Year: 1865

II


OPENING AT SPEAKERS STAND BY REV
Mr.. BARNITZ.


i The ceremonies at the speakers stan'


were opened by Rev. S. B. Barnitz, O


the English Lutheran Church, who said
We are assembled to-day not only t,


call to remembrance the deeds of on


forefathers,--not only to rejoice and bt
| glad on account of the liberties which


their blood has bought for us-not only


to rejoice and be glad OH account of the


preservation of those liberties through


the crisis of rebellion aud war; but alsC


to do honor to the noble dead, as we'll as


the noble living who are with us.


Without any further remarks we will


proceed to carry out the regular pro-
gramme.


Music by the Second Veteran Infantry


band, when this cruel war is over"
| PRAYER BY REV. DR.. MARTIN.
| Mr. Barnitz introduced Rev. A Martin,
Pastor of the Fourth street NJ. E, Church,
who addressed the Throne of Grace in
the following supplication:


| Almighty God, we adore Thee as the
author of our being, the source of every
blessing and the judge of all men. We
humbly desire on this most memorable
occasion to invoke the aid of Thy Holy
Spirit while we address the Throne of
Grace We rejoice that it is our privil-
eye to acknowledge Thee in all our ways
| and for the assurance that. in so doing,
ThOu wilt direct our step,


We render thanks to Thee for that care
and providence which led to the discov-
cry and settlement of this good land, and
for the wonderful protection and con-
tinued strength granted by Thee to the
infant Colonies. We praise Thee for
that great deliverance through which, in
times that tried mems souls, Thou didst
raise up the people of these United
States to independence and an honorable
name and place among the nations OF
the earth. o, Lord, We bless Thee for
all that mighty progress and prosperity
which thus far has marked the material,
intellectual, social and religious life of
this great nation. We would not assem-
BILE merely to do homage to the honored
instruments through whom these bles-
sings, more than we can number and in
fnitely more than we are deserving,
have been lavished on us. We wOuld
magnify that glorious Providence which,
through them, gave form and direction
to our happy destiny, and, in the midst
of many and great dangers, has brought
us to this hour. Here would we raise
our Ebenezer. Hitherto hath the Lord
helped u.s. Glory be to Thee, o Lord,
Most High.


We would especially, at this time, de-
sire to call upon our souls and all that is
within us, to laud and magnify Thy
name for the great aud marvellous vic.
tory which Thou hast recently granted
us over these wicked and seditiOus men
who sought the destruction of the ma
tion's life and the overthrow of its in
fuence for ,goodSn the world. We az
knowledge and bewail our sins on ac
count of which Thou didst hide Thy face
and permit this heavy trial and calamity
to befall us o, Lord We have sinned,
both we and our rulers. in failing To re-
cOgnize and improve Thy mercies as we
should have done, in profaning thy name,
desecrating Thy Sabbaths and too fire.
quently dishonoring Thee in the charac
ter of those elected to enact, interpret
and execute our laws Our falsehood,
fraud and lust, our pride, oppression and
intsmperance have called long and loud
for Thy displeasure. 1t is of Thy mercy
we are not consumed We pray that we
may be duly sensible of the demerit of
these our misdoings, and that forsaking
our sins We may with hearty repentance
and true faith turn to Thee who hast thus
permitted Ills to be so sorely smtten and
who alone can heal us.


We bless Thee that there is mercy with
Thee, that thou mayest be feared, and for
the many tokens of that mercy of which
we have been the unworthy and yet
highly favored recipients. We bless
Thee for the illustrious and noble states
men, patriots and warriors, whom, i'll the
hour of darkness and adversity, Thou
didst raise up, qualify and appoint for
the suppression of treason and the de
tense of freedom, righteousness and
truth. We bless Thee for the wisdom -.
their eounscls, and the heroic skill i At!
valor of their arms, which, on land and
sea, at length has brought us victory and
peace We give glory to Thee, . Lord
Most High, for the lofty and Intelligent
patriotism which so generally and gen
erously stirred the hearts young and
old, of men and women, and which i'll the
moment of supreme decision led to the
speedy establishment, equipment and
performance of such armies and navies as
the world never witnessed, and which
oyerflowed in Soldiers Aid Societies, and
Christian, Sanitary and kindred Com
missions.


We bless Thee that so many of these,
our fathers, sons and brothers, who.
taking their lives in their hands SO man
fully stood up for the imperilled life of
the nation, have, amid the fatigue, prl-
walton and danger of the camp, the
march, the battle field and hospital, been
spared to return to us in triumph, having
with such unselfish and sublime devotion
maintained the honor of their flag, aud
caused to be respected the laws of their
land. And whilst we mourn the multi
tude 80 foully murdered by this most iD-
iQuitous rebellion, We would on this
auspicious day lay the foundation of a
monument which in a measure may ex-
press our gratitude, and to the latest
generations preserve the memory Uf their
exalted worth. Great Architect of Earth
and Heaven, do Thou smile upon aud SUI
perintend this enterprise Preserve from
evil all who may be connected with it
BY Thy blessing may it attain to speedy
and worthy consummation. May the
associations which cluster around this
day and this monument ever serve tn re-
call the duties of self-denial, patriotism
and public virtue, and thus may our chill