Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-01
May Festival at HOpedaIs.
HorEDALE, milford, Mass..) Z
MAY 10th, 1850. (

May 10th, 1850.
DRAn OLrvnR am in the Hopcdale Temple,
school-house, Meeting house, or whatever 9TH
or name It has, which, as Adm Ballou just in
forms me, is dedicated to whatever II is right
to do in Heaven or Earth. Good 1 like that,
and wish all public buildings were dedicated to
the same. 1t is o'clock, p. NJ, and the men,
women, children and infants, with bright faces
and joyous hearts, arc gathering into this house
from every kitchen, bedroom and parlor in the
Community. 1t is their Annual May Festival
great occasion to all here, and justly so, for
It is jubilee of happy hearts and strong heads.
The exercises Of the occasion are now being
opened BY a sweet piece Of music, played by
0and belonging to the Community. Tho music
Is sweet and rural, and comes from the heart,
and It reaches the heart. Indeed one can hard
ly keep still under its inspiring power What
may not music do for this world, especially in
the education of children And the children
are all here with their parents to be magnetised
by the delicious melody. Their eyes do shine
as they listen. Indeed, think the sccnc-tho
decorations of the room, and the flow of sympa-
thy--would mako the sleepiest eyes shine
brightly.
am writing on a desk in one corner, where
1 can overlook the whole. At my right hand,
on the desk, is a large Cactus, all in bloom. And
such blossoms on plant otherwise so little in
viting Who would think such plant could
produce flowers 90 rcsplendentl Butso it is, in
Natures economy, the rudest plants apparent
ly. have flowers of surprising beauty and
brightness The brightest diamonds are imbcd-
ed in the coarsest and darkest orc. At my left,
on the desk, is flower vase, filed with violets
and other flowers, and cvcrgreens, fresh gather
ed from the meadows and forests. All around
the room is hung with wreaths, crowns and fcs-
toons of bright, fresh evergreens Across one
end of the room is table covered with refresh
ments, and with vases filed with fresh flowers.
On the seats are the mon, women and children,
looking bright, so loving, intelligent and hap
py. Around the brows of some of the children
are wrcaths Of flowers and evergreens. 1t is
blessing to live while one looks at these loving,
happy faces.
% They arc all now listening to an address from
Adm Ballou, on the mingling of beauty and
strength, of lovelincss and power, of the gentle
and stern, in Nature. The stcrnncss Of Winter
gives place to the gcntlencss of Spring; the
sweeping tempest to the balmy breeze. So
should it be in human character; beauty, gen.
tleness and lovclness combined with strength
and energy. He is giving account of the or
igin and object of this Community. The object
is to act out tho prayer, " Thy kingdom come on
earth NOT away off in some underlined, intan-
giblc world, but hero on earth; to establish the
Kingdom of love, an embryo Brotherhood OF
Mcn--a Community based on principles, found
ed on the Paternity of God and the Fraternity
of man. A religion, based on bigotry. beget-
ting in US envyings and suspicious, can never
save us. We 20 not to ballot-boxes, to Con-
gresscs, but wo govern ourselves. We have
resources in ourselves to supply the wants OF
our social state Others go to find paradises al
ready made