roofed school-house, forward for fifty long years, until May, 1865, when he voluntarily laid down his work, wrote his valedictory letter addressed to his former 2326 pupils, and signed it as "their humble teacher,' devoted all his great energies of mind and body singly to the task at first so reluctantly assumed.

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During that extended period he labored early and late, without haste and without rest, patiently, faithfully, vigilantly, devoutly to the end-the germs of knowledge implanted in his mind while at Nazareth Hall, where he received the elements of his education, growing with his growth and strengthening with his strength, as the field of his usefulness widened before him. On the site of the old blacksmithshop he erected his new Academy. But even this was soon found too small to hold the constantly-increasing numbers who came flocking in from far and near to enjoy the benefit of his instructions. More room had to be provided, and the large three-storied stone building adjacent, known as the "Brothers' House," was likewise appropriated for school purposes. In 1840, or even earlier, when most of us here present became his pupils, the school had obtained a wide reputation and by reason of its numbers

cheerfulness in what he did; and when he took a class he usually had them at work ten or more minutes before the appointed hour. "Time is precious," he would say, and there was no idling when he taught.

How we boys were attracted by this broadbreasted, warm-hearted man! How we loved to gather around him whenever there was an opportunity between school hours, and ply him with questions, and listen to his explanations! Happy and exempt from restraint were those chance gatherings both to the pupils and the master. Yet how free from anything that could lower or detract from the respect we bore him. And woe to the presumptuous youth who on such an occasion sought to take undue advantage of the master's condescension; a look of reproof more withering than words, put down the offender so that he would never again risk that offence.

His learning was solid and practical rather than abstruse. As a teacher of penmanship we question whether he ever had his equal, certainly never his superior. And in his weekly winter evening lectures, he became truly eloquent, at times reaching the sublime. Some of his descriptions, when assisted by illuminations from his magic lantern, seemed to our youthful minds like glimpses of the Apocalypse. It may also be said to his credit, that much of his knowledge and his methods of teaching, was selfacquired. And he not only instructed himself, but like a master-workman who prepares his own implements with which to work, he usually selected from among the pupils of his own school the assistants he needed, and trained them for the places he wished them to fill. His school was emphatically a school for the people. In it was taught that which was useful in all the walks of life. And therein sat, without difference or distinction, the heir to millions by the side of the charity scholar, the humble country lad beside the sons of some of our most eminent and distinguished citizens. All alike had to hew up to the chalk-line marked out for them by the Master.

The bodily health of his pupils also engaged his serious attention. Cleanliness with him was one of the cardinal virtures. Regularly every morning when the school assembled for prayers, the boys were ranged in line, and had to show clean hands, feet, teeth, neck, head and clothes. Such as failed to pass his rigid inspection were at once sent home to put themselves in proper condition. That his pupils might have the necessary exercise, he provided for them an ample play-ground, properly inclosed. Over the central arch of the entrance to this, on the outside, was painted an eagle, emblematic of health and strength, bearing aloft a scroll inscribed in letters of gold with the motto, "The result of exercise is health." And on the inside over the same arch, surrounding a globe and other implements of the school room, appeared the admonition in gilt letters: "In all your actions and amusements, avoid profane language and quarrels." The result of this care of their physical condition by the Master, was very little sickness among the boys and small doctor

bills. Out of the great number under his charge, there was only one death during fifty years.

He was a pious man, and his religion was of that healthy and commendable kind that makes little outward show, but served him as a light to his everyday life. In the house of worship, where he led his school at least twice a week, his demeanor was reverent and becoming. On the walls of his different school rooms were. hung, neatly and artistically painted on boards, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other suitable admonitions, as "Lying lips. are abominable in the eyes of the Lord," and "Nichts wissen ist keine schande, aber nichts lernen wollen." Although a devout Moravian, strongly attached to his church, he never sought to proselyte from the boys entrusted to his care.. In a town where there was at that time only one church, and almost everything, even the titles to land, under control of that particular denomination, with his Academy close by the church building, where every hour, whether of study or of recitation, was regulated by the clock in the: church steeple, he and his assistants nevertheless scrupulously avoided everything of a sec-tarian influence, open or covert, to draw those in their charge to their own faith. The only creed taught by them, besides the branches laid down in the curriculum, was the broad one of the beauty of virtue, the duty of morality, manliness of character, charity to one another, love: of country, obedience to the laws, the sanctity; of religion, and our accountability to God.

