Francisco Ferrer; his life, work and martyrdom, with message written ...

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92 Francisco Ferrer^ THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN FERRER ASSOCIATION The Francisco Ferrer Association, planned in January, 1910, and discussed at a preliminary meeting held at the home of Dr. Edward Bond Foote, on Lexington avenue, New York, May 20, was regularly organized at an open meeting, Friday evening, June 3, to which all interested in Ferrer had been invited, and which was advertised in advance in the newspapers. The announcement called for a gathering at the Harlem Liberal Alliance rooms, on West ii6th street. The hall was well filled when the temporary chairman, Harry Kelly, called the meeting to order. The necessity of a Ferrer Association in America was explained by Mr. Kelly, who also elucidated the aims and scope of the proposed organization. Jaime Vidal. a personal friend of Ferrer, told of his acquaintance with the martyred teacher, explained the workings of the Modern School in Spain and described Ferrer's personal work in educating the new generation. He told, too, of the work already accomplished by a little New York, who have been group of Ferrer enthusiasts in for several months gathering material for a competent biography of the Spanish educator, a work that shall tell everything about him, much of which the public does not yet know, but is eager to learn. Leonard Abbott, one of the editors of Current Literature, and president of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association, then spoke. Mr. Abbott expressed the opinion that Ferrer was in the line of historic succession with the world's greatest martyrs— Socrates, Christ, Bruno, Huss and others. The killing of Ferrer was one of the most dramatic of all of the memorable martyrdoms of history. Mr. Abbott said : "It was a crime against civilization, in an era when such things were supposed impossible. The world stood aghast, and the world protested. That Ferrer was chosen as the Spanish government's victim proved his immense importance. The government and the Catholic church conspired to put him out of the way. The government knew exactly what it was doing, but perhaps underestimated the aftermath."
His Life and Work 93 Mr. Abbott told of the work now going- on abroad for perpetuating Ferrer's name and his labors in humanity's behalf. "The most eminent European scientists, literary men and notables in various pursuits," Mr. Abbott said, "have lent their names to the great Ferrer movement abroad. In Brussels a monument to the radical martyr is to be unveiled. Other memorials in other European cities are planned. "This American meeting is the first effort made in this country to establish an organization to honor Ferrer and promulgate his ideas and work. It is time that this work was undertaken in America." Mr. Abbott was succeeded on the platform by Alexander Berkman, founder and teacher of the Ferrer Sunday School for children in New York. Mr. Berkman spoke very interestingly on Ferrer's Modern Schools in Spain. He said that he felt sure Ferrer would wish no granite or marble shaft as a monument to perpetuate his name, that what would best please Ferrer, could he but guide our thoughts, would be a perpetuation in America of the "Modern Schools." Ferrer's whole life, Mr. Berkman said, was centered in and devoted to the rational education of children, the educating of children on such broad lines that no knowledge is forced upon them, no ideas crammed into their heads, but the children allowed to intelligently educate themselves, forming their own ideas and imbibing natural notions of everything about them. Mr. Berkman said that it seemed to him extremely important that before modern schools for children were established in America, normal schools, so to speak, were founded in which the teachers for the children were first adequately trained on the very lines promulgated and followed by Francisco Ferrer. Freethought, said Mr. Berkman, had already made some impress on the children of America. What all children are in need of, desperately in need of, is a system of education that will free them from their prejudices, prejudices acquired both from their companions at plav and from their homes. An election of officers for the ensuing year then took place, all present participating. The following officers were unanimously elected for the term ending June i 1911 :
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: FRANCISCO FERRER His Life, Work a
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! His Life and Work. Q many years,
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His Life and Work. ii unruffled ego
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His Life and Work. 13 FERRER AND MA
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His Life and Work. 27 THE SOCIAL ST
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His Life and Work. 33 1901, It soon
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His Life and Work. 35 received supp
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His Life and Work. 37 abyss between
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His Life and Work. 39 of the surfac
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Page 57 and 58: His Life and Work. 57 THE AFTERMATH
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