introduction. The hall itself has been the scene of many great addresses, and many interesting civic events, in Chicago, starting with the nomination of President Harrison in 1888. It seats about forty-five hundred people, but the application for seats exceeded the capacity some two or three times. Sections were reserved for the City Council, the County Commissioners, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Women's Relief Corps, the various patriotic societies, the Consular Corps of Chicago, and the Committee of One Hundred, which attended in a body. The boxes were occupied by the various officers of the Army and Navy, and of the Illinois National Guard; and by representatives of the Legislature, the Supreme Court, and the Executive branch of the Government. The setting was perfect for a great meeting, and the speaker rose to the occasion, carrying his audience with him in waves of enthusiasm. When Chairman Calhoun requested that the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic be allowed to march out prior to the dismissal of the meeting-which they did, carrying their banners and flags, and dipping their colors as they passed in review before General Grant, the son of their old commander-there was scarcely a dry eye in the house.

At the meeting in the Seventh Regiment Armory, on the afternoon of February 12, over three thousand people listened to the inspiring speech of Hon. J. A. Macdonald, editor of The Toronto Globe, receiving its masterly periods with rounds of applause. The meeting was appropriately presided over, and the speech of introduction made, by Hon. Frank Hamlin, a son of Hannibal Hamlin, Vice-President under Lincoln.

No less enthusiastic was the appreciation accorded Edwin Erle Sparks, President of the Pennsylvania State College, who spoke on the afternoon of the twelfth, in Battery B Armory, under the auspices of the First Cavalry and Battery B, Illinois National Guard. Hon. Charles H. Wacker was Chairman of the meeting, and introduced the speaker. President Sparks was formerly Professor of American History in the University of Chicago, and has edited an edition

1

of "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates" for the Illinois Historical Society.

Dr. Emil G. Hirsch, Minister of Sinai Congregation, Chicago, and Professor of Rabbinical Literature and Philosophy at the University of Chicago, gave an eloquent address to an overflowing and appreciative audience at the Second Regiment Armory, under the auspices of the Second Infantry, Illinois National Guard. He was introduced by Hon. Stephen S. Gregory, who acted as Chairman.

Perhaps the most remarkable meeting of the week was that held for the colored people on the evening of the twelfth, in the Seventh Regiment Armory under the auspices of the Eighth Infantry (colored), Illinois National Guard, and the Colored Citizens' Committee. Ten or twelve thousand colored people gathered there to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of their emancipator. Although the meeting was set for eight o'clock, the people began to arrive in the afternoon, and, long before the hour set, the crowds were massed in the street. Colonel John R. Marshall, of the Eighth Infantry, made a short speech as Chairman pro tem., followed by Rev. A. J. Carey, who made the speech of introduction. The three other speakers at this meeting were the Rev. J. W. E. Bowen, President of Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia; the Hon. William J. Calhoun, President of the Lincoln Memorial Committee of One Hundred, and now Ambassador to China; and Nathan William MacChesney, Secretary of the Lincoln Memorial Committee, present to extend the greetings of the City of Chicago to its colored citizens. The meeting was a most unusual one, and perhaps nowhere in the limits of the city was the Lincoln Centenary observed with such feeling, such enthusiasm, such exaltation and homage.

In addition to this meeting, there were hundreds of others throughout the city, of vivid interest and far-reaching influ

ence.

Dr. Charles J. Little, President of Garrett Biblical Institute, spoke at the Northwestern University Building, which stands upon the site of the old Tremont House. From the

WHEREAS, February 12, 1909, is the One Hundredth Anniversary

of the birth of ABRAHAM LINCOLN; and

WHEREAS, There is a universal desire that on that day his memory should be honored by the nation which he helped preserve, and especially by that State in which he lived;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Fred A. Busse, Mayor of the City of Chicago, by virtue of a resolution passed by the Honorable, the City Council of Chicago, do hereby proclaim the week February 7-14, 1909, LINCOLN CENTENNIAL WEEK,

the

In order that this anniversary shall be appropriately observed,

I do most earnestly urge the citizens of Chicago to dedicate that week to the study of the life and words of President Lincoln.

In particular do I call upon the citizens of Chicago to assemble on February 12th in such places as shall be designated, to celebrate Lincoln's character, sacrifice and service to the Republic, to the end that a deepened sense of his loyalty to the Constitution, of his faith in the principles of democracy, and of his devotion to moral ideals shall inspire anew our own civic life.

balcony of this old hotel, Lincoln delivered his first reply to Douglas; and it was here that the Lincoln delegation had its headquarters, and did the tireless planning which resulted in his nomination. It was here, too, that Vice-President Hamlin first met Lincoln, on November twenty-third, 1860, in response to a letter from him, after their election. In the Northwestern University Law School, located in this building, the General Committee held most of its meetings.

The President of the Chicago Public Library Board, Bernard J. Cigrand, spoke at a meeting held at Memorial Hall, Chicago Public Library Building. It was through his untiring efforts as a member of the general Committee, that meetings were held in practically every public and private library of Chicago. In addition to these meetings, the Illinois Naval Reserves marched through the streets to Lincoln Park, where the statue of Lincoln by Saint-Gaudens is located; and, at twelve o'clock, noon, a presidential salute of twenty-one guns was fired, in the presence of a great throng of school children, who sang patriotic songs.

No banquet was included in the programme of the general Committee, but many dinners were given in honor of the Centenary. The leading one, on the Centennial day itself, was that under the auspices of the Industrial Club in the "gold room" of the Congress Hotel. Mason B. Starring, President of the Club, acted as toastmaster. Among those who responded to toasts with brief speeches in honor of Lincoln, were Maj.-Gen. Frederick Dent Grant, U. S. A., son of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who carried out, in the field, the policies Lincoln planned in the White House, proving the strongest bulwark of the administration; and Gen. Smith D. Atkins, the editor of The Freeport Daily Journal, and a contemporary and personal acquaintance of Lincoln.

The Chicago Bar Association gave a banquet in honor of the Centenary, on the preceding evening, at which there were a number of speakers who gave personal reminiscences of Lincoln. Three of the important speeches of the evening were delivered by Hon. John C. Richberg, John T. Richards, Esq., and Hon. William G. Ewing, fellow-members of the Illinois