MAYOR’S RECEPTION.

On Friday night there was a brilliant gathering within the beautifully-transformed Guildhall, where the Mayor and Mayoress of Plymouth entertained at a reception hundreds of guests, who included naval and military officers of high rank, the members for Plymouth. Lady Astor, and Sir A. Shirley Benn, the Bishop of Exeter, many American Bishops and preachers, West Country Mayors, and civic and diplomatic representatives.

On Saturday morning there was a conference of an historic and literary character in which various experts in Mayflower and Pilgrim research related to a large audience facts of interest in regard to the lives and achievements of those who formed that great and historic vanguard.

On Saturday afternoon the visitors were provided with varied attractions, such as a swimming gala and steamer excursions, while in the Guildhall there was a Mayflower musical festival, in which 600 voices took part. On Saturday night, in the Guildhall, there was a united religious celebration, presided over by the Mayor. Thousands of persons attended, and a large crowd was unable to obtain even standing room.

The Mayor opened the proceedings, and the first speaker was President L. H. Hough, of the North-western University, America, who raised enthusiasm with his whole-hearted recognition of the debt due by the whole world of democracy to Great Britain for her stand and achievements during the recent war. Lord William Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, urged that we should consider the Pilgrim times and learn what to avoid and what to imitate. The Pilgrims were not only sincere Christians, but had the courage boldly to face the unheard-of dangers of the Atlantic crossing and to found a new colony.