New-York tribune., 1874-09-07
CONGRESS CENTENNIAL.
TEL ,EBRATTON OF HUNDREDTH ANNIVER-
SARY OF DIR FIRST CONGRESS.


SENTATIVE MEE OF THE STATE AND NAiioN-
V1oE-PRrsIpENT WILSON, GEN. HAwLEY, AND
x,pssps Kelley RANDALL AND oNEuL PRESENT
-oRATIoN OF HENRY ARMITr BROWN
rrpoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNh'I
pun ApE1PHA, Sept. 5.-The old Hall OF
the Carpenters stands in the center OF little court or
,,,I a, sac approached from Chestnutst by narrow
alley between Third and FOurthsts that runs between
The building of eruciform shape two stories
An hight surmounted by cupoa, and is constructed
q, rra and black bricks, in the style IN vogue
a cfntury ago-it cheekered walls being IN
curious correspondence with its history In generai
architectural style 1t closely resembles Independence
Hall The panness OF the facade is relieved somewhat
by baiustrades under the upper windows ana py por
tico n D6rio STYLE which "a styled frOntlspeee ln
the old minutes OF the Company, For turning the
columns OF this frontisp iece" Samuel Fletcher was
maid according 10 the minutes, the sum OF two
pounds and throe-pence. The lot attached to the
build}ng originally extended out to Chestnuts, ana
was leased at an annual ground rent OF "id Spahish
milled pieces OF eight" but It became too valuable lor
the Company to retain. ana they now hold only Few
square yards OF grass plots and Walks IN front Vi .e
hall and a narrow stOOp at the sides ana rear Inc
buea hnIk of the buildings in front, upon the
street eclipse entirely the modest qualht oiu hai
and its oventful history was almost as eneetualy
ecipsed by the throng Of recent events unhI the ap
nroaeh OF the Centennial OF American Independence
nroposed last Winter that Congress should meet in
Carpepters' Hail. on the 4th Of September to
commemorate the hundredth anniversary OF
the first meeting of the Continental Congress, probably
but one in twenty ever heard oil the place 1he
ignorance OF Congressman not 10 be wondered at
for most Phladelphans when they read the announce
ment OF the coming celebration learned for the first time
Of the interesting revolutionary memories connected
with the ball and thousands had never before known Oh
the existence Of the building although they had passeo
IL daily In traversing the main thoroughfare OF the city,
The chief historic interest attached TO the Hall arises
from the fact that FIRST Continental Congress met
there 100 years today and held its first and second
sessions In the large room on the ground floor Of the
building. The carpenters have a tradition that
the Constitutional Convention met in the
same room in 1857, and held there the
whole OF the :our months session during which the
Constitution formed. statement to this effect Is
upon the tablet hanging in the vesbule OF the hall
which gives a resume OF the history Of the structure
lean find no authority the statement In fact the
authorities all agree that the Convention met In
the state House. The journal OF the convention
SAWS that "On Monday, the 14th day OF May
d. I7s7 and in the eleventh year OF the independence
Of the United States OF America at the sate-house IN
the City Of Philadelphia IN virtue OF their appointments
from their States sundry deputies to the Fed
eraI Convention appeared but a majority not being
present members adjourned from day TO day untl
the 25.h." ChiefJustice Yates. in his minutes
writes under OF May 25, 17S7 that he attended
the Convention of the States in the State House in
Philadelphia" on that day. We are bound TO conclude
that Carpenters Hall is not entitled to the honor
claimed for 1t of having sheltered the Fathers OF the
Republic while they were engaged In forming the Con-
stitution. Apart this, however, its history is
memorable enough to warrant the honors paid 1t
to-day.
THE CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
The commemOratiOn exercises which began this morn
Ing IN nonor Of the onehundredh anniversary OF the
first meeting Of the American Congress- were of great in
terest TO the few who able TO participate Carpen-
ters' Hall seated only about 400 persons who were ad
mitted on tickets Perhaps 200 more gathered in the
court in front of the building where band was sta
toned.
Distinguished people prominently connected with
State and national affairs did as was expected
TO do honor TO the occasion or be honOred by IT, one
notable exception there was, however The GENIAL iace
of Wilson upon the platform,
and when the audience we're made aware OF bis pres
epce by the Chairman he greeted by hearty ap-
plause President Grant sent his regrets as follows:
LONG BRANCH. n. j. Sept. o. 1874
join NJ. OGDEN. WALTER ALLIsoN ana nd, RIcHARD h
Your invitation TO me 10 attend the hundredtn anni
yeTsary meeting OF me CONGRESS IN taeF
letters during my recent visit East escaped my aten-
Please excuse apparent neglect It would have
afforded me pleasure 10 attend your exercises on an
occasion OF so uSn % , uonoS b 0p % cneS wi" hoId
naturally lOsplre. u o. DHAAI'
No Governors of States appeared, the
Governor Of Pennsylvania pleading previous
gagemeuts or Congressman only Kelley, Ran
dali. and O'Nein of Philadelphia. and Gen.
Hawley OF Connecticut were observed. The
audience was made up in great part OF members of
the Carpenters Association and OF eminent citizens OF
Philadelphia. profusiOn Of flags decorated the inte-
rior of the hall portraits Of Peyton Randolph, Pres
OF the Congress which met there, OF the Rev. j.
Durkee. its chaplain and Of Tos Mlin, first Governor
Of Pennsylvania, were on the walls. without,
the portico was arched by q row of thirteen lamps
beneath which was the legend, The Nations Birth
place" The ceremonies were simple and bedtted an
occasion Of historic dignity After prayer by the Rey
julius Davis, John Welsh was chosen President aud
Chas F. Ogden Secretary. gavel made OF wood from
Independence Hall was presented to Mr. Welsh who,
after its acceptance made excellent Introductory ad
dress. The Grafton was delivered by Henry Armtt
Brown Of Philadelphia. 1t was remarkably vivid pic
ture Of the men and events which made the old Hall
famous and an eloquent expression of thoughts sug
gsted by the close of the first century of the nations
history The following are extracts:
GRAFTON OF HENRY ARMITT BROWN, ESQ.
We have here to-day IN obedience to that natural
Impulse which bids a people do honor 10 its past We
have assembled TO commemorate great event-one OF
the famous in history. In the midst Of pros
pery profound peace in the presence of the repre-
senatves Of department OF human enterprise ana
of the people, and Of the OF the statesmen of
IVA have gathered beneath this roof to celebrate.
with reverent and appropriate services, the hun
dredh anniversary OF the meeting of the First American
Congress. IL Is great privilege to be here, and
have 10 thank Carpenters Company for IL. The
of the first Congress were architects them
selves; the master builders of republic founded
On the equality OF man, the highest types OF
which, in the two struggles through which 1t
has had TO pass, have been Benjamin Frank
iin the mechanic and the farmers lad whose
Abraham Lincoln. They represented among themselves
rank Of fe the lawyer the merchant the farmer
and mechanic, and they did 10 dignity Labor and
advance the OF Humanity in the weeks dur
ing which this place. than all the parliaments
or the world done twice many centuries. If
HING ~ ha hing unh1o