Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-17
ESTABLISHED is4s-.-YOL. 2s, NO. 3.

montt who have laboted long and eafnestl
amidst anxieties and difficulties, for I'll
success OF this enterprise. Maydhy apecit
blessing. thon God Of slllnhe nations Of III
earth, rest upon onr na1t0ual guests, OF,
visitors from distant lanlIs. We wesconi
them to onr shores hndsw rtfsice in thei
presence among us, whether they represer
thrones, or culture, ofsAidsfch, OF whethe
they come to exhibit No tsinmphs Of genin
and art, ID the development ef industry, |
the progress OF civilization. Preserve tho
then, We beseach thee III health and safety
and In due time may slsg be Welcomed b
loved onei 10 their naliye lands. Thy bless
ling rest richly on ,h1a Centennial lcelebra
ton. go
Let the lives, and healtl, Of all inter
csted. be precious in thy sight; pre-
side in its acknowledgements that tlii
tassociation in this effort may bin,
more closely together every part o
our great Republic, so that our Tn
ion may be perpetual and indissolu
bic /; let its influenced draw the ma
tions Of the Garth into happic
union hereafter. We pray that al
disputed questions be decided b,
arbitration and not by tic Sword, ani
may wars forever ceases among Til,
sons of men. May the aAew century
be better than the past more radian
with the light of tr'le,, philosopkS,
and warmer with the animation- d
world wide sympathy. May capital
genius and labor be freed from al
antagOnismi by the establishment ant
application of such pfinciplcssof Just
ice and equality as shall reconcil,
diversified interests, and bind in i'm
perishable bonds all parts of society
We pray thy benediction especially
ON the women of America, who fol
the first time in the histor,
our race take so con.
conspicuous a place in a national eel.
ebration. May the light of their in.
telligence, purify and enterprise shed
its beams afar in distant lands, that
their sisters may realize the beauty
and glory of christian freedom and
elevation. a
We beseech the Almighty Father
that our beloved Republic may be
strengthened in every element of true
greatness until her mission is accom-.
plished by presenting to the world,
an illustration of the happiness of a
free people, with free church in a
free state, under laws OF their own
enactment and under rulers of their
selection, acknowledging supreme
allegiance only to the King of Kings
and Lord of Lords. and as thou didst
n Sryn To- nf Is, Hin Str.sr.
to draw experimcntally the electric
spark from heaven, which has since
guided the globe in its celestial whis-
pers of "Glory to God in the highest,
peace ON earth and good will to men
SO to latest time may the mission Of
America, under divine 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 civilization
and unto Thee our Father, through
Him whose life was the light of men,
will we ascribe glory aud praise. now
and forever, AMEN.
Whittier's Centennial hymn was
then sung and the presentation of
buildings then took place, the Board
of Finance with appropriate speeches
and ceremonials turning over the
buildings to the Commission.
Centennial Hymn
The following is the hymn written
by Mr.. Whittier for the Exposition
opening:
Our father's God! from out whose hand,
The centuries fall like grains ofsand,
We meet to-day, united, ee,
And loyal to our land and Thee, 4l-
To thank Thee for the era done,
And trust Thee for the opening one
Here where of old, by Thy design,
The fathers spske that word Of Thine
Whose echo Is the glad refrain
OF rended bolt aud fallen chain,
To grace our festal time from all
The zones OF earth our guests we call. H..t
Be with as while the New World gree.s
The Old World thronging all its streets,
Unveiling all the triumphs won VI.
BY art or toll beneath The sun;
And unto common good orlan
This rivalship Of hand and braia.
Thou who hast here In concord furled
The war flags OF a gathered world,
Beneath our western skies fulfill
The Orient's mission OF good will, ~
And netghted with L0ye's golden fleece,
Send back the Argonants OF peace.
FOr lfL ana taDOf met III truce,
For beauty made the bride OF use,
We thank Thee, while wit1al we crave
The nustere virtues strong to save, ti
The honor proof the place our gold,
The manhood never bought or soli,
o, make Thou us, through centuries long,
In peace secure, in Justice strong; tt'
Around our giit OF freedom draw
The Safeguards of Thy righteous Law,
And cast in some diviner mould,
Let the new Cyl ele shame the old.
The presentation of the exhibition to
the President of the United States by
Joseph II. Hawley, President of the
United States Centennial Commits
sion then took place. Gov. Hawiey
said:
Mn. PREsIDENT--Fivc years ago the
President of the United States de-
clared it fitting that '.the completion
of the first century of our national
existence should be comimemoratell
by an exhibition of the natural re.
sources of the country and their de.
velopments, and Of its progress in
those arts which benefit mankind.
and ordered that an exhibition OF
American and Foreign arts, products
and manufactures should be held un.
der the auspices of the Government
Of the United States, in the city Of
Philadelphia, in the year 1876.
To put into effect the several law,
relating to the exhibition, the United
States Centennial Commission wa,
constituted, composed of two com
missioners FROM each State and Terri
tory, nominated by their respectiy.
Governors and appointed by the Pres
] ident. Congress also created an aux
iliary and associate corporation. til,
Centennial Board of Finance, who's,
unexpectedly heavy burdens have
been nobly borne. A remarkable ant
prolonged disturbance of the finance,
and industries of the country ha
greatly magnified the task, but W,
hope for favorable judgment of tn,
degree of success attained. @
July 4th, 1873, this ground was ded
icated to its present uses. Twenty
one months ago, this Memorial Hal
was begun. All the other $50 build
ings within the enclosure have beer
erected within twelve months. AL
the buildings embraced in the plan
of the commission itself are finished
The demands of applicants exceed tn
space, and strenuous and coniinuou
efforts have been made to get ever,
exhibit ready in time.
BY general consent the exhibition
is appropriately held in the city 0
"Brotherly Love-" Yondcr. almos
within your view. stands the venera
ted edifice wherein occurred the even
this work is designed to .commcmor
ate, and the hall in which the frs
Continental Congress assembled
Within the present limits o
this great park were the home
of eminent patriots of that era
where Washington and his asso
ciates received generous hospitalitie
and able counsel. You have observe,
the surprising beauty pfthe sitnatio
placed at our disposal. In, harmon