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EVENING SESSION.
The Congress was called to
order by President Bonner at 8 o'clock.
Rev. Dr. Jones, of Atlanta,
led in prayer as follows:
We would recognize thee, O
God, in all we do and in all we say, and we would humbly invoke thy
presence and thy blessing as we gather in this meeting this evening. We
thank thee, O God, for the brave men and fair women, for the true men and
pure women with whom thou hast blessed the world, and we thank thee for
the many of the sturdy race here represented, and for all that they have
done in the cause of justice and right and progress and civilization in
the world; and we pray that the representatives to-day may be worthy of
their fathers who have gone before, and may these gatherings be blessed of
the Lord, in cementing ties that shall bind together every section of our
common country, burying the bitter memories of the stormy past, and
bringing men together for the great interests of our country and of
humanity. God bless our land with fruitful seasons and plenteous harvests
and business prosperity, but above all make us in reality as well as in
name that people whose God is Jehovah; and now, Lord, meet with us this
evening, be with those who shall speak, and with those who shall hear, and
bless the coming of these representative men to our city, and grant that
they may leave behind hallowed influences, and may carry with them
recollections that shall bless the world. Hear us and answer us, sanctify
and save us, we beg for Christ, our Redeemer's sake. Amen.
President Bonner:
Ladies and gentlemen: Over
fifty years ago, when I was a boy in a printing office in Hartford, Conn.,
the three great men of this country were Clay, Webster, and Calhoun. It
gives me not merely great but I should say extraordinary pleasure to have
the privilege of introducing to you the Hon. Patrick Calhoun, a grandson
of the great statesman, John C. Calhoun, who is known to possess the great
oratorical powers that have characterized his distinguished family.
(For Mr. Calhoun's address,
see Part II., page 136.)
President Bonner:
Maj. Charles W. Hubner, the
well-known journalist of Atlanta, has written a poem especially for this
occasion, and will now read it to us. [Applause.]
(For Maj. Hubner's poem,
see page 248.)
President Bonner:
We will now have the
pleasure of listening for a few minutes to an address by Mr. Helm Bruce,
of Louisville, the accomplished Secretary of the Scotch-Irish Society of
Kentucky. [Applause.]
(For Mr. Bruce's address,
see Part II., page 240.) |
