The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-05-27
wHIrTIER's CENTENNIAL HYMN.

Our fathers God from out whose hand
The centuries fall like grains Of sand,
And loyal TO our land and Thee,
To thank Thee for the era done,
Ana trust Thee for the opening one.
Her Here where Of old, By Thy design,
Whose echo is the glad refrain
OF rended bolt and falling chain,
To grace our festal time from ali
The zones of earth our guests we call.
Be with us while tho New World greets
The Old World, throng1ng all its streets.
Unavailing all the triumphs won
By art or toll beneath the sun;
And unto common good ordain
This rivalship of hand and brain.
Thou who hast here in concord furIed
The war flags of a gathered world,
Beneath our western skies fulfill
he Orients mission OF goodwill
And, freighted With loves golden fleece,
Send back the Argonauts Of peace.
For art and labor met In t.u ce
For beauty made the bride of use,
We thank Thee, while w.thal We crave
The austere virtues strong to save,
The honor proof to place or gold,
The manhood never bcught or sold
Oh make Thou US, through centuries long.
In peace secure, and justice sttong;
Around our gift of freedom draw
The safeguards of Thy righteous law,
And, cast in some diviner mould,
Let the new cycle shame the old
Next, presentation of buildings, by the
president of the Board of Finance, Hon. mo.
Welsh, one of the most competent gentle
men of the organization.
MIR. JNo. wELsH's ADDRESS.
Mr. President and Gentlemen ofhhe United
States Centennial Commission: In the pre-
sence of the government of the United States
and of the several distinguished bodies BY
whom we are surrounded, and in behalf OF
the Centennial Board of Finance, 1 greet
you.
In readiness at the appointed time, 1 have
the honor to announce to you that under
your supervision and in accordance with the
plans fixed and established by YOU we have
erected the buildings belonging to us, and
have made all the arrangements devolving on
us necessary for the opening of the "Inter-
national Exhibition" We hereby now for.
occupation; and we hold ourselves ready to
make all further arrangements that may be
needed for carrying into full and complete
effect all the requirements of the acts of con-
gress relating to the exhibition.
For a like purpose we also appropriate the
buildings belonging to the state of Pennsyl.
vania and the city of Philadelphia, erected
by us at their bidding, towit: Memorial
Hall, Machinery Hall and Horticultural
Hall. These and other substantial offerings
stand as the evidence of their patriotic CO.
operation. To the United States of America,
aid which crowned our success.
In addition to those to which have Just
referred, there are other beautiful and con-
venient edifices, which have been erected by
the representatives of foreign nations, by
state authority and by individuals, which are
also devoted to the purposes of the exhibit
ton.
have met with disappointments, difficulties,
and trials, they have been overcome by a con-
seriousness that no sacrifice can be too great
which is made to honor the memories of
those who brought our nation into being.
This commemoration of the events of 1776
excites our present gratitude. The assem-
blage here to-day of SO many foreign repre-
uniting with us in this reveren-
tial tribute, is our reward.
We congratulate you on the occurrence of
this day. Many of the nations have gath
cred here in peaceful competition. Each
may profit by the association. This exhibi-
ton is but school; the more thoroughly
its lessons are learned, the greater will be
the gain, and, when it shall have closed if
by that study the nations engaged in it
shall have learned respect for each other
then it may be hoped that veneration for
Him who n les on high will become univer-
sal, and the angels song once more be
heard
"Glory to God In the highest,
And earth peace, good will towards men,"
Sidney Lanier's Cantanta was in order next
and was sung by Byron w. Whitney, of Bos-
ton. 1t was the stroke of Whitney's musical
wand that tapped the musical waters of the
assembled host, and a living stream Of hearty
cheers from the very souls of the people
greeted him, until he responded to the en-
core in temperance and an additional
strain of melody that / never heard equalled
After this feast of song ,ex-Gov. Hawley, presi-
dent of the United States centennial COM
mission, presented the exhibition to the pres