The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-19
Hymns, by John
e.. whittier.
OPENING OF THE CENTENNIAL.

lU O'CLOCK A. Nine morning was
very rainy. with a prospect of a
steady rain all day, but the indica-
lions are now that the clouds will
break, the rain cease, and the origi-
nal programme of the opening of
the Centennial be carried out. The
city is crowded with visitors, the
trains last night and this morning
having come from ali directions
with crowds of passengers from
abroad. The streets are all ablaze
with flags, aud Notwithstanding the
rain, patriotic decorations are nu-
merous and fine. The Exposition
opening is the only topic of con-
versation, and since early in the
morning throngs of people, on foot,
in the street-cars. carriages, wagons
and steam cars, have been pouring
toward the Centennial grounds, in
anticipation Of the opening of the
gates.
This morning, early, a military
parade, comprising portions of the
sst division, took place, passing
-. :. --ss.ssAsaAe principal streets of the
through IcSs|~s1sSSss...
city. tSsAsG..l.on, not
The display was Gne, ss.sssiisss y ~ ~
nearly so large a. it wOu:a ts5~SlS
been had the weather been iavOS.
Bile. If the weather becomes clear,
the opening of the exposition will
be great success.
CLEARED OFF.
10: ID q. m.-The sky has cleared,
and the weather is beautiful, yet
somew hat sultry, but not too warm.
The grounds are in very good con-
dition in spite of the rain. The
gates opened y Little after 8 a. m,
and crowds have been pouring in
ever since. Ii il roughly estimated
that $1,000 people are now on the
grounds, and there is still rush
through the gates. A favorable
change in the weather will permit
the original programme to be car
ried out, though arrangements have
been partly made to conduct the
inauguration ceremonies in the
main building, in case of continued
rain. A spacious platform has
been erected at the side of Mem
mortal Hall, north of the main
| building. Sests arranged on the
platform for the official and other
inveted guests. Along the front of
the platform, are seats for the
members of the press. An orches-
ira of one hundred and fifty pieces,
and chorus of one thousand voices,
under the direction of Theodore
Thomas and Dudley Buck, are
stationed directly in front of the
platform, and at the side of the
main building. The space in front
of the platform, except that needed
for passage ways, is open to the
public.
Until after the Inauguration, the
main building, machinery hall and
memorial hail, are to be reserved
for invited guests, and will be
closed to the public. All the guests
pass through tho main building, en-
tering at the east or west end, OIL
south side thence through the CEN
ter door at the north side, to the
platform. The space about the
platform, and for great distance
around it, is SO densely crowded
with people waiting for the open
ing exercises that TO hear or see /:
impossible.
| II: 30 a. NAT IL o'clock, the
Presidents party, accompanied by
the officials. proceeded to the plat
form, the President having been
escorted to the grounds by Gov
Hartranft, with division OF mill
tary.
The platform was at once crowd
ed, and all the surrounding space
and all points of elevation in the
neighborhood, were already occu-
IL 81 osf
orchestra, while the seats were be-
ing secured, played the nationa
airs, and, after the party on thu
platform had arranged themselves
played Wagner's Centennial March
which was received with applause
President Hawley then intro
duced Right Rev. Bishop Simpson
. who invoked the blessing of God il
the following language:
: PRAYER OF THE RIGHT REV. RIsHo
SIMPSON.
Almighty and everlasting Coo
our Heavenly Father. Heaven j
thy throne and the earth is thy foot
stool. Before thy majesty and no
illness the angels veil their faces, an
the spirits of the just made perfeC
q bow in humble alteration. Thou al
the creator of all things, the preser
yer of all that exist, whether they b
thrones or dominions or principal
' ties or powers. The minute an
: the vast, atoms and worlds, alik
I attest the ubiquity of thy presenc
}, and the omnipotence of thy sway.
Thou alone art the sovereign RI
? Ter of nations. Thou raiseth up on
and casteth down another, and tho
> givest the kingdoms of the world {
} Whomsoever thou wilt. The pas
with all its records, is the unfoldin
r of thy counsels and the realizatio
of thy grand designs. We hail the
: as our rigbtful ruler, the king eteI
nal, immortal and invisible, the or
!. Iy true God, blessed forever more.
We come on this glad day,
! thou God of our fathers, into thes
: courts with thanksgiving, and int
: these gates with praise. We bleG
;. thee for thy wonderful goodness
e the past, for the land which tho
4 gavest to our fathers, land veile
2 from the ages, from the ancieI
Z world, but revealed in the fumes
e of time to thy chosen people, whoI
: thou didst lead by thine own rigt
: hand through the pillows of Ii
!. deep-a land of vast extent, of to "
4 ering mountains and broad plain
b of unnumbered products and of III
4 told treasures.
e We thank thee for the fathers
8 our country, men of mind and (
;. might, who endured privations an
O sacrifices, who braVed multiple
O dangers rather than defile their cor
n sciences or be untrue to their Co
a men who laid on the broad POUNDS
tons of truth and justice the gran
structure of civil freedom.
We praise thee for the closin
century, for the founders of the r
q public, for the immortal Washin,
i ton and his grand associates for Il
n wisdom with which they planne
n and the firmness and heroisr
= which, under thy blessing. led the
d to triumphant success. Thou wa
: their shield in hours of DANCE
e their pillar of cloud by day, an
o tehir pillar of fire by night. Ms
e we, their sons, walk in their foo
j. steps and immitate their virtues.