Arizona republican., 1913-10-26
Historic Old Hall, Restored to Something Like Its Original Appearance, is Again Dedicated With Imposing Ceremonies
MANY NOTABLES
 AMONG SPEAKER
Champ Clark Says That if There Were Saints in the Political Calendar Thomas Jefferson Should Have Special Day
Especial to The Republican,


 PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25.-Historic thing like it's original appearance. was rededicated today with imposing 1 ceremonies and in the presence of most distinguished company. Presi- dent Wilson was the guest of honor at the celebration. During the eXer- cises he occupied the same chair that John Hancock sat in when he pre- sided over congress, and when the declaration of independence was signed Until today the chair had l not been used since President Grant sat in it in 1876
 President Wilson, while the central figure and principal speaker of the day, was not the only notable par ticipant in the program. The national and local appreciation of the signifi- canoe of the restOra tiOn and reOpening of the old hall where congress held it's sessions during the young life of the republic was abundantly proved by the presence at the exercises. of cabinet members. foreign diplomats senators and representatives, govern ors or other official representative of the thirteen original states, delega- tions from patriotic societies. high army and navy officers, and a long list of distinguished men and women. President Wilson arrived in the city from Washington a few minutes after one o'clock this afternoon. A committee escorted him to the Belle vue- -Sratford, where a private recep- tion was held. An hour later he pro ceeded to the site Of the restored building at Sixth and Chestnut streets. This feature of the program was made the occasion for a parade of military and other organizations.
 The program carried out at the re- dedication exercises was as follows: opening prayer by the chaplain of the national house of representatives. a brief statement of the restoration of the old building by Frank Miles Day. the delivery of the building to the city by John Hall Rankin, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects: the acceptance by Mayor Blankenburg oration by Speaker Champ Clark; ad- dress by the president of the United States. and benediction by the chap lain of the United States senate.
 Speaker Champ Clark, standing on the spot where George Washington delivered his farewell address. and Thomas Jefferson presided over the senate said that if there were saints in the political calendar, and if par ticular days were assigned to them, the fourth of July would be unversal- ly called Saint Jefferson day. He en- umerated some of the epochal events in colo nial days.
 The literary exercises were inter- i spersed by musical features furnished by several military bands and male chorus of 100 voices. After the in vocation the chorus sang Hail, Col | umbia," the national anthem written in Philadelphia, and first sung here within a stones throw of Congress hall in 1798. At the conclusion of the ceremonies in the hall and as the procession of invited guests marched from the hall to Independence hall, 1 the band played The Star Spangled Banner" At the same time a na- tional salute was being fired by a squadron of United States warships stationed in the Delaware river oppo- site the city.
 Although the statehouse, or Inde- i pendence hall, has been the recog- nized mecca of patriotic Americans, it is doubtful if the majority of citizens realize the unique historical interest possessed by the whole group Of buildings on Independence Square, es- pecial1y the building restored and re- opened today.
 To the last three generations old Congress hall was known as the old courthouse. The building was erect ed as district courthouse, but it was scarcely finished, in 1789, than it was selected as the home of con gress for the ten years dating from 1790. Immediately it was found ne cessary to enlarge the structure.
 After congress departed the build ing was again remodeled, and since that time the structure has been ire quently the subject of improvements, restorations and extensive repairs. For many years back there was a project for restoring the old building to it's original appearance as soon as the courts were provided for else where. Very little action on the plan and less progress was made until very recently. Last year an appropri ation of $60,000 became available and committee of representative citizens was named to accomplish the task.
 The extreme simplicity of the ori- ginal interior of Congress hall as commented upon by visitors prior to