The Ottawa Free Trader

THE NATAL DAY.

The Centennial Celebration in Ottawa.

Tuesday marked the last day of the first century of the existence of the American government under the constitution, and although hastily thrown together at a late hour, the arrangements for the observance of the day in this city were perfected with the usual push of our public-spirited citizens and the celebration of the day here was a very creditable affair.

It opened in three institutions at nine o'clock in the morning. In two the voices raised asked God's blessing on a land of freedom, and in the other the voices were those of the embryo men and women of the coming era in our principal free school. The services at Christ church were as nearly identical with those used by Bishop Provoost at St. Paul's chapel, New York City, upon the day of the inauguration of the first president of the nation, in 1789, as the offices in St. Paul's would indicate, and were substantially the same. The Te Deum, the forty-eighth psalm and prayers made up the ritualistic portion of the service, and Rev. Mr. Edwards delivered an impressive sermon upon "Washington and his Reverence for and Trust in God." Mr. Edwards said that Washington was the greatest and noblest man who had ever placed foot upon the American continent. A great statesman, a great soldier, a great philosopher, he was greater still in his love of freedom in that he would not be a king, leaving to every American citizen the right of kingship. In all acts of his life Washington exhibited great wisdom. Could it have been possible that this great man who was wise in all things else had erred in religion? Men have asked for a century, where did this man acquire his great strength of intellect? and in looking over the pages of his life it is easily answered. He gained it from Almighty God. A people—great in territory and great in wealth—are proud to say, "these are the works of my hands and I alone are responsible for them"; but remember the nations that have risen and fallen and the influence of God was not far distant. The sermon, partly eulogistic and partly scriptural, of which the above is the merest digest, was an able effort. The G. A. R. attended the service in a body. A large American flag, draped from the center to the right of the arch of the chancel, gave the house a national aspect, in sympathy with the splendid sermon of the pastor.

AT THE SCHOOLS.

The more elaborate school service was held at the High School, to which a flag was presented by Capt. T. C. Fullerton in behalf of the semi-military societies. The exercises opened with the march of Columbia and the original thirteen States, represented by fourteen handsome young lady pupils, dressed in white, each wearing a sash bearing the name of the state represented, with the date of its signing the constitution. The sole fault of the young ladies was that they looked chilly, but one of them assured the F. T. man that their attire was simply stifling in its warmth. In a neat speech Capt. T. C. Fullerton presented the school a full sized American flag, twelve by twenty-two feet, with the suggestion that it float above the school, on an appropriate flag staff upon all occasions of national import. The march of the remaining States, represented by young ladies and gentlemen with banners, was an interesting event. After the singing of national anthems and exercises by the pupils, the morning closed with a well timed address by Mr. J. B. Ruger who impressed the greatness of America and her citizenship upon the minds of the pupils and parents present in a terse and vigorous style.

In the seven city public schools the exercises were arranged as object lessons for the pupils upon the greatness of their country and the duty of the American citizen toward his native land. Wherever possible the pupils of two rooms were seated in one and the exercises of both rooms combined, but in a few cases where classes were very large, this was abandoned. The exercises as a rule consisted of recitations, the singing of national hymns, and addresses by trustees and teachers.