New-York tribune., 1873-07-05
THE CENTENNIAL OF 1876.
~psrFRDAY's CEREMONIES AT PHILADEL-
PHIA.

suF GROUNDS IN tNlttNlNN'' ~ ''N'''N
,ppRVD-A PROCLAMATION FROM THE PhEsi-
r,-r CENTENNIAL SPEECHES AND LETTERS.
-, r,,v spFcr1I. CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRlBuNEJ
d., .nvIpuIA July 4.-Thc principal event OF
;nterest in the celebration of independence Day III
shis citv was the formal transfer hy the Comms-
rs of Foir,nount Park to the United States
Centennial Commission of that portion Of the park
,Ubich il 70 be devoted to the Exposition buildings
and grounds This tract lies west of the SchuN lNli'
and consists Of two grand estatcs-the Lansd"Whe
and the Belmont. The first is reserved for the Art
Gallery, the main Exposition buildings the Ma
ehinery Hall and the Horticultural display; the
second for Agriculture. On the latter section IN a
mansion once the home of Judge Peters, the hrSt
nppointee of Washington to a Judicial station ana
thc pioneer of American scientific agriculture
The Centennial Committee Of Councils met nj
~ m. In the Common Council Chamber IN lndepend-
ence V, At 81 o'clock the city authorities. invited
quests Of the Centennial Commission, and the Cen
tenpial Board of Finance met in the select ConhcH
Chamber At 3l5 the Mayor and city authorizes
oroceeded to Independence Hail. after winch invited
guests entered and were introduced by Gov Joseph
r Hawicy. President of the Centennial Commission.
Mavor William : stokley greeted them with the fol-
lowing words:
TIE MAYORS ApDBFss.
~ Secretary and Gentlemen: In the name and on
1hal' OF the people OF Philadelphia bid you welcome
10 our city and especially 10 this hall Never perhaps
since the Continental Congress convened WITHIN these
walls and here resolved independence, has this nan
h.n moro appropriately occupied than 1t is at this mo
,en We are houored on this anniversary Of the natal
IA. of American freedom with the presence OF our hon
ored Secretary representing the President OF the Uneu
Hates the Cabinet and the Governors, and representa-
Gives Of A and independent States ana territories
whose mission Is uausurate proceedings Tor the
ue observance and celebration OF the Tooth anniversary
four independence and 10 do honor 10 the great men
who sat here and after solemn aud prayerful deDeIa-
zion resolved the ties that bound the colonies TO
che Mother Country, ana who by that act created Tor
Themselves and for pOserty government of the people
To celebrate an event like this, and 10 do honor 10
men ike these whose fame bounded 10y no country,
ana limited 70 age, Is a privilege every hahon'
kindred tongue and people who love liberty, cannot
fa TO appreciate Gentlemen, this hall and the GROUNDS
surrounding have been preserved by the mumcpahV
OF Philadelphia the people OF the United States and
know when ] tender yOu their free use, that nut
speak the united sentiments Of the patriotic people
of this city, whom have the high honOron TINS OCCASION
90 represent Gentlemen, again extend 70 you most
cordial welcome and do assure you that everything VIII
be done on part Of citizens and the various de-
partments Of the municipal government TO make your
Roi0urn with US pleasant and agreeable.
A short time was then spent in examining the new
National Museum in the Courthouse, where a room
has been temporarily fitted up TO receive the
nucleus of the national museum which II is pro-
posed to establish in the new Exposition building
1t is gracefully fcsto0ned with American flags
Belonging to the State. Among the paintings on
exhibition are Vests historical painting of Penns
Treaty, portraits of rulers of England ldentlhed
with American colonial history, portraits Of Admiral
Penn William Penn, James Logan, Andrew Ham
tlton. Chief Justice Benjamin Chew William Brad
ford the trainers Of the Constitution of the United
States of several Of the Presidents, of Fulton Rt-
tenhouse, William Rush. Benjamin West, aud
others Many other curious relics have also been
collected, and were received with much interest,
Those present, after leaving the museum, gathered
IN the center hall and arranged themselves IN order
for entering the carriages to proceed 10 the park.
The march was on foot from the hall, through
Independence-square to Waluut-st, where the
aine of procession was formed III the following
order:
The carriages were preceded by platoon Of mounted
poce under the special charge Of the Chei Of Poce,
The first carriage contained the Hon. Morton Nom
chae, Chairman, and special committee or the Park
In the second carriage was the Hon Daniel Morren,
Chairman, and special committee VI the United states
T6e tb,Td carriaSe contained Wism Sellers Chair
DnaD, and special committee OF the Centennial Board
The fourth carriage contaued John l. Shoemaker,
Chairman and special committee OF the Centehuia'
Ee1t followed the CITY Troop oi Philadelphia escort
lng the carriage containing Secretary RObesOn, who
appeared s lle hiCCldl ItIcrtNlitlNS VI
s,i the United States accompanied by Gov Joseph r.
dIawley, President OF the Centennial Commission and
The members of the United States Cabne came
SeIt ~ oFaer ana t9eh Of VN otr sa and ID
Bishop Simpson United States Senators ana leproseh-
tstiycs other national guests Board Of state super
&isOrs- The United States Centennial Commissioners
s,nd the Centennial Board Of Finance. Councils and
sbe Presidents of Councils Members OF the Centennial
Committee " the CITY Of Philadelphia ana members OF
Councils
The procession moved ont of Walnut-st. to Broad
tbeuce TO Chosnut thence 10 Eighteenth, thence
through Spring, Garden and Green TO the park
proceeding by the way Of a temporary drive AT
Girard-ave. aud LansdOwDe-ave. 10 the place where
abe ceremonies 10 take place at LansdOwne.
The line of march was throughout lined with spec
tators, who greeted the procession with hearty
cheers and waving flags. At the park platform
had been erected capable Ot sealing GO
persons, and commanding fine view Of the
grounds beyond. This was protected by
a CANOPY. and richly Ornamented with flags and
bunting. Thc45O acres set apart for the Exposition
was stakod out with handsome flags, and flag
Etafi l34 feet high stood near the platform A fine
band undor the direction of Mark Hassler, took its
station ON the muslc-stand near by and enliyened
ihe occasion with music at intervals throughout the
ceremonies. The exercises were opened with
prayer by Bishop Simpson Of the MctbO-
dist Episcopal Church, at the close Of
which tho Hon. Morton McMichael PresI-
dent Of the Park Commission made formal trans
fer Of the allotted grounds 10 Joseph X. Hawley,
President Of the United States Centennial COnrmis
siOD, ~ the following address:
Mi hACHAEL's ADDRESS.
One hundred years ago the Inhabitants Of thirteen
contiguous but separate colonies, stretched along the
Atlantic coast from the Bay Of Fundy 10 ST. MArys
river, were IN the midst Of agitation which, it
touched the common welfare, met with common sym