The Republican journal., 1870-09-22
LETTER FROM BOSTON.
Correspondence of the journal.
Anniversary Day---Firemen's Parade---InstaI-
Iation Services at the Church Of the Unity---
Clerical ltems---Opening Of the Lecture
Courses Various Notes---Fashions.


Of bells and firing Of cannon, is this memoir
able day gliding into the past. The occasion
thus celebrated is the two hundred and
1ortieth anniversary of the settlement Of Bos-
ton. Looking back through the long lapse
Of years at the wilderness of then as COM
pared with the busy bustling city of to-day,
and the change seems wonderful-almost in
credible. Upon the Common-the pride of
q later generation-stands the Old Elm,
clasped by bands Of iron and patches of can
vass, and surrounded by close iron fence to
protect it from the ravages of time and de-
vastatmg hands-the only living evidence of
that time so long, long ago. To be sure,
the same sky bends above us, but hardly the
same soil spreads beneath. This latter has
been added to and taken from until it is
scarcely safe to say where the original is
All else is gonc-passed to that eternity from
which there is no returning. OF their final
resurrection who shall iathom the mystery
And not only the anniversary of its settle
ment, but also the forty-cighth birthday OF
its organization as 4 city DO the citizens Of
Boston commemorate to-day. At the cele
bration of two such important events at the
same time is il any wonder that the city is
jubiant? And so it is with Il 10Y that even
the dripping clouds fail to dampen.
Possibly the most noticeable feature of the
day has been the annual parade of the fire
| department. Their first appearance this
morning was at the Old Colony Depot,
whether they had come to receive the Dill
gent Hose Association, that are to spend
four days in the city, They afterwards
paraded the principal streets with full ranks
to the number of five hundred and sixty
three men. And along with them rolled
twenty-one huge, glistening steam fire en-
! gines, fourteen hose carriages, seven hook
and ladder carriages, and one engine of eye
ancient days" Three Of the best bands in
the city and a detachment Of police complet-
ed the procession. Add to this description
the accessories of gay uniforms, beautiful
boqucts, garlands wrcaths, notices and
flags, and you have some idea of the splendid
pageant that filled our streets to-day. Bos-
tonians believe in eating, and the usual
sumptuous dinner was Of course prepared
as fitting wind-up to the demonstration
Faneuil Hall, which had been previously
decorated in a uitable manner for the oc-
cassion.
Among the other interesting events of the
week is the installation of Rev Mr.. Scher-
merhorn' rs pastor of the Church Of the Unity
The exercises took place at half-past sever
o'clock on Wednesday evening, and drew
out most appreciative. though crowded
audience The Church has been thoroughly
renovated, repaired and reprinted during
the summer months, and presented mos
magnificent appearance under the brilliant
4 lights Of the Gas-lets. The floral decorations
on this occasion were the most charming anl
effective. and consisted of rare exotics, bo-
quets of choice flowers. wreaths of smilaN
and trailing arbutus, and large Latin eros,
made almost wholly of tube roses The mu
sic was the incst, and was under the skillfu
direction o. Howard NJ Dow, the wei
known musical composer, who presided n
choir consisted of Mrs. Cooke, Miss Add,
Ryan, Mr.. Barmabee and Mr.. Fessenden-al
of them we'll known and tavoritc singers
l The services which were of the most impress
sive character were participated in by som,
of the most distinguished Unitarian clergy
men Of New York an d Boston The invoca
ton was by Rev. Mr.. Tildcn of this city
The reading of the Scripture by Rev Mr.
Cudworth of East Boston; the sermon by
Dir. Bellows of n. Y; the charge by Jane!
Freeman Clark, ID. D.. the installation pray
CT by Rev. Geo. IIepworth Of New York
right hand of fellowship by Rev Geo
CLANCY of Boston, and the address TO tn,
society by the Rev. +. f. Hale, also of Bos
ton. The benedction by the newly installed
pastor concluded the services.
The rcsuming tomorrow of services nj the
Church Of the Unity and at Music Hall com
plctes the opening of the various places d
worship that have been closed for the sum
mer. The Rev. VIM. Il. Alger, pastor o
the Music Hall Society, possibly better know
to your readers through his literary labors
will preach tomorrow en- the subject "rhC
Improvement of Vacation. Those who
know Mr.. Alger will have no doubt of tn,
freshness and beauty of the discourse. Rev
W. H. II. Murray returned from his summer
soIourn in the Adrondacks, and resumed
| his pastoral labors ut the Park street Church
| last week He will commence his lccturino
tour about the first of October. Father
Cleavcland, the venerable City Missionary
now in his ninety-ninth year, has had some
excellent photographs taken by Whpplc,
On leaving the artists room he was so I'M
! fortunate as to meet with serious fall
from which he is now happily recovering
Music Hall has been engaged by the numcl-
Gus evangelical churches Of Boston for Sun.
day evening services during the winter, sim
liar to those held at the same place by Mr..
Murray last season. A powerful and we'll
trained choir. together with the great organ,
it is said, will form the musical attractions OF
these occasions.
The openings of the various well-known
lecture courses of Boston, are announced as
follows Thomas Hughes M. p. the celebrat-
,I IF tsFnn, Rr,U-p'S Snhob1 1nyc at