Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-11
The President Present, and All The De-
partments Of the Federal and Many
State Governments Repre-
sented.
Appropriate Speeches by General Haw-
ley, President Grant and Mr.. John
Welsh, and Prayer Of Rev.
Bishop SlmpsOn-Etc.

OIeahi the ram cease, and the origi
nal programme Of the opening ceremo
MES bs carried out. The city j
cfowCe1 with visitors, the trains las
evening and this morning having com
from all directions with crowds Of visit
ors from abroad. The streets are 81
ablazs with fiagsr and notwithstanding
the rain, patriotic demonstrations sr
numerous and fiue. The exposition
opening is the only topic OF cOnver,a
top, and since esrly In the mornir
throngs OF people, on foot, in street. cars
carriages, wagons and steam cars, have
been pouring toward tha Centennia
grounds, ia anticipation of the opening
OF the gstes. Early this morning thC
military psradS, comprising portions oi
the hrst division, took place, passing
through the principal streets OF the ci V,
Inc display was fine, though not nearly
30 large as would have bsen had the
weather been favorable. II the weather
becomes clear, the opening Of the exp1-
sitlon will be great su uccess.
lO:l5 s.m.-The sky has cleared, and
the weather Is beautiful and sunny, but
not too warm. The grounds are in very
good condition, in spite OF the hard and
long-continued rains, though there is
much mud. The gates were opened at
little after eight o'clock, and crowds
have been pouring in ever since. 1t Is
roughly estimated that thirty thousand
people are now on the grounds, and
still there is a constant rush OF DsOple
through the gates. The favorable change
In the weather will permit the original
programme to be carried out, though ar
range nents had been partly made to
conduct the Inauguration ceremonies in
the main building in case Of continued
rain. A spacious platform hiss been
erected at the side of memorial hsli,
north Of the center Of ths main build
ing. Seats are arranged on the plat
form for official aud other invited
guests. AT the rig 1t of the center are
the S 9ats Of tue President of the United
States and members sf the cabinet, aud
further TO the right are the seats of the
governors Of the various States, with
their staff, State officers, supreme
couit, and the Legislators Of Penn
sylvania, and representatives of
the army and navy, Smithson-
iau institute, United States judges,
otticeTJ Of the executive Of bureaus, aud
members of the Women's Centennial
committee. On the left-center are
costs for the United States supreme
court, and further to the left are seats
for members OF the diplomatic corps
and members Of the Centennial CON
mission, board OF finance, Wo-
mans executive committee, foreign
commissioners, mayor, councils and
other officials of Philadelphia, mayors
Of other cities, State Centennial boards,
board Of award, judges OF yacht and rife
clubs, and along the front Of the plat
form are seats for members OF the pres.
Az orches ra Of one hundred aud 1ifty
pieces and chorus of one Thousand
voices, Ulder the direction OF Theodore
Thomas and Dudley Buck, are station
ed directly in fro 1T OF the platform. At
the side Of the n ain building the space
in font OF the platform, except that
needeU for passage way, is Opan to the
public until after the inaugural The
main building, machinery hall aad
memorial hall are reserved for invited
guests and closed to the public. All
guests pass through the main building,
entering at the east and west end or at
the south side, and thence through the
center door at the moth side to the
platform. The space about the plat
form and for such distance that to see
and hear are impossible, is crowded
dessely with people waiting for the
opening exercises.
ll:30 a.m.-At eleven O'Clock the
President and party, accompanied by
officials previously designated, proceed.
