Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-05-10
MAGNIFICENT PAGEANT.
IMP osING CEREMONIES
Special telegram to the Commercial.

Special Telegram to the Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, May 1e-At 8 o'clock, pre-
cisely, this morning, the exhibition grounds
were thrown open, and a continuous stream
of visitors at once set in. The weather is
clear, and light breeze is bloviog. II O
grounds while damp and somewhat muddy
are in a condition much preferable to the
dust of last week.
THE OPENING CEREMONIES
Began at 1915 a. M, by the playing Of the
national airs of all countries, by an orches-
ira OF one hundred and fifty pieces. At
this time, fully five thousand people were
present, and the crowds were still coming
in.
ARRIVAL OF THE PRESIDENT.
At 10 80 President Grant arrived, and the
Centennial Inauguration march was per-
formed, after which Bishop Simpson offered
prayer Whittier's hymn was then grandly
sung with au organ and orchestral accom-
paniment, when John Welsh, President Of
the Centennial Board of Finance presented
the buildings to the United States Centen-
NAL Commission.
MIR. wELsH's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of tie
Uilited States Centennial Commission In
the presence of the Government of the
| United States, and of the several distin-
guished bodies by whom we are surround
| ed, and in behalf of the Centennial Board
Of Finance, greet you.
In readiness at the appointed time,
| have the honor to announce to you that,
under your supervision and in accordance
with the plans fixed and established by
you, we have erected the buildings belong
ing to us, and have made all the arrange
ments devolving on US necessary for the
opening of the International Exhibitor" ?"
We hereby now formally appropriate them
for their intended occupation and we hold
ourselves ready to make all further ar
rangements that may be needed for carry
ing into full and complete effect all the re-
quirements of the acts of Congress relating
TO the Exhibition.
For like purpose, we also appropriate
the buildings belonging to the State Of
Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia
erected by us at their bidding, TO wit I:
Memorial Hall, Machinery Hall, and Horti-
cultural Hall. These and other substantial
offerings stand as the evidence of their pa
trIotic cooperation. To the United States
OF America, through Congress, we are IN
debted for the aid which crowned our sue
cess.
In addition to those to which have lust
referred, there are other beautiful and coz
venient edlfices, which have been erected
by the representatives of foreign nations,
by State authority, and by individuals,
which are also devoted to the purpose OF
the Exhibition.
Ladies and gentlemen if in the pact
have met with dieappointments, difficulties
and trials, they have been overcome by a
consciousness that no sacrifice can be too
great which is made to honor the memories
of those who broue ht our nation into being.
This commemoration of the events of 1776
. excites our present gratitude. The assem-
blage here to-day of 80 many foreign rep
resentatives uniting with us in this reyeren-
tial tribute is our reward.
We congratulate you on the occurrence
of this day. Many of the nations have
gathered here in peaceful competition
Each may profit by the ASSOCIATION. This
exhibition is but school the more thor
oughly its lessons are learned the greater
will be the gain, and, when it shall have
closed, if by that study the nations engaged
in it shall have learned respect for each
other then 1t may be hoped that veneration
for Him who rules on high will become uni.
> versal, and the angels song once more be
heard
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will towards men"
Sidney Lanler's cantata was then sung to
Dudley Bucks music, after which the ex-
, hibition was presented to the President OF
the United States by Jos. R. Hawley, Pres.
: dent Of the Centennial Commission.
NIB. HAwLEY's SPEECH.
BIr. President Five years ago, the
President OF the United States declared il
fitting that 'the completion of the first CEN
tury OF our national existence should be
\ commemorated by an exhibition of the nat
4 ural resources OF the country and their de-
velopment and of its progress in those arts
which benefit mankind, and ordered that
an exhibition of American and foreign arts,
Continued in neat Elition.l