PROCEEDINGS

AT THE

CHURCH,

AND AT THE

CITY HALL.

ON the day appointed for the celebration the arrangements made by the committee were fully carried into effect. The weather was delightfully pleasant. At 10 o'clock the invited guests assembled in the Aldermen's room, at the City Hall, where were also convened the members of the City Government; and at half past ten, a procession was formed by HENRY J. TAYLOR, Esq., marshal of the day, which marched to the First Christian Church, on Purchase street, in the following order.

New Bedford Brass Band.

Marshal.

Common Council of New Bedford.
Clerk of the Common Council.
Board of Aldermen.
City Clerk.

Selectmen of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, and Acushnet.
Town Clerks.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Christian Conference. Invited Guests.

Mayor of New Bedford.

Orator, Poet, and Officiating Clergymen.

The proceedings at the church were in accordance with the order of exercises given above. The addresses by His Honor the Mayor and WILLIAM W. CRAPO, and the poem by JAMES B. CONGDON, will be found in their appropriate places in this publication. They were listened to by one of the largest and most respectable audiences ever collected in the city. The church was filled to its utmost capacity; and although the exercises occupied more than two hours, no evidence of weariness was exhibited on the part of the large gathering.

At the conclusion of the exercises at the church, the procession was re-formed and marched to the City Hall; and at two o'clock P. M. a large company of invited guests, and others from the city and the sister towns, sat down to a collation that had been provided.

Due attention having been given to the "creature comforts," Mayor Howland called the assembly to order. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present on the occasion, and invited their attention to the sentiments to be announced by the toast-master, and the responses which were expected.

C. B. H. FESSENDEN, Esq., who acted as toast-master, then announced the first sentiment.

"The President of the United States-honest and faithful Abraham Lincoln."

Hon. THOMAS D. ELIOT, representative from the first Congressional District, was called upon to respond to this sentiment, which he did in a most earnest and eloquent

manner.

The second toast was,

"The Governor of Massachusetts-sound in head and heart; true to the State, careful of its interests, jealous for its honor, tender of its citizens, and true to the nation, the sovereign and safeguard of the State."

The Hon. ROBERT C. PITMAN, state senator, made a beautiful and impressive response to this sentiment.

Mr. Fessenden then gave.

"The Army and Navy-more than sympathy, all honor to the brave and gallant soldiers and sailors, the true peacemakers, who, by their heroism in suffering and exploit, have added to the nation's glory, and through whose noble deeds we have assurance of the nation's safety."

Rev. WILLIAM J. POTTER, late chaplain in the United States army, spoke feelingly and forcibly of the deeds of the soldiers and sailors in the service of the country. In concluding his remarks he proposed the following sentiment.

"The free church, the free school, and the free ballot, we would defend and spread throughout the land, and open to all the inhabitants thereof."

The toast-master then read a letter from Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, who had been invited, expressing his inability to be present,

and requesting Ex-Governor Clifford to respond for the society of which he is a member.

The toast-master also, in this connection, alluded to the fact that in 1740, Dartmouth attempted something like a peaceable secession, and read the following extract from the ancient records of the town.

"Stephen West Jr. and Beriah Goddard are chosen agents in behalf of this town to apply to the honored court of Commissioners for the settling the line between Rhode Island and the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and to show forth our desire and absolute right to come under the jurisdiction of the Colony of Rhode Island.

It was put to vote, whether it be the town's mind to come under the government of Rhode Island, and it past by a very clear vote."

Fortunately, added Mr. Fessenden, this early attempt at secession failed to be consummated. But when he remembered that our distinguished townsman, who was called upon to respond for the Historical Society of Massachusetts, was a native of Rhode Island, had early in lite removed to Old Dartmouth, and had served the Commonwealth of his adoption so acceptably, both as its chief Law Officer and as the head of its Government, he thought we might say, that although Dartmouth did not go to Rhode Island, the best part of Rhode Island came to Dartmouth—and gave as a sentiment:

"Our gain by this failure-one of Massachusetts' ablest Attorney Generals, and one of her purest Chief Magistrates."

To this sentiment Ex-Governor CLIFFORD was called upon by the Mayor to respond, and was received with cordial cheers.

He commenced by saying, that on behalf of the Massachusetts Historical Society, of which he believed he was the only member residing within the limits of the old town of Dartmouth, he desired to express his thanks to the committee for their courtesy in asking that the society might be represented upon this occasion. It was the oldest organization of the kind in this country-and the well-filled