ed to the platform, the President having
been escorted to the grounds by Gov
ernOr Hartranft with division OF mill
tsTy. The platform was at once crowd
ed, and all surrounding space and avail
able points Of elevation in the neigh
borhoOd were already occupied by
crowds OF visitors. The orchestra, Whil9
seats were being secured played national
airs, and after the party on tue platform
had arranged themselves, Wagner's
Centennial MsTch" was also played
aud received with applause. This was
followed by the following opening
prayer by Bishop Simpson of the North
ern Methodist church:
Almighty aud everlasting God, our keav-
euly father, heaven is Thy throne aud the
earth is Thy footstoOl Before Thy majesty and
holiness the angels vail their faces and the
sp' rlts OF the Just made perfect bow in hum
Bile alteration. Thou art the creator OF all
things; the preseryer OF all that exists,
whether they be thrones, or dominic IS, or prin-
ctpaiities, or pOweTs. The minute and vast
atoms and worlds alike attest the ubiquity of
Thy presence and the omntpOtence OF Thy
sway; Thou alone art the sovereign ruler Of
nations; Thou raiseth up one aud caSteth
down another. and Thou gtvest the Kingdoms
of the world 70 wnOmsaeyer Thou will The
past with all It's IecOrus is the realization OF
Thy grand designs. We hsil Thee as our
rlgntIuI ruler, me King eternal, immor'
tai and invisible-the only true God,
blessed fOrevermOTe We come on this
glad day, thou God Of our fathers unto
these dates, and with praise We bless Thse
for Thy wonderful goodness in the past; for
the land which Thou gave7t 20 our fathers-a
land veiled from the sgCs, from the ancient
Thy chosen people, whom Thou uidst lea i by
Thine own right hand through the billows Of
the deep; land OF vast extent, OF towering
mountains, and broad plains, OF unnum Oered
products, and OF untold treasures. We thank
Thee for the fatheIl of our Countrymen of
mind and OF might, VINO endured privatiOn
and sacrifices, who bravCd multiplied dangers
rather than defile their conciencies or be un-
true TO their God men who laid on the broad
fOunoation OF Truth aud Justice the grand
structure OF civil ireS DOM We praise Thee
for the closing century; for the founders
OF our republic; for the immO tai Washing
ton and his grand sS-Ociat ,; for the wisdom
with which they planned sud the irmnesS
and herOism VIII ch, under Thy blessing, led
them TO triumphant succ, s. Thou vast their
shield in the hour OF danger; their pillar OF
cloud Dy day, and their pillar OF ME by night.
May we, their GOns, walk IN their footsteps,
and Initiate their virtue We thaHz Tnes
for soc al and national prosperity aud pro
gress; for valuable discoveries and ma tIpljsd
Inventions; for lsbOr saving machiuery, re-
lisying the toillug ms Ses; for schOOs free as
ing generation; for books and periodicals
scattered like tue leaves OF autumn over the
land; FOR art and science; for freedom TO woT-
snip God according TO the dictates Of our con-
science; for church uniettere1 by the tram.
mslS OF state Bless, We pray Thee the Pre-
ident OF lhe United a'es and his cOnStitu-
tional advisers; the Judges Of the supreme
court; the senators and representatives IN
congress; the governors Of our several
common weslths, the officers of the army aud
tue navy, ano ali who are IN official position
throughout our land. Guide them, We pray
they ever rule 10 rtghteOu sness. We ask Thy
mem osrs OF tbs Centennial commission, and
upon those associated with them ia the yarI-
Gus departments, and who have lsborsd long
aud earnestly amidst anxle.ies aud diffcuI-
ties for the success OF this enterprise. Nav
Thy special blessing, Oh, Thou God OF an the
nations OF the ezTtu, rest upon our national
guests, orr visitors from distant lands. We
welcC me them TO our shores. and we rejoice in
their presence among Us, whether they repre-.
sent tnrOneS or cult ure OF 2 search, or ghetn-
eT they come to exhibit the triunphs Of
genius and art In the development OF indus
try, In the prOg1es5 o. civilization. Preserve
Thou them, we beseech Thee, in hea Ia and
safety, nd in due time may they tc welcomed
by loved ones again 70 their own native lands.
Let Toy DessinR rest richly on this
great Centennial celebration: NAV the
lives and health Of all interested be prerioas
in Thy sight. Preside IL It's assem- blies Grant