Public Institutions. 281 



The building was built with reference to commodiousness and 

 utility, and contains on the lower floor a hall, kitchen, and 

 dressing-rooms, and on the main floor a hall with a seating capa- 

 city of from four to five hundred persons. The dimensions of 

 the building are 45 by 68 feet. 



Upon the completion of the building, Mrs. Elijah Loring, of 

 Boston, and her daughters, Miss Abby M. Loring and Mrs. Cor- 

 nelia W. Thompson, generously contributed the means for pur- 

 chasing settees, chandeliers, lamps, mirrors, sofa, tables, carpets, 

 chairs, and other appropriate furniture for the various rooms, at 

 an expense of $619.93. Col. Loring also contributed a further 

 sum of $372.77, for the cost of a furnace, extra work, etc., making 

 the amount expended by him as follows : — 



Cost of superstructure $4,062.80 



Furnace, etc., 372.77 



$4,435.57 



Mrs. Thomas Wigglesworth, of Boston, also gave $25, which 

 was expended in grading the lot. 

 The money contributed was — 



Lyceum Hall (Ladies) Committee . . $984.24 



Col. Benjamin Loring . . . . . . 4,435.57 



Mrs. Elijah Loring and daughters . . 619.93 



Mrs. Thomas Wigglesworth .... 25.00 



$6,064.74 



The building was dedicated by appropriate services Oct. 14, 

 1852. On that occasion there were remarks by Solomon Lincoln, 

 who gave a brief history of the undertaking, and read Colonel 

 Loring's deed of trust, and by Colonel Loring, who addressed 

 the audience at considerable length, giving an interesting sketch 

 of his early life, a concise statement of his motives in causing 

 the hall to be built, and an explanation of the trust deed. At 

 the close of his remarks he delivered the deed to Marshall 

 Lincoln, who received it in behalf of the Trustees, and stated 

 that it would be their endeavor to fulfil the wishes of the generous 

 donor in accordance with the spirit and letter of the deed ; and 

 that the Trustees had voted at their first meeting to give to the 

 edifice the name of Loring Hall. After singing, an appropriate 

 prayer was offered by Rev. Joseph Richardson; then a Hymn 

 of Dedication, composed for the occasion by James Humphrey 

 Wilder, was read by Rev. Albert Case, and sung with fine effect. 



An address was delivered by Rev. Oliver Stearns, of which the 

 subject was " Knowledge : Its Relation to the Progress of Man- 

 kind ; " and the exercises were closed by singing. 



The singing was acceptably performed by a select choir, under 

 the direction of Nathan Lincoln. 



