HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



9 



Vice-President of the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 Club, occupied the head of one of the tables, and 

 Benjamin G. Smith, Esq., Vice-President of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, presided at 

 the other. Colonel Wilder, whose entrance was 

 greeted with prolonged applause, occupied the seat 

 of honor. 



The venerable George W. Blagden, D.D., at the re- 

 quest of the President, invoked a blessing in the following 

 words : — 



Our Father who art in heaven, we worship 

 Thee as the God of whom it is declared in Thy 

 Word that " There is one Lawgiver." Thou hast 

 ordained, and dost continually uphold in their oper- 

 ation, those laws of nature and of providence in the 

 workings of which, as we obey and use them. Thou 

 givest us, day by day, our daily bread. Thou hast 

 thus left not Thyself without a witness, in "that Thou 

 hast done good, and given us rain from heaven, and 

 fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and glad- 

 ness." And Thou hast assured us that every creature 

 of Thine is good, and nothing to be refused if it be 

 received with thanksgiving, and is sanctified by Thy 

 word, and by prayer. Help us, now, to receive Thy 

 gifts before us with thanksgiving, and to sanctify them 

 by Thy word and by prayer. 



