EXERCISES IN THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.

A more appropriate place could not have been selected for the literary exercises of the day than the Old South Meeting House, a building hallowed by association with so many important events in the history of the city. The interior of the building was handsomely decorated with flags and bunting. A large platform was erected on the side where the pulpit formerly stood, upon which the members of the city government and their guests were seated. The audience was accommodated with chairs in the body of the house and in the galleries. The Boston Cadet Band was placed in the first gallery, and played appropriate selections at intervals during the exercises.

At 9 o'clock the Mayor introduced the Rev. GEORGE E. ELLIS,' who offered the following prayer:

PRAYER BY REV. GEORGE E. ELLIS.

Almighty and eternal God! Thou art the Author and the Giver of life; the God of nations and of men; the refuge and hope of all our fleeting generations. We would

Rev. Rufus Ellis, D.D., the seventeenth in the line of succession of the ministers of the First Church of Boston, which is so identified with the first settlement of the town, and now in the twenty-seventh year of his pastorate, was designated as the chaplain for the commemorative services to-day. He being in Europe, his brother was invited to represent in this service the First Church, of which he is himself a member.

acknowledge Thee in all our ways. We would lift a devout and reverent thought to Thee, that we may hallow the memories, the exercises, and the enjoyments of this day. Thou wert the God of our fathers. Their strength and their fidelity came alike from their faith in God, from their reverent obedience of Thy will; from their earnest piety, from their regard for us their children, to a late posterity. We bless Thee for all those guiding and protecting providences of Thine over these passing centuries of time, while these scenes have changed from a wilderness to civilization, to the marts of industry, thrift, and prosperity, and the homes and altars of domestic life! Inheriting the blessing of a wise and faithful ancestry, we would live and act in the reverence of God, in the love and obedience of all Christian truth, in filial regard to Thy holy will in all things. May we leave this fair heritage to those that shall come after us more and more privileged, secure, and happy under Thy guidance and blessing.

We would all, as dependent and trusting children, join in the filial prayer,- Our Father which 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Music followed, and the Mayor then read the following ode, written for the occasion by MARGARET CATHERINE WINSLOW, a descendant of John Winslow, brother of Governor Edward Winslow: