Occurring in the midst of the Civil War, Brown’s centennial celebration was subdued, but still “interesting and impressive” according to historian Walter Bronson. Spectators enjoyed a review of the University’s history by President Sears, a number of distinguished speakers and an ode written by Bishop George Burgess, Class of 1826, followed by a dinner for 700. A centennial poem by John Hay, Class of 1858, began:

“A hundred times the bells of Brown
Have rung to sleep the idle summers,
And still today clangs clamoring down
A greeting to the welcome comers.”