Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-07-05

Thy Holy Spirit on all the peo-
pie of this land. And, o, Thou
Supreme Architect of the Universe,
Who, by Thy Almighty word, didst
speak into being the stupendous
arch of heaven, and for the in
struction and pleasure of Thy
rational creatures, didst adorn us
with greater and lesser lights, there
by magnifying Thy power, and en-
dearing Thy goodness unto the
sons of men. We hnmbly adore
and worship Thy unspeakable per-
lection. We bless Thee, that when
man has fallen from his innocence
and happiness, Thou didst leave him
the powers of reasoning and capaci-
ty of Improvement and of pleasure.
We thank Thee that amidst the
pains and calamities of our pre-
sent state, so many means of re-
freshment and satisfaction are pre-
served to us, while travelling the
rugged path of life; especially
would we, at this time, render Thee
our thanksgiving and praise for the
privilege of joining in the centen-
NAL celebration of our country, and
for all the pleasure we shall de-
rive from it. We thank Thee that
our people have been favored with
new inducements, and been laid
under new obligations of virtue and
holiness. May these obligations,
o, blessed Father, have their full
effect upon us. May the solemnity
of the ceremonies of this day be
duly impressed on our minds, and
have happy and lasting effect on
our lives. o, Thou, who didst
aforetime appear unto Thy servant
Moses in q flame of fire out of the
midst of bush, enkindle, we be-
seech Thee, in each of our hearts,
flame of devotion to Thee, of love
to each other, and of charity to all
mankind. May holiness to the
Lord, be engraved upon all our
thoughts, words and actions. May
the incense of piety ascend con-
tinually unto Thee from the altar
of our hearts and burn day and
night, q sweet smelling SAVIOR,
well pleasing unto Thee. And
since sin has destroyed within us
the first temple of innocence, may
Thy Heavenly grace guide and as
sist us in rebuilding q second tenn
pie of reformation, and may the
glory of this latter house be great
er than the glory of the former.
all which we ask through Whose
merits and mediation alone we
humbly rely for the forgiveness of
our sins, and the acceptance of our
services and Who liveth and reign
eth, with the Father, and the Holy
Ghost, ever one God, world with
out end. Amen.
Then came the singing of the
Star Spangled Banner 10y the choir
and children, followed by the read
ing Of the Declaration of Indepcn-
dence, by NictorC. Burnham. Mr..
Burnham acquitted himself in q
very able manner, and received a
hearty applause from the audience.
At the conclusion of the Declara-
ton, the choir and children sang
very prettily the Red, White and
Blue, and were given three rous-
ing cheers. Then Robert }. Kelley
was announced, as the orator Of
the day, Mr.. Kelley stepped for
ward, and in a very able and cred
liable manner delivered the Grafton
to about $500 people. He spoke
as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS After the
vigorous exercises in which you
have participated this morning, it
would be unkind in me to inflict
anything like lengthy speech, and
| would not hazard an attempt to.
engage your attention longer,
were it not for the national songs
which have so beautifully diversi-
fed your exercises, bursting forth
from patriotic hearts, and chanted
by hundreds OF voices in music's
sweetest tones, until it seems to
reach the very ear of Deity, and
meet with the approval of an ever
mindful Creator. The day and the
hour is one of inspired pathos and
patriotism. All Nature seems ami
mated with sincere devotion. The
emerald-clad forest resounds with
Natures sweetest music, warbled
by millions of feathered songsters,
and waited forth upon the gentle
breczes that sweep across our land,
to cheer the hearts and enliven the
Joy of every true freeman. The
waters of yonder lake and bay,
that bear upon the bosom of its
proud and crested swells the maies-
tic steamer, decorated with flags
and ensigns of Liberty, seem to re-
echo back in Natures clearest ac-
cents, the sounds of Joy and glad
ness that come from the mountains
height. The sun from its heavenly
hight shines forth brighter than
ever before, infusing life in all Ma
ture, and radiating one grand en-
circling crown of light, in just APP
proval of Freedoms devoted sons ;
and when ] look out upon this vast
sea of upturned faces before me,
composed of almost every nation