“This reception would be indeed embarrassing did I for a moment regard it in any way as a personal tribute, or other than what you intend it to be, an expression of good will to a humble citizen of a neighboring country,” King began. “My first words must be words of thanks, of gratitude to the many who are represented here, representatives of this city, of this state, and of this country, for the great courtesy extended to the British Empire today in choosing as the day of celebration of a hundred years of peace between the English-speaking peoples, the day of the celebration of the anniversary of your Declaration of Independence, and the new beginning of this country's history.”

Unfortunately for the audience, the rest of the visiting Canadian’s address continued on and on. In extolling the virtues of relations between our two countries, King quoted poets and prayers and more in his very lengthy address.

Fittingly for King, he ended with a prayer.

“In conclusion, my friends, may I not in view of the great possibilities that lie before us, remembering our common aim in the realization of the highest ideals for the future, ask you to join with me in offering up that prayer unites so beautifully the sacred history of antiquity with the current politics of today, and repeat with one accord on this sublime occasion:

'Oh God of Bethel by whose hand ,

Thy people still are fed,

Who through the weary pilgrimage hast all our fathers led,

Our voices, our voice our prayers we now present,

Before Thy throne of grace, God of fathers,

Be thou of their succeeding race.'"

There is no word if a Canadian has since been invited to speak at St. Albans July 4 events.

Happy Independence Day to our American friends from Art’s History.