Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-25
THE U1Tx,s SECOND CENTENNIAL.


 The New Haven Grays and Their Far.
 tfclpation am she Eyenf-The Grays,
 Reception To-Day-FOunaers' Day.
 The Grays hold reception this afternoon from 3 to in honor of Founders day. They expect to entertain many veteran Grays, some of whom have been absent from the city for years. The reception will be held
 at the association rooms, Glebe building.
 Among those to be present is ex-Captain
 George P. Stil1nan, of New York. He was
 first lieutenant of the Grays at the time of New Haven's second centennial celebration
 in 1888. At tkat time Elijah Thompson was captain, Sti1lman was lieutenant, John Gal pin ensign, Charles Bowen second and Sam ue1 B. Gorham third sergeants, Horatio Smith fourth sergeant, and Amos Bostwick first, Samuel Tolles lafterward captain) sec ond, David White third and Elihu Myers fourth corporals. From the history of the New Haven Grays is taken the following ac- count of New Haven's second centennial: On the 25th of April New Haven cele- brated the second centennial anniversary of the settlement of the town. It was an occa- sion of great interest. The Grays, number l ing thirty-four rank and file, with the Artil- | Iery and the Governors Guards, which | formed upon the lower Green, composed the military. The military escorted the process sion-"the largest ever known in the city, through the principal streets to the historic oak, corner of George and College streets, where 'sthe forefathers knelt," thence to the Center church, where an historic discourse upon the settlement of the colony of New Haven was delivered by Professor James L. I Kingsley of Yale college. A portion of the scriptures was read by Rev. Mr. Bennett of " AL Tr..s~ 1zI..- | by Rev. Dr. Bacon. There was singing by a large choir. under direction of filling Brown. The concluding prayer was by Rev. Mir. Griswold, later presiding elder. All the
 shops and stores of the city were closed and 1 the day devoted to the occasion.
 | Public exercises were held at the corner of | George and College streets, under the vener-
 able oak where history saith the apostle Davenport preached the first sermon in New Haven to the little band of Puritans who { founded the town.
 l Here was banner lettered "Quinnipiac, | 1638-New Haven, 1S35." The military and I 8 large concourse of people were in attens dance. Prayer was offered by Rev. Frederick | Hotchkiss of Saybrook, a descendant of Theo- philus Eaton. one of the original founders of the town; and the now venerable Rev. Dr. Il Leonard Bacon, sfthe nestor of Congrega- tionalism, delivered an address.
 Tradition says that in the days of oul fathers the waters of the harbor came up to near the spot where the old oak stood through
 an estuary and that many acres of land south of George street now thickly covered with buildings were formerly mud flats.
 The chief marshal of tha day was Charles Robinson. The civic part of the procession
 comprised the authorities of the town and
 city, the Governor and suite, descendants o1
 the original settlers, members of the Connec. ticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, judgel
 of the courts, strangers of note, officers and
 students of Yale college and citizens gener.
 ally and children of the Lancasterian ani \ common schools under direction of theil several teachers. The military line was com manded by Colonel Elijah Thompson, captain
 of the Grays, and Captain Morris Tyler, ou1
 late Mayor and ex-Lieutenant Governor.