Smyrna times., 1859-07-07
[CoMMUNICATEn.
[CoMMUNICATEr.
CELEBRATION OF; "THE FOURTH F."
IN THE TOWN OF SMYRNA,


Of Eens tr"rI their s!umbers and called them tc
A "remember this National Sabbath aud keen
g IT as day sacred to History and dear 10 the
heart OF every American. by nine o'clock
d the streets were filled with thronging citizens
and visitors from the country; by handsome
e carriages and noble horses, prepared for the
D Town Authorities, the Orators of the day, and
, the Rev. Clergy. AT the appointed hour the
, Marshuls, under the direction Of their Chief.
hobt. Denney, Esq, mounted upon swift horses,
with official badges of colored sash, proceeded
10 form the line of march from Sharp's pond
From thence the cortege moved along to the
corner of South street and down to East; thence
up Commerce to Union. down Ball to Delaware,
and on to South, and from South up Main 10
the grounds on North street, prepared to re.
ceIve the people. more imposing procession
we have seldom witnessed. The pruncing
SteedS and weIl-mounted marshals. the glitter
ing carriages, and long line of Odd Fellows.
with their handsome regalia and Red Men in
the attire of the Shawnee Tribe as they passed
along through the crowded thoroug hfares IN
/
! by the fair daughters and brave men of Della.
ware, waving Their handkerchiels aud keeping
time to the inspiring strains of martial music
borne on the refreshing breezes, was a sight
and scene long TO be remembered in Smyrna.
Ample arrangements had been made, in the |
way OF seats, &C., for the accommodation of
ladies' and others. on the grounds by the very
efficient tcOmmittee-Messrs. John NJ. Voshell, |
Henry Shermer, WIN. c. Mitchell and Samuel
Reynolds-of the town commissioners, appoint.
ed for that purpose.
The meeting having been called to order BY
Capt William Denney, Chairman of the Board
OF Commissioners. it was organized by the ap-
pnIntment of the fol lowing officers:
Presdent-Dr. WILLIAM CUMMINs.
Vice Presidents-GEo. w. CuMNINs, Esq
and Hon. PRESLEY SPRUANcE.
Secretary-NIcHoLAs WATKINS.
The President then addressed his fellow-citi.
zens, in few brief and touching "reminiscences,
alluding to one who had formerly presided on
such occasions and was personally conversant
with Revolutionary scenes and Incidents con-
menled DAVIS. He then congratulated them
upon their general prosperity at home aid {
peace with all the world, and invoked them to :
recognize the merces of Providence in pre- :
serving us from the Irrors Of war. whose gath.
ering tempests now darken the sky of Europe. |
Rev. DR.. T. J. Qugley opened the exercises
by very appropriate and comprehensive pray
er to Almighty God for his blessing upon the :
ma tiOn and the day.
The Band then struck up" Hail Columbia"
the Declaration of independence was read
BY Mr.. Geo. n. Hazel, in a clear and audible
voice. 4
After music, Rev. CHAs. HILL was intro .
luced as the orator of the day. He dwet on t
The general prosperity of our country-its lber- I
I'es and their relation to ChrIstianity--the
Declaration of Independence. its issues. &C.,
arguing that the spirit Of liberty which gave
birth to American independence, was imbibcd
alone through the Gospel of Christ The Bible
had been unchained-it had been opened-and,
being read by our fathers, they had learned in e
The history of mans creation the principle of v
equality--that all men were created free and I
equal, aud endowed BY their Creator with un. r
alineable rights. among which were " life, lib. 8
erty and the pursuit Of happiness, and hence h
they were moved and nerved, relying on the C
God of battles for protection, 10 stand up like Fl
MEN and declare their rghts-pledgIng TO each Il
other for the support Of that declaration, "their
lives, their fortunes. and their sacred honur."- v
D.,
wont to point to the 4Ih of July, rs, as the e
atal day of freedom, but. in his opinion. the 4
civil, religious and political freedom which the il
people of the United States enjoy, had sprung f
from, and was the Legitimate fruit of the tree OF
life and liberty which was planted on the hill v
Of Calvary. II there had been no Reformation {
there would have been no Revolution--if there I
had been no Luther there would have been no 8
Washington. The Press, the Pulpit and the n
School, were also considered by the speaker il
.he free press as The mOuthpIece and moderator 8
Of public sentiment-the free pulpit as the n
great evangelzer of the world, and The free D
school as the moulder ofIh mind These inst. a
tutons should be nurtured and cherished by a
the people-euch in it's sphere having mighty Il
work to perform. Here all men can worship
Gud according to the dictates Of their own con.
sciences, without fear of the galley, and un. =
by either prescription, usurpa ton :
or taxation. Here, Church and State were
separate and distinct, as they should ever be,
lest vital Religion sink INTO mere name But
we have not time or space to give a minute and
critical synopsis of the speech of Mr.. Hill, or
of the others. Suffice il to say, he did justice
to his theme and to tho occasion, presenting
particularly, in a very turcIble and eloquent
manner, the exalted claims of the Bible. ,
MIR. II. was succeeded by Rev. THOMAS b.