Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-01
ruE GREAT CENTENNIAL.

Der depth and shallow sails,
 Guiden by Him above
 New Haven April 1889.
 THE GREAT CENTENNIAL. The Ceremonial and Services at St.
 Paul,s i'm New York - Historic Sus-
 gestions-President Harrison In Pres-
 ident " washtngton,s Pew - Relics or
 Revolutionary Times - Bishop POt-
 ter's Impressive Address.
 NEW YORK, April 30.-The impressive service at St. PauPs church this morning was not attended by large congregation; in fact bare pews were the predominant feature. But the few that were there were on the was crowded to suffocation ct the centennial service this morning. Everyone was on the qui vive for the appearance of the preslden- tial party, and while waiting admired the go1geousoess of the magnificent floral dis play. The Presidents place was in the Washington pew on the north side Of the church, half way up. Opposite, in Governor Clinton's pew. was the seat of Governor Hill. m the front pews were seats for the repre- sentatives of the Society of the Cincinnati, for the Supreme court, for the senators ana for city officials, the gover- nors and commissioners, the army and navy officers, the diplomatic corps and other guests of the committee. Senators Ingalls, and John Sherman stalked in and were seat ed. Several aged relics of almost Revolu- tionary times occupied the front seats among the Cincinnati, and were given special atten- tion by the spruce young ushers. The most venerable person in the church. perhaps, was the Rev. Dr. Wickhsm, who was born in 1797 and who, therefore, was sprightly child when George Washington was alive.
 A big buzz heralded the arrival of Presi- dent Harrison and Vice President Morton. He was received with becoming formality by the full vestry at the Vesey street entrance, and was escorted with the vice president down the middle aisle and around to the presidential pew, while all the audience arose and the choir burst out into the centennial strains of ''Old Hundred" Following him came quite a number of dignitaries, who had been awaiting his arrival, so that the church began to wear a more occupied look.
 Governor Hill and Mayor Grant were the next dignitaries to arrive.
 At 9:05 the procession ot church officials, in their white robes, was moving up the aisle, and had taken places assigned before the altar.
 Bishop Potter led Bishop Littlejohn of Long Island, Bishop Perry of Iowp, Bishop Ouintard of Tennessee, Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix or 1I1Q1Cy, EL6V. DE MulCAuyt phBeOI Ol ob. Pauls, and his assistants, ,Drs. Greer and Holbrook and Deacons F. B. Van Kleek of Westchester, W. R. Thomas of Orange, George D. Johnson of Richmond, Henry B. Ziegenfuss of Duchess, and Alexander Mo- Kay Smith of New York.
 The form of the service was laid down be- forehand by Bishop Potter, and was religious ly and carefully followed out. It proved a model rubric of public devotion and most excellently adapted to the occasion. Begin ming with the time-honored old hymn, "Be- fore Jehovah's Awful Throne" sung to s'Old Hundred" by the choir and congre- gation with solemn effect, the service pro- ceeded with the reading of suitable verses of Scripture by the rector.
 Then followed the Lord'sss prayer, said by all present, and this special prayer of thanks giving, prepared for the occasion by the bishop:
 o. God, whose name is excellent in all the earth, and whose glory is above the heavens: We bless thee for the great things thou hast done and art doing for the children of men. We consider the days of old the years of ancient times, and unto thee we give thanks. Moreover, we yield thee most high praise for the wonderful grace and virtue de- ciared in all those thy children who have been the
 lights of the world in their several generet0ns For raising up thy servant George Washington and giv. ple for vouchsafipg to him victory kings, and tor b5estoSaasSqpon hina many excellent gifts foI chcices and for granting them visions of the days to come; for a settled constitution and for equal freedom IT, liberty to say the truth; for the spread of knowl edge everywhere among us, and for the preserva nems ei bnmbV heseecbinr tbee to accept this ou sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, through Jesu: Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.
 The next feature of the service was the special Psalter, consisting of the S5th and 122nd Psalms, grandly chanted by the choir
 The First Lesson was then read. It was selected from the 44th chapter of the book ot Ecolesisstes, beginning with the passage "Let us now praise famous men," Sc.
 Then followed the grand hymn of the church, the "Te Deum Laudamus," which was never rendered more impressively thar at this time.
 The Second Lesson followed, from the Stt chapter of St. John's Gospel, beginning at the 31st verse, and after this portion of the Ben edicite was chanted.
 Then came the recitation of the Apostles Creed and the usual sequences of responsive prayer. Then, after the short Collect for Peace, the Bishops two special prayers fo1 the President and for the country were of. fered.
 Special collects tor blessing on the fami- lies of the land and for the unity of the church brought the prayer to close.
 The address by Bishop Potter was then de- livered. It was brief, eloquent, appropriate and in every respect an admirable produc- ton. The bishops opening sentences were these:
 cone hundred years ago there knelt within these walls to 8 man whom, above all others in its history, this nation is indebted. AT Englishman by race and lineage, he incar mated in his own person and character every best trait and attribute that have made the Anglo-Saxon name glory to it's children and terror to it's enemies throughout the world. But he was not so much an English man that, when the time came for him to be so, he was not even more an American and in all that he was and did, patriot 90 exalted, and leader great and wise, that when men called him when ht came here to be inaugurated as first Presi dent of the United States the civilized world has not since then ceased to call him-ths Father of his Country. We are here thi. morning to thank God for so great gift te this people, to commemorate the incidents ot which this day is the Tooth anniversary, ane to recognize the responsibilities which cen tury so eventful has laid upon us."
 The bishop went on to call attention to thu appropriateness of the present assemblage- the propriety of the imitation by the multi tude of Gen. Washington's conduct, whost first act after assuming the heavy burden O the chief magistracy was to turn to St. Paul. sacred walls, where, "kneeling in wonder pew he asked God for strength to keep his prom ise to the nation and his oath to him. The bishop dwelt impressively on the ne OSSSAoJ VI Pe1Aty AA SNA PoAASASo3 0Ho OA the dangers which yet remain to menace ou country in the present and in the future. H'
 earnestly adjured the citizens of to-day te cultivate private and public virtue, and thu to be worthy of our splendid national inher itance and competent to guard and preserv, it.
 of there be not titular royalty" said tn bishop, "all the more need is there for per sonal royalty. If there is to be no nobilit. of descent, all the more indispensable is i that there should be nobility of ascent character in them that bea rule, so fine and high ant pure, that as men come within the circle O its influence, they involuntarily pay homag to that which is the one pre-eminent distinc tion, the Royalty of Virtue!''
 With other references to the exalted char acter of Washington, Bishop Potter ended hi fadiscourse, and with the hymn "Rise, crown't with light" and the final benediction, the ser vice came to a close.
 The President and party then proceeded tt the Sub-Treasury.
 The following was the committee on aisle that conducted the President to his seat: David Augustus Clarkson, chairman, descendant of Chancellor Livingston; How land Pell, secretary, a descendant of Johl