He was exceedingly kind of heart. How simple and yet how considerate and touching was the manner in which he provided for the widow of his old master the shoemaker, who had urged him to engage in the work of teaching, by making her comfortable and happy in her little infant school, enabling her to support: herself without any seeming obligation to him or to any one else. Add to all this that he was. equally fortunate and happy in his family relations, and we may well point to him as a rare instance of a successful man in all the affairs of life.

Strong as the oak tree deeply rooted among the rocks, lovely in his strength as is the blossoming linden with the honey-laden bees thick among its branches, constant in his purpose as the evergreen pine on its native hillside-with the accumulating years descending upon his shoulders lightly as fall the autumn leaves, and' the snows of age covering his precious head as with a crown of honor-he looms up before us, even at this distance of time, a character grand, full-grown and evenly-rounded, almost without fault or blemish. Planting, as a teacher, alike the seeds of learning and the precepts of relig ion and morality, with unabated zeal and unflagging industry, deeply into the minds and hearts. of thousands who sat at his feet or came within the sound of his voice; to be by them carried. into the workshop, the busy market, the quiet: farmhouse, the tented field, the smoke and roar of battle, the pulpit, the bench and bar-what man will undertake to count the harvest that, with God's blessing, has already ripened and is still ripening from the grains scattered by his fatherly hand? The angels alone can measure

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it. Then listen to the words of humility addressed to us in his valedictory: "I do not," he says, "ascribe this to my own labors, however may have tried to develop the true qualities of manhood, and to foster the seeds of religion. No! to God, to Him to whom I have so often commended you, and on whom I have so often called to grant me wisdom and understanding that I might instruct you aright-to Him be all the glory.'

Loved and respected by all who knew him, doubly endeared to us his pupils, a good citizen, a kind friend, an affectionate husband and father, an humble Christian, a man upright in the sight of God-his allotted time here finished, he has gone, like the good steward, to lay the closed book of his well-spent life at the feet of that all-wise, most mighty and most merciful of all Masters, the Divine Architect of the universe, the Great Jehovah, of whose wonderful works he used to discourse to us in bursts of almost inspired eloquence. Although passed from earth, he still speaks to us from beyond the grave in the closing words of his valedictory, of the blessed hope of meeting us again. "Who knows," said his old master, when he advised him to become a teacher-"who knows to what it may lead; you may possibly become a more useful man than if you remain a shoemaker." So may we say to-day, Who knows but our departed friend has been called from his place on earth only to fill a higher one in a better world, and that the blessed words may have already been spoken to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things."

And we, a few of his many pupils on this, the 96th anniversary of his birthday, have come to show our respect, acknowledge our obligations, and testify our endearing love for him, by placing upon his grave the tributes of our affection, emblematic of the mingled strength, loveliness, and constancy of his character-leaves of the oak, flowers of the field, and sprays of the evergreen pine, all bound together with the symbol of Hope and Immortality.

In conclusion, le hope that our coming together here may be but the forerunner of other like reunions, and that before we separate today, a labor of love may be resolved upon, which in the course of a few more years will place some enduring memorial of our teacher near the spot where he so faithfully labored for fifty years-a memorial which shall continue to speak of him as eloquently as granite and marble can speak, so that the place that knew him so long and so well, shall continue to know him long after all of us have passed away.

PROF. JAMES W. ANDREWS.

On Sunday morning, June 19, 1887, there died at the county-seat of Lancaster county, another remarkable teacher. He had reached the advanced age of sixty-two years, and during the last thirty-five years of that time, which included all of his life as an instruc