The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-01
A CENTURY'S ROUND OFF.
SAVANNAH CELEBRATES CENTEN-
NAL DAY QUIETLY.

NAL DAY QUIETLY.
The Father Of His Country Enjoyed
in Song and Prayer-The Services
at the First Presbyterian Church
Addresses by the Clergy-The Clos
ing OF the Banks, Exchanges and
Public Offices, and q Suspension Of
Business in Respect TO the Day
The Decorations in the Harbor.
The centennial of Washington's Inaugural
ton was observed in Savannah by the clos
ing of the city. county and government
Offices. the banks aad exchanges, and by
general suspension Of business in the after
noon. None Of the courts, except the city
court, were in session.
Union services were held at the First
PRESBYTERIAN church at o'clock. There
was good representation from the various
congregations. and the church was well
filed. Rev, A. NJ. Wynn, of the Wesley
Monumental church, presided.
The exercises were opened with a solo,
"Guide Me, o, Thou Great Jehovah" sung
bv Mr.. W Faconer. The hymn beginning
Swell the Anthem, was sung by the choir
and congregation. Rev. ". S. Royal, Of tae
Duffy street Baptist church, read the
147th Psalm This was followed by prayer
-
Presbyterian church.
After another hymn Rev. DR.. Dripps, of
the Independent Presbyterian church, de-
hveyed a brief address. I'VE are assembled
here to-day lie said, mot merely beca ise
we feel ike it, but as a part of the
whole country. The country engaged in
many eventful episodes 100 Yeas ago, but
in nothing more important than when its
representatives met for one hour in the
house of prayer, to thank the God Of ma
tons for the marvellous success that had
attende their early efforts in framing a
free government. They were nation
of christians then, and we are
christian nation now, for in meeting
to-day, in accordance with the executive
proclamation. we still acknowledge God as
the peoples sure defender"
The speaker referred briefly TO the
declaration of Washington, who before his
inauguration declared that it was desirous
that God should be duly ac6now lodged be
fore the Inauguration, aud his divine guld-
ance should be sought by the country. The
greet and manly Washington was not
ashamed to acknowledge Gods hand in the
shaping Of events, whether national or per
sonal
WASHINGTON ECLOGIZED.
After singing the hymn 80 God Beneath
Thy Guiding Hand, DR.. W. S. B)wman, f
the Lutheran church, offered a prayer R-v.
J. X. McCleskey of the Trinity Methodist
chypch made short address in which he
dwelt chiefly on the character Of the first
President. Looking at the life and deeds
Of George Washington, said the speaker,
we see a man OF high thought, a man Of
character and excellent spirit, filing
the highest place in the gift Of
the people. Washington, he said, was a
man worthy Of emulation. When only 10
years old tue fathers OF old Virginia ap-
pointed him major Of the troops and when
he was only % years old he was CHOSEN
major general Of all the forces in Virginia.
On every occasion be was devoted to duty,
and manifested the highest kind of cour-
age. Il is re ated Of him, said the
speaker, that when engaged in bat
tie he rode over every part of
the fed ia full view of the enemy and
within reach # their bullets. In another
sphere, an under different circumstances,
he displayed the same lofty courage whs i
the victorious army offered to IN Ike hi n
king Of thls country, he threatened it with
dire punishment for. suggesting such a
thing. Ire suggestion, he said, out
ragged the sentiment Of the nation and
his own high conception Of free govern
ment. His humility AMI usefulness were
next referred to. When Washington was
chosen for the position of chief executive
he addressed each gentleman in the assem-
bly,, asking them to note we'll the fact that
=
the position, and his sincerity was further
attested by private letters to his wife
written at that time The grandeur and
symmetry of he character OF Washington
is seen in the universal esteem in which he
was and Is still held, and there was more
truth than rhetoric in the formu ated ad-
dress, said the speaker, which referred TO
HIM as first in war first in peace and first
In the hearts Of his cOuntrvmen.n
At the close of Mr.. McCleskey's address
another hymn wa sung, after which Rev.
Mr. Simons offered prayer.
THE COUNTRY CONGRATULATED.
Rev. !. W. RoCan followed with IA few
remarks. To-day's services throughout thu
land, he said, proclaimed to all the world
that this is a christian people. When the
Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock
they began their new life in the world with
these words, "In the name Of God. Amen"
And be quoted the well-known saying of
BE jamin Franklin, who, at the meeting Of
the trainers of the Constitution, remarked:
- have long since believed that unless the
Lord build tce house, the builders labor in
vain The nation that will not
serve the Lord will perish, said the speaker,
and it is a matter for cOngratulation that
the present head Of the government is an
active christian, and an officer in an active
christian church, aud that family prayers
are held every morning In the white house.
lie services, which occupied fully an
hour. concluded with tle singing of the
dox0logy and bsnediction.
There was a very light display Of bunting
by the shipping in port aside from the river
steamers, " icn carried their flags. The
steamships City Of Savannah, Tallahassee,
Gate City and the William Crane, and
the revenue cutter Boutwell, were
all gaily decorated. A very singular feature
was the absence Of flags, or an recognition
of the QaV nv American schoonerg mn N
Der Of which are in port-witl one excep-
ton, that Of the schooner Jacob VI. Haskell
which was beautifully c vered with colors
The schooner jefferson also flew a single
United States flag. The foreign vessels
displayed no bunting at all.