Then followed the benediction, by Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, of Jewett City, Conn., formerly pastor of the Congregational Church in Southbury: "Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be and abide with us, the descendants of the holy men who settled these pleasant valleys, and with our children, for ever and ever.

Amen."

SECOND DAY.

On the morning of the second day, at eight o'clock, about one thousand persons convened in that sacred dell in the thick woods, on the east side of the Orenaug Rocks, about a mile from the village, which was consecrated by the prayers and praises of the early fathers, and by them called Bethel Rock. This meeting was held for the special purpose of commemorating this most interesting fact in the history of our revered ancestors, and the occasion was one long to be remembered by every devout heart.

Rev. Robert G. Williams, pastor of the old Pioneer Church, opened the meeting by giving out one verse of the hymn commencing

"Be Thou, O God, exalted high,"

which being sung with great solemnity, in the ever welcome air of "Old Hundred," Dea. Eli Summers was called upon to lead in prayer, which he did, after making some feeling and appropriate remarks. Then followed the reading of portions of the 28th and 35th chapters of Genesis, which contain the account of Jacob's setting up a stone to indicate the place where God had talked with him, and naming it his Bethel; which passages occasioned the giving by our fathers of the name of Bethel Rock to this beautifully wild and secluded place of prayer and communion with God. Then followed, in rapid succession, appropriate remarks by Mr. B. H. Andrews of Waterbury, Rev. Anson S. Atwood of Mansfield Centre, Dea. Truman Minor of Woodbury, and Rev. Philo Judson of Rocky Hill. Mr. Judson became much affected while giving reminiscences of the great and good men with whom he had communed in prayer in this sacred retreat, in former years, and who now rest from their labors till the "Great Day of Accounts." Then followed the hymn

"Once more, my soul, the rising day," &c.

Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, late missionary to Ceylon, where he had labored for more than forty years, now led in a beautiful and impressive prayer, after having made the following remarks:

REMARKS OF MR. MEIGS AT THE BETHEL ROCK.

MY FRIENDS! I feel that it is good for us to be here. Here is the place where our Puritan fathers assembled to worship God, before they had any sanctuary built for this purpose, and while their savage foes roamed in these forests. In this beautiful ravine, under these sheltering rocks, by setting a watch on yonder point, they could worship in comparative safety. Hence the name by which this place is known—“ Bethel Rock." Surely the God of Bethel is here this morning. "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” May we not suppose that our pious forefathers are now looking down upon us, while we are gathered together in this consecrated place of worship? With what delight will they behold this assembly, while we pour out our hearts before God in prayer!

We have great encouragement thus to draw near unto him, and to pray for his blessing upon ourselves, upon our children, and our children's children, to the latest generation. He is indeed the hearer and the answerer of prayer. What wonderful illustrations of this great truth has he given to the people of this land within the last two years! How ready is he to hear and answer our prayers! “And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” And again, “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." God is waiting to be gracious, and I feel that we ought not to depart from this hallowed ground this morning, without a special blessing. Let us carry this blessing with us, to our homes. Let us consecrate ourselves anew to the service of God. Let us all henceforth live unto Him, and not to ourselves Then, though we part to meet no more on earth, we shall all meet in yonder world of glory, and sing his praises forever!

A few appropriate remarks by Dea. Judson Blackman were followed by a prayer from Rev. Anson S. Atwood, and the singing of a verse from the ninetieth Psalm. The regular exercises being now closed, a few moments were spent in hearing volunteer remarks, when the audience united in singing the verse, commencing

"Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing."

Then followed the brief concluding prayer, by Rev. Philo Judson, and the benediction by Rev. Austin Isham, of Roxbury, and this solemn and interesting occasion was numbered with the events of the past, an event never to occur again during the life of any soul present at the revered spot. Many lingered, as if unwilling to separate, and many more procured and carried away portions of the rock and moss, to be treasured as sacred mementoes of a hallowed spot, and a sacred scene.

At ten o'clock, a procession was formed in the same order as the first day, with the exception of the "antique" portion of it, which was omitted, and marched to the Tent, escorted by the Band and Warner Light Guards.

The services were opened by music from the Band, followed by the reading of the following

CENTENNIAL HYMN.

BY REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON BACON.

Supposed to be sung on the spot where the Pilgrim Settlers held their first Sabbath Worship.

Here, then, beneath the greenwood shade,

The Pilgrim first his altar made;

'T was here, amid the mingled throng,

First breathed the prayer, and woke the song.

The sun, which lends his gladness now,
Lay bright upon the Pilgrim's brow;
And this same wind, here breathing free,
Curled round his honored head in glee.

How peaceful smiled that Sabbath sun,
How holy was that day begun,
When here, amid the dark woods dim,
Went up the Pilgrims' first low hymn!

Hushed was the stormy forests' roar,
The forest eagle screamed no more;
And far along each blue stream's side,
The small wave murmur'd, where it died.

Look now upon the same still scene,
The wave is blue, the turf is green;

But where are now the wood and wild,
The Pilgrim, and the forest child?

The wood and wild have passed away;
Pilgrim and forest child are clay;

But here, upon their graves, we stand,
The children of that Christian band.

O, while upon this spot we stand,
The children of that Christian band,
Be ours the thoughts we owe this day,
To our great fathers passed away!

By prayer and contemplation led,
Be ours by their brave spirits fed;
Be ours their efforts and their aim,

Their truth, their glory, and their name !

An exceedingly eloquent, fervid, and appropriate prayer was then offered by Rev. Friend W. Smith, Pastor of the Methodist Church in Woodbury, a copy of which, we were unable to obtain, but the following is a brief synopsis of its leading topics:

Acknowledgment of the power and goodness of God, in the creation and preservation of all things. His rightful sovereignty. Our dependence on, and duty of allegiance to him. Confession and deprecation of sin. Recognition of, and thanksgiving for the goodness of God, in his providential and gracious dealings with mankind, especially in redemption by Christ; of his goodness especially to us, as a people; manifested in his care and protection of the Pilgrims, in their passage over the ocean, and in their early settlements. His interposition in our Revolutionary struggle; the appointment of Washington, a man of prayer, as leader of our armies; and in leading a mere handful of undisciplined men to final victory. His guidance of, and providential kindness to the explorers and early settlers of Ancient Woodbury. An earnest prayer for the continuance of his grace and protection to our nation generally, and to this community and their posterity particularly; that he would graciously take away all bitterness and remove all animosities from among us; that while we honor men, as the instruments of our success, we may never forget Him by whose providential care they are guided; and that we may all be enabled so to discharge our duties, that when this assembly shall all meet at the judgment, we may stand acquitted through him who taught us to pray-Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us, this day, our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The choir then sung the following

HYMN.

Tune-"OLD Hundred."

Before Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy ;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and he destroy.

His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and formed us men;
And when, like wandering sheep, we strayed,
He brought us to his fold again.

We are his people, we his care,

Our souls, and all our mortal frame;
What lasting honors shall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to thy name?

We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs;
High as the heaven our voices raise⚫
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.

Wide as the world is thy command;

Vast as eternity thy love;

Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand,

When rolling years shall cease to move.

Then followed a Sermon, by Rev. Henry Beers Sherman, of Belleville, New Jersey, a native of Woodbury:

14