ner. Selections from the Scriptures were then read, followed by an anthem from the choir, who displayed much skill in the performance.

The officiating clergyman, Rev. JAMES H. MEANS, of Dorchester, then offered a fervent prayer, in which he invoked the divine blessing on the venerable institution which they had met to honor.

The following hymn, written for the occasion by MATURIN M. BALLOU, music arranged from Weber by DAVID PAINE, was then

sung:

Devout in deed and word,

O Lord, we bend to Thee;
The olive branch and sword
Entwined e'er should be.
The buckler and the spear

The Christian hand may wield;

But be Thou ever near,

To counsel and to shield.

In armed ranks we kneel,
And ask Thy favor now;
Stronger than helm of steel

Thy blessing on our brow.
Time-honored is our name,

And fitting 'tis that prayer
Should hallow martial fame,
And pæans fill the air.

In lane or tented field,

The Christian's cross and sword

Together let us wield,

With freedom our watchword.

No tyrant's hireling slaves,

Brothers and soldiers we;
Our numbers like the waves,

Our soul one like the sea.

The Reverend Orator then delivered the Annual Sermon, selecting his text from Job viii. 8-10, as follows:

"For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers.

"Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?"

It was a very beautiful and suggestive production, and cannot fail of producing good results, and making better citizens and purer patriots of all who may read it.

At the conclusion of the Sermon, the Choir sung an anthem, and the exercises closed with a benediction. The line was then re-formed in front of the church, and soon after took up their line of march to Faneuil Hall, where the Dinner Festivities were to be enjoyed.

THE DINNER AT FANEUIL HALL.

The Company, with their invited guests to the number of three or four hundred, arrived at the old "Cradle of Liberty" at one o'clock. The floor of the Hall was filled by the tables, and every plate appeared to be occupied. The Dinner was provided by Messrs. Howard and Gregory, and was set in excellent style, comprising all the delicacies and luxuries of the season.

The attendance of men of eminence in the civil walks of life was uncommonly large, and everything promised a Festival, for interest and importance, such as had not occurred for several years. Col. Wilder occupied the chair. On his

right were seated His Excellency Governor Gardner, with Lieutenant Colonels French, Bates and Walcott, his aids-decamp, and Adjutant General Stone, all in full military uniform; while on his left, were Rev. Mr. Means of of Dorchester, the Chaplain of the Day; Franklin Pierce, ex-President of the United States; His Honor Mayor Rice; Hon. Arthur W. Austin, Collector of the Port; General Samuel Chandler; Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr.; and Col. Stephen Fairbanks.

Among the guests in the body of the Hall were ex-Mayor Smith; Lt. Governor Benchley; Hon. Mr. Phelps, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Hon. Mr. Stedman, of the Executive Council; Hon. Mr. Frothingham; Col. C. G. Greene, Naval Officer; Mr. Stevens, President of the Common Council; Purser Slamm, United States Navy; High Sheriff Clark; Chief of Police Coburn; Members of the City Government, and others holding offices of public trust. After all were seated, Col. Wilder, the Commander, called the audience to order, and introduced the Chaplain of the Day, who offered prayer. This being over, the luxuries with which the tables were occupied were carried by storm, and the clash of steel and the voices of the assailants rose loud and long, till the wreathing cigar-smoke which accompanied the last scene of the conflict, gave evidence that the struggle was at an end. The caterers, Messrs. Howard and Gregory, had made the defences of their tables all that could be desired, but nothing was left them at the close, beside the knowledge that their best and noblest had gone down, never to rise again.

Three-quarters of an hour were spent in a vigorous onslaught upon the array set before the company, at the expiration of which time they were called to order by the Commander, who spoke as follows:

THE COMMANDER'S ADDRESS.

Gentlemen of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company:

I rise at this early moment to announce that the orders of the day demand promptness and dispatch. I would not, however, interrupt your festive entertainment, or cut short the rations of any of this company. I beg you, therefore, to continue the battle in which you are now so valiantly engaged, without the least solicitude for me; for I am an old soldier, and not easily alarmed by the report of musketry, or by the clashing of steel. (Laughter and applause.) Thus by an advance march, we shall gain time for the roar of the heavier artillery of His Excellency the Commander in Chief, and other distinguished heroes who have honored us with their presence. (Cheers.)

Gentlemen: Two hundred and nineteen years ago, Robert Keayne received from John Winthrop, then Governor of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, the charter of this Company. During that period, the representatives of seven entire generations have been enrolled in this Corps, have performed their share of active service, and have been summoned from our ranks to their final review. In that period how many institutions and kingdoms have risen, flourished, and gone to decay! But this Company "still lives," and we meet to-day to rejoice in its prosperity, and to transmit to those who shall come after us its standard and its renown. (Applause.)

The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston was the first regularly organized company in America, the germ of the

military system of New England, if not of the United States; and to its example in former years are to be ascribed the efficiency and superiority of our militia. For nearly a century and a half, this Company furnished almost the only military school in the country. From it were derived many of the officers who led our forces to victory in the various colonial and national wars, and who made our arms renowned throughout the civilized world. (Cheers.) Many of the early members of this Company were able defenders of civil liberty and pillars in the church of Christ, uniting with a piety pure and sublime a high degree of military skill and valor. This union, it is one object of our Anniversary to preserve, associating as it does religious rites with our military parade, maintaining the honor of our Company and transmitting to posterity the true sentiments of its venerable founders. The influence for good of more than two hundred sermons preached on its Anniversaries, discussing the various relations of revealed religion to the art of war as a means of national defence, it is impossible to calculate.

This Company, as you well know, Gentlemen, is the American descendant of an English parent, the Honorable Artillery Company of London, now under the command of his Royal Highness Prince ALBERT, its Field Marshal and Captain General. (Enthusiastic applause.) That Company was organized as far back as 1537, in the 28th year of the reign of Henry VIII. In the time of Queen Elizabeth, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and all the commanding and commissioned officers of the realm belonged to that Company, and it was by their care that the militia in most parts of the country were put in a good state for active service. In the reign of James I., or in 1662, the battalion was greatly enlarged, consisting of about 6,000 men. It has been commanded by Charles II., James II., George IV., and many of the most distinguished Sovereigns of England. In the reviews of the national troops, it has been assigned the right of the line, a post of peculiar honor. It has been considered as auxiliary to the established force of the city of London and the realm, and has continued, "from its earliest