The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-01
The Smithsonian Oft Corner stone
Ceremonlss- Prayer. and Address.


Cersmoniss Prayer, and Address.
The citizens of Washington and many strangers paid
his day. the puoc tribute OF their heartfelt respect to the
generous Engshman who bequeathed his large fortune
to the promotion of knowledge in this glorious republic
The name of Smhson every lip, and every heart
testified to his virtues Who did feel proud in the reco
econ that such had sought, in distant land, and
among free people, wide fedfor the indulgence OF
his liberal and phanthroplc spirit
The ceremonies of the occasion carried out sub
stantiay according the programme which publish
ed last night The procession was formed at the City
Hail. and about II o'clock repaired to the Presidents
Mansion Thence it moved down Pennsylvania avenue
to 18th street. when crossing the bridge the canal
reached the MALL where the Smithsonian edifce is to
be erected The procession long and brilliant
one embracing the President and the heads of departments
several ladies' most of the officers of government-who
had holyday on the occason--the Masonic and Odd
Fellow societies, with their striking costumes and en-
blems the volunteer companies OF Washington, and
crowd of citizens. The whole multitude, when collect
on the mall could not have fallen short of 5000 people,
Upon a small PLATFORM festooned with evergreen
wreahes, which was set up near the stone, the
President heads of departments ladies' he Spanish min
iser Mr. Calderon the only of the diplomatic corps
y
with prayer and the orator of the day. the regents of the
Institute, and among them the mayor OF the city, Mr.
Seaon the architect Mr. Renwick and other persons,
were arranged The following the prayer uttered on
the occasion by the Rev. ~ McJon, rector of ST. Ste
phen's church, Baltimore and Grand Chaplain of the
Grand Lodge:
Lord God of Nations There is none like Thee in
Heaven in earth which keepeth covenant, and
sheweth mercy into Thy servants that walk before Thee
with all their hearts. Thou hast kept with Thy peo
pie that which Thou hast promised them in all genera
lions; and that which Thou hast spoken with Thy
mouth Thou hast fulfilled with thy hand even unto this
day-2 Chron vi, II. 15.) AS Thou didst with Thine
raised up mighty nation in this western world. By
Thy power it has prospered By Thine il has been
begr with strength By Thine hand has been over
Few in number, and feeble in strength, our fathers
came upon these shores. They hewed themselves
home in the wilderness, and sat down, weary and toll
worm amid the wds of the forest But they abode be-
meath the shadow OF the Almighty, Ps xci, ~ Thou
vast to them rivers of water in dry place, and as
the shadow of great rock in a weary land Us xxXn,
2) Thou gavest them rain in season The land yielded
her increase and the trees of the field yielded their fruit
The hreshng reached unto the vintage and the vintage
to the sowing time They did their bread to the full
and dwelt in the land in safety When their enemies
rose against them, Thou vast the shield of their de-
fence. In Thy strength they had power to overcome,
dependence and peace, and madest them TO lie down in
safety, with to make them afraid Thou didst set
up Thy tabernacle among them Thou dldst break the
bands of their yoke, and made them to go upright and
free. LEV. XVIII
Thy second Israel has been greatly blessed at Thy
hands Thou hast given her plenty of corn and wine.
Thou hast made peace her borders and filled her with
the finest of the wheat Thou hast strengthened the bars
of her gates and blessed her children within her (Ps
cXvi Is ~ Thou aadst respect unto our fathers h
prosperity Thou dids establish Thy covenant with them
Under Thy fostering the land became the heritage
OF freedom the asylum of the oppessed the home Of
The Il blessing
clouds Of ignorance and superstition resting daky
upon other lands but the sun OF enlightenment
shackles of civil bondage are binding the nations
of the east, and they bow, in their captivity, to
The despos IRON rule but no letters OF oppression bind
hydrahead and rent asunder the bond that united other
States, but is unharmed and enemy appears that
has power sever it. The peslence, with fearful step,
has trodden other shores and desolation fierce and fell
has marked Its dreful way but the rude form of the
ravager has not reached favored cme and the trail
of his burning footsteps is not found upon soil The
famine has marred the beauty OF sister land, and the
shrll cry of the suffering still from the soil that is
made desolae by its terrible tread but barns yet
full OF the harvests yield--we have enough, and to
spare. While the oppressed find a home of happ-
in wide domain of liberty, have bread for
the starving and ships are bearing to the sufferers
beyond the Truly the Lord has been good to u.s.
He has remembered us in mercy-he has rewarded us
beyond our deservlngs.
And now, o Lord God of nations, tina, hast so highly
favored and greatly pospered the people Of this land
hear Thou, in heaven Thy dwelling place. the cry and
the prayer of Thy servants when they pray before thee
that Thy faherly care and protection may be continued
over us; that Thy power may still be prosperity
Thine arm the grde OF our strength; Thy hand the sec
rity Of our blessing.
Let thy mercy cover sins; for must 9cknow-
edge that, like lost sheep have erred and strayed
from thy righteous ways. We have departed from the
path OF thy holy commandments, and have done evil
in Thy sight Give us true repentance for many and
grevous offences Override the rebellion of our hearts
and the dsobedence of our lives by the nterposio of
Thy Astounding mercy, and let not guilt be visited in
merlted vengeance upon
May we never, either in word Decd deny the Lord,
neglect His sacred worship But may His blessed
name, His doctrine and worship, be so inwoven with
institutions of freedom that the names of American
naton as well as individuals, may spurn the creeds
of nhdelity and in the acknowledgment of the Divine
Authority suppicate the overriding Providence of God
remembering always that it is He that makeh differ
from others, and that crowneh with mercy and low
ing kindness
Grant to wisdom, and purity, and integrity of pur-
pose, that we may preserve unhut the inheritance of
freedom that departed sires have bequeathed u.s.
May IT be nothing impaired, nothing dmmed, but
strengthened and frightened by having used it and
enjoyed ITS blessings And may deliver it to the
succeeding generation spoess as we received il as
beautiful, as rich treasure it drenched in
the blood and crowned with the victorious BAYS of two
herce, ensanguined wars.
In the day of battle Thou hast been our defence and
our enemies have not trumphed U.s. In the face of
our foes Thou hast redeemed from the power of the
sword" dob " 2O) and no weapon formed against ms
shall assa US, the rod of the oppressor be uped to
our hurt.
In peace may possess our territory Do Thou
make the shout and the noise of the battle to from
our shores, and may friendship and love, and righteous
ness prevail. Make us to know that wisdom is better
than nd a fnl haritn a.