Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-05-18


the morning light for the millions o.
the rising generation; for books and
periodicals, scattered like leaves o
science; for freedom to worship God &C.
cording 10 the dictatiOn o. their con.
science; for church unfettered by the
trammels of state. Bless, We pray
Thee, the President of the United
States, and his constitutional advisors,
the Judges of the Supreme Court, the
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, the Governors of our several
cOmmOn-wealths, the officers of the
army and the navy, and all who are in
official position throughout our land.
Guide them, we pray Thee, with the
cOunSelS of aisdOin, and may they ever
rule in righteousness. We ask Thy
blessings upon the Presitlentand mem.
bers of the Centennial Commission, and
upon thuse associated with them in the
various departments, who have labor
ed long and earnestly amidst anxieties
and difficulties for the success of this
enterprise. May this special blessing
thou GOd of all the nations OF the earth
rest upon our national guests, our visi.
tors from distant lands, we welcome
them to our shores and we rejoice in
their presence among Us, whether they
represent thrones, culture or research
or whether they come to exhibit the
triumphs of genius and art with the
development of industry in the pro.
gre5s of civilization and preserve Thou
them we beseech Thee in health and
safety and in due time may they be
welcomed by loved ones, and to their
own native lands. Let the blessing
rest richly on this Centennial celebra-
ton. May the lives and health of all
interested be precious in Thy sight;
preside in its assemblies; grant that this
association Il: effort may bind more
closely together every part of our great
republic, SO that our union may be per-
petual and mdissoluble; let its Influence
draw the nations of the earth into hap
pier unity hereafter. We pray Thee
may all disputed questions be settled
by arbitration and not by the sword
and may wars forever cease among the
SONS of men and may the new country
be better diversified with interests and
bind in imperishable bonds all parts of
society. We pray Thy blessing upon
the women OF America, who for the first
time in the history of our race take so
CONSPICUOUS place in national cele
bration, may the light of their intelli-
gence purity and enterprise shed its
beams afar until in distant lands sisters
may realize the beauty and glory of
Christian freedom and elevation. We
beseech Thee, Heavenly Father, that
our beloved republic may be strength
ened in every element of true greatness
until her mission is accomplished by
presenting to the world an illustrion
of the happiness of a free people, with
"A free church in free state, under laws
of their own enactment and under
rules of their own selection, acknowl-
edging Supreme allegiance only to the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and
as Thou didst give to one Ofits illustri-
Gus sons first to draw experimentally
the electric sparks from Heaven, which
has since gridled the globe with its
celestial message of "glOry to God in
the highest, peace on earth, good will
toward men," So to the latest time
may the mission of America, under di-
vine inspiration, be one of affection,
brotherhood and love for all our race,
and may the coming centuries be filled
with the glory of our Christian civili-
zatiOn, and unite Thee, our Father,
through Him whose life is the light of
men, and we Will ascribe glory and
praise now and forever. Amen.
John WEIGH, President of the Centen-
nial Board of Finance then formally
presented the buildings to the United
States Centennial Commission, cOnclud-
ing his address as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLFMEN-Ifin in part
We have met with disappointments,
difficulties and trials they have beer
overcome by the consciousness that no
sacrifice can be too great which is made
to honor tine memories of those who
brought our nation into being. This
communication of the events of 1776|
excites or present gratitude. The as.
semblage here to-day of so many for
eign representatives, uniting with Us
in this reverential tribute, is our re-
ward. We congratulate you on the
occurrence of to-day. Many OF the
nations have gathered here in peaceful
and each may profit by
the association. This exhibition is but
a school. The more thoroughly it's
lessons are learned, the greater will be
the gain, and when it shall have closed
il by that study, the nations engaged |
in it shall have learned respect for each
other, then it may be hoped that ven-
Grafton for Him who rules on high,
will become universal, and the angles
song once more to be heard, "Glory to |
God in the highest, and on earth peace |
and good will toward men,"
PRESIDENT HAwLEY's ADDRESS.
James E. Hawley, President of the
Centennial Commission, in the follow
ing speech, made the presentation of
the Exhibition to the President of the
United States:
Mr.. PREsIDENT-Five years ago the
President of the United States declared
it fitting that the completion of the first
century of our national existance should
be commemorated by an exhibition of
the natural resources of the country,
and their development, and of its pro-
yress in those arts which benefit man.
kind, and ordered tnat an exhibition of
American and foreign arts, products
aud manufactures should be held under
the auspices of of the government of the
Ouiecu Otdlco III tuc City Vi L HiiduSl-
phia, in the year 1876. To put into ef-
fect the several laws relating to the ex-
the United States Centennial
Commission was constituted, composed
Of two commissioners from each State
and territory, nominated by their re-
'pective governors and appointed by !
The President. Congress also created
IN auxiliary and associates corporation,
he Centennial Board of Finance,
whose Unexpectedly heavy burden has !
been nobly born. and the remarkable
md prolonged disturbance of finances
and industries of the country has great
y magnifled the task, but hope that a
favorable degree OF success will be at
aimed.
On July 4th, 1873, this grouni' was
a. t.