The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-10-08

sadness, all the anguish and the tears
and the agony of hearts as they look
back over the past, to rejoice. Lord,
bring that era that shall be upward
higher and nobler and grander than
the old has ever been. Lord, grant
that even those whose hearts were
broken in the past shall rejoice in the
new life, in the new era, in the new
promise. We thank Thee for the hope
Thou hast given US of its fulfillment.
We ask Thee to bring it about.
We ask Thee to bless every State
represented here to-day, and Lord,
we especially ask Thy blessings upon
the old State on whose soil the Expo
sition opens. Let Thy blessing rest
upon her and upon her people. We
ask Thy choicest blessings to rest upon
the Governor, whom Thou hast called
to fill the high Office of State. Give
him wisdom, give him Thy guidance,
and particularly Thy blessing, we
pray Thee, for his responsible duties.
Wilt Thou teach US, oh Lord God,
that it is sacred to hold office under
government. Lord teach US, that it
is as divine mission to be Governor
of this State as to be the Pope of all
the Catholic world, or the Cardinal
or the Bishop, or the minister that
stands before the sacred altar. Lord
teach us the sacredness of the secular
Give them Thy blessing and Thy power.
Lord, bless the people into whose
faces we look this morning, the people
of this old State, our native State.
Grant Thy kingdom to come, and Thy
will to be done here, until it shall be
as the desire of our hearts. Wilt Thou
bind together not only these Southern
States, but this great nation. Lord,
wilt Thou bring together the peoples
that we represent, the people into
whose faces we look from day to day,
whom we have learned to love, and
we pray this morning, as the particular
desire of our hearts, that they shall
be one people. Oh, bring it about
till the good people of the North shall
clasp hands with the good people of
the South, and there shall be no North,
no South, no East, no West. Oh,
may the day come when this nation
shall be one nation with one God,
and may Thy peace and Thy glory and
Thy kingdom reign supreme. We ask
it all for Jesus sake. Amen.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Dixon S
prayer Rev. ]. J. Hall, D. D., native
Of England, but now pastor OF the
Raleigh Baptist Tabernacle, spoke
as follows, he having kindly consented
to take the place of Mr.. F. H. Rich
ardson, editor of the Atlanta Journal,
who was detained at home on account
of sickness:
DR.. Halls Address.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GEN
TLEAEN When last night, Gen.
Chiffon asked me to make few re-
marks this morning, said, "No, sir ;
l appreciate your courtesy, but you
must excuse me-" Answered he, 81
have already made the announce
ment,'' and this morning when |
looked at the paper saw my name
on the program. am glad that he
has made an excuse for me- l most
cheerfully bring my tribute, whatever
be its worth, in honor of this impor-
tant and far-reaching occasion. l re-
joice in that this Exposition is held in
the Old North State and in the beau
tiful city of Raleigh. l believe it means
much to this State and to the South
land.
am aware of the fact that there
are those who can see no possible good
coming from this Exposition; I have
heard such people speak, and after
some reflection, have come to this
conclusion, that there are persons
who can see no good in anything
unless they are the recognized leader
of it. And l have also thought
that there are persons who can see no
good in anything unless they can see
the Almighty Dollar in it. They
have no objection to see the dol
lar coming to themselves, but if they
see dollar, or, think they see one
going to anybody else, then there is
no good there. Now silver dollar is
not very large thing, and yet if you
take two OF them and place each
against PERSONS eyes, it matters not
how beautiful may be the scenery
around, it matters not that the majestic
river may be gliding along in its way,
with those two dollars before his eyes,
he can see no beauty and yet l am
that there are those who see
no good in this Exposition, because
they have dollars right up close to their
eyes, and think somebody else might
get them.
And then there are those who see
no sense in this Exposition because it
is little different from what they
have been accustomed to. They cling
to the old ways with a tenacious grip
that reminds me Of the man on board
ship, an Irishman. Some one said to
nim, 6. Pat, what would you do, if this
lessel went to the bottom?" "Oh,"
aid he, "by faith, would hold on to
he anchor" "Hold on to the an
,hor,' said the man who spoke to
aim. "Why," said he, "anchor is
good enough for the ship, it is good
enough for me- And so there are
some persons who imagine that if the
past was good enough for their fathers
md grandfathers it must be good
enough for them. They forget that we
ire living in an age of change, in an
age of steam, in an age Of electricity,