Daily Republican., 1881-10-19
YORKTOWN.
The Centennial Celebration Under
Fall Hsadway-WhO are NJ Y York-
town and " hat IL Going On.

between midnight and o'clock this
morning, bringing many troops and
civilians. Among the former were de-
tachments from Delaware, Michigan,
Virginia and New Hampshire. At 10
o'clock salutes were fired from General
Hancock's 3 camp, and i5 was supposed
that the vessel containing the President
was passing. The steamer Excelsior,
with the Yorktown Congressional Com
mission on board arrived this morning
and received salutes from General Han
cocks camp aud the war vessels in the
harbor. Shortly after the Despatch
and Tallapossa hove in sight, and.
were saluted by the camp aud gun
boats.
President Arthur left the Despatch at
about half past eleven o'clock, and pro
ceeded to Lafayette Hall, where he will
be received by the Governor OF Nir-
ginia.
The distinguished guests began to ar
rive at Lafayette Hall at about eleven
o'clock. Among them were the Gov
ernors of New York, Maryland and
Virginia, Michigan, Delaware, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Rhode Island and
Vermont, Senator David Davis, Hon.
Alex. H. Stuart, of Virginia ; Hon.
Geo F. Boar, Rev. j. X. Newman, Il.
G. winthrop, Senator Bayard and many
others.
The scene on the river front was an
inspiring one. The men-of- war, the
steamers, the tugs, the yachts, the sail.
ing vessels, all decked with flags and
strealners, the salutes to arriving diSni-
taries, the gay uniforms ofthe military,
knights Templar, etc, the music of the
bands, and the drums and flies as the
troops landed and ma-ched to their
quarters, and the crowds OF people OF
all nationalties. sects and conditions
who gathered ON the batteries or van.
dered over the grounds, all combined
to make scene Of deep interest.
At ii o'clock Governor Holiday and
| his staff went into Lafayette Hal, which
was be lutifully decked with flags, and
Informally met and welcomed the Gov
ernors of other states and tho distin-
gushed CUES who were present. Gen
eral Hancock called and paid his re-
spects. Pleasant greetings and social
chat followed, aud occupied the line un-
til President Arthur and the French
guests arrived.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
At 1880 tho Masonic procession, un-
der direction OF Chief Marshal ex-Sant
tor Robert +. Wlthers, marched into
the Hall, and the members took their
/ places ia the seats which had been re-
served tor them. At b2.i0 the Presi-
dent accom- panied by Secretary Lincoln
and Hunt and Postmaster General
James, was escorted to the stand, amid
the cheers Of ,he crowd.
| Tie ceremony was then opened with
prayer by the Rev. Eot"rt Nelson,
grandson of Governor Nelson, who com
mandeu the Virginia Militia 1T York
town. He ttaekeI God for the one
hundred years Of blessing vouchsafed to
our country, for Washington, for our
allies and for our victory, anU prayed
tlst the people Of this land might not
pride themselves too much upcn their
OWE achievements and prosperity, bat
that they might thank and trust
the Lard. He prayed for peace among
all nations, and fer traternal concord
among the sections Of our common
country. He prayed for the rulers of
the LAND that they might be pure and
for the people; that they might learn
! TO love aud serve the Lord.
! At the conclusion of the prayer, THE
! Star Sranged Banner with an artillery
accompaniment.
Governor Holiday, OF Virginia, 'hen
proceeded to deliver the address OF vel
come.
Governor Holiday has D fine presence,
Gear voice and earnest manner, and he
was frequently applanded, especially
by the distinguished gentlemen who
.a b around him. His illusions to ase
unity of sentiment, purpose anu dss-
Tiny of all sections OF our CONN on
country wsre greeted with enthusiastic
applause. NV
United States Senator j. W. johnson
of Virginia, Chairman of tae Congress
ional Commission, then mT.S some 70
marks. in which he sketch@d the history
of the suSrendsr, read FROM orlglrsl
documents all account OF ths action OF
Congress at ths time, exhibited ths
! sword voted to the messenger who b 10
the news of the surrender, and alluded
TO the fact that W. W. Henry, a grana-
son of Patrick Henry, and Rev. lff.
Nelson, a grandson OF Goysraor Nelson
were on ths stand.
The brethren of the Mystic Tie. un Ter
the direction Of the Grand Master OF
Virginia, then proceeded. to lay the
corner stoae according to the Io-
gra,ame.
The ehsir occupied Ey the Grand
| Master on TIE occasion was the one
which Lord Bottetours, when ,nyal
Covyrnor of the Old dominion, pre-
sented to the Grand Lod 90 Of Virginia.
and which George Washington sat when
| Grand Master Of the V1rgiNla Misons:
The, sash and apron worn by srand
Master Pey.on $. Coles, OF Virginia
were worked by Mrs. Lafayette, and
presented to Washington, in 'M4 al
Mount Vernon. Aft1nward, ia laE3
they were given to the Washington
Lodge of Alexandria, Va, ty Mal?l
Lawrence Lewis. The gavel was maAt
from a portion of the quarterback O
th. United States frigate Lawrence
flagship of Commodore Perry at thu
battle and victsry at Lake Erie, Sept
l0h, 1873, and WAS presented to. tn
Masonic Veterans Association by Ven
erabls Brother Nj. W. lsev. Marshall B
smith, June 20, 1880. Mounting ant
inscription presated by Venerabl
Brother h. W.. Zachariah Dederick
This gavel was ased by NJ. W. Brothe
Smith as Grand Master of Masons o
New Jersey in 1876 aad 1873, and IL
laying the corner stone of the monu
ment on the battle field Of Monmouth
+ June 3Oth, 1878. 1t was also used b.
M. w. Jesse B. Anthony, Grand Mas
+ ter of Masons of New York, to lay tn
corner stons of the Egyptian obelisk, y
: Central Park, New York city, Oct YIN
!, 1880. A.
Judge B. r. Wexford, of fVirgiinia,th
Masonic orator, then made All eloquen
address which! concluded tho ceremor
les. Immediately afterwards Presiden
/. Arthur and party left tor the Despatch
Y Tho steamer bearing the French CON
a missioner, Secretary Blaine an
d others, was in the stream som
J. +xyo houra and a half before tn6