The garden city presented a holiday appearance this morning on the occasion of the dedication services of the new academy building. Visitors have been arriving since yesterday morning and today the street leading to the Union Pacific and Rio Grande Western depots was crowded with old and new students of the academy. Promptly at 11:30 a column was formed at the depot, composed of the students of the Brigham Young Academy, which was headed by the Provo City brass band. At 12 o'clock the procession reached the new building and filed in two by two. The large assembly room upstairs was filled. On the stand was noticed Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and Smith, Apostles Richards and Lyman, Doctors Maeser and Talmadge, Professor Cluff, A. O. Smoot, Mayor Dusenberry and brother, faculties of the Latter-day Saints College of Salt Lake, and Brigham Young College of Logan, and many others.

At 12:45 p.m. President A. O. Smoot called the vast assemblage to order, and announced the opening hymn by the choir, which was sung to the tune of "Pilgrim's Chorus."

Introductory prayer, Apostle F. M. Lyman.

After the excellent rendered anthem, "Let All Nations Bow Before Thee," by the choir under the leadership of Professor Giles, President Woodruff, who was appointed to deliver the dedicatory prayer stated that in consequence of feeble health he had deemed it best to decline and would call upon his councilor, President George Q. Cannon, who offered the dedicatory prayer, and was followed by Principal K. G. Maeser who read his address, because he thought the occasion so momentous that he could not control his feelings. During the speech of the doctor, which was delivered, very pathetically, there was scarcely a dry eye in the building.

President A. O. Smoot said: My heart swells with gratitude as I look upon this assemblage. I have been watching the academy since its commencement and its reverses and successes I have taken an almost fatherly concern in. Its graduates are known throughout all Utah and its surroundings. The prospect for the academy is very flattering for the future. The old walls of the academy were very dear to me. The old walls will be remembered with gratitude by many a Brigham Young academy student. We are prepared to accommodate 600 students. We have the furniture and all the appliances. We feel that the present academic year will not close with less than that number. I ask the people here to-day not for their gold and silver, but for their faith and assistance. I have spent many a sleepless night for the academy. I feel confident that the success of the Brigham Young Academy is assured. It will never go backward but onward. [Applause.] My association with Dr. Maeser has not been limited. I have spent many an hour with him and feel that in his retirement he has a greater field of usefulness in which to labor. May his mantle fall upon his successor, Benjamin Cluff, with becoming dignity.

Song by the Glee club.

D. C. Young, architect of the building, said: I feel proud of the work done on this building. It speaks volumes for the industry and perseverance of those who have contributed. As to the building itself, I can say I have worked faithfully for your comfort. We have the latest modern improvement for heating the building. The air cannot become vitiated. By pressing a button cold air can be sent in in volumes. By pressing another the building may be perfumed, and these improvements will greatly enhance the adaptability of the building for school purposes. It is impossible for a teacher to get mathematics into the head of a man breathing foul air. The building is ready for use from now on.

Governor Arthur L. Thomas said: I am very much pleased to have this opportunity of meeting with the people of Provo and Utah county on this interesting occasion. When an institution of learning is erected by a people for a certain community, the erection of the same may be justly regarded as a sign of progress of the people of that community. We may well congratulate ourselves that we live in a land that is distinguished from all other lands by those attributes that make a happy and prosperous people. Our land is a happy land; a land where education is fostered; a land which is constantly exerting a powerful influence for good upon its citizens. How grandly imposing is the spectacle of 60,000,000 [sic] of people marching to the tune of progress. I think the building just erected reflects great credit upon its promoters. Let us hope that before the close of this Brigham Young academy there will open long years of prosperity, that its men and women who gather within its walls may go forth aoing backward to 1876, when Dr. K. F. Maeser took charge of the academy, I will endeavor to give a short review of the Brigham Young Academy. Chancellor D. H. Wells came to me and made a request that the school I was principal of be transferred to the Lewis building, owned by President Brigham Young. The furniture was at that time considered very good. The desks had paint on them and I know they were solid, for I made them myself. We conducted school for four years; we were very much embarrassed financially; the country was full of wheat and carrots; the teachers got tired; they saw that it was a matter of time when they would be compelled to resign. In 1875 we vacated the building and in a few weeks received an invitation from President Young. He desired to give me means and found an institution for the people of Utah. He requested me to take the necessary steps to prepare the articles of a trust deed. I considered the matter favorably and did what he told me. The expression that Brigham Young was an enemy to education was false; no man ever fostered education more than he. I had the support of the church authorities in this matter. We are assembled here in a building whose memory will last longer than any bronze. We all bear honor to that name, and future generations will revere his memory as the memory of its great founder.

Benjamin Cluff, principal of the Brigham Young Academy, said: In accepting the principalship of the academy I am not unmindful of the great responsibility that rests upon me. My worthy predecessor has laid a foundation broad and deep, and with the support of the people, of the faculty and all concerned, I trust that those who have expectations will not be disappointed. The colors of the Brigham Young Academy have been nailed to the mast. In the introduction of the military department we hope to develop the physical portion of the students. With the help of you, with the help of the faculty and with the help of the spirit of God, I shall endeavor to carry out the purpose for which it was intended along the lines mapped out by its great founder.

President Woodruff said: I feel to thank God that I have been permitted to see this day. Brigham Young is now mingling with the good men who have gone before and with their God. That God inspired Brother Smoot; that God helped its teachers, and that God will always help those who attend. Don't fail to instruct your children at home. You will be held responsible for your children. It is the duty of these teachers to also teach the children the principles of their religion. It is honor to this Territory to do what has been done here.

George Q. Cannon said: I look upon this day as a "red letter" day in the history of Utah and especially of Utah county. I hope that the students of this academy will not fall into the error of imagining that men who are not educated are not as worthy of as much respect. I have seen young men shuffling uneasily in their seats when they listen to a man who cannot talk grammatically. Some of these men can teach college professors. Brigham Young, as he once told me, never had but eleven days' schooling in his life; yet he was one of the greatest men of his age and a man who will be remembered as long as this Territory which he founded. Do not let your minds become narrow because you have had an opportunity of getting a college education. God bless this institution, its pupils, its faculty.

President J. F. Smith then offered the following sentiment: "I think that when the roll of honor shall be unfurled connected with this institution and we come to look upon the most honored names that shall be inscribed, next to the shining name that heads the list -- the honored name of Brigham Young -- we shall see the name of A. O. Smoot."

After singing by the choir, benediction was pronounced by Apostle F. D. Richards.