ADDRESSES 



AT THE 



PPENING OF THE NEW BUILDING, DEC, 22, 1877. 



PRAYER BY REV. WM. ADAMS, D. D. 



Almighty God, our Father in heaven, taught to acknowl- 

 edge Thee in all our ways, we would begin, continue, and 

 end these services with worshipping Thee as the maker of the 

 heavens and the earth. The heavens declare Thy glory, and 

 the firmament showeth Thy handiwork. Day unto day utter- 

 eth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge; though 

 their testimony concerning Thee is not in audible language, 

 yet their line is gone out through all the earth, and their 

 words unto the end of the world. 



While sun, moon, and stars proclaim thine eternal wisdom 

 and power, we bless Thee for the more explicit revelation 

 Thou hast given of Thyself, in Thy word, and in the person 

 of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. With all this light shining upon us, 

 we thank Thee that Thou hast endowed us with rational facul- 

 ties, capable of studying Thy word and thy works, promising 

 to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of 

 Thyself. 



We thank Thee for the Institution in whose interest 

 we are now assembled, designed to collect those objects 

 which reflect upon us the proof of Thy creative wisdom, in 

 forms which awaken delight and devotion ; the cedar which 

 groweth on Lebanon, and the hyssop which springeth out of 

 the wall, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, all creep- 

 ing things, the treasures hid in the sand, and whatsoever pass- 

 eth through the paths of the sea. May these halls be consecra- 

 ted not to vain show and idle curiosity, but to true science 

 and a devout study of the works and ways of God. 



Thanking Thee for all which is done for the external dec- 

 oration of the City in which we dwell, may its inhabitants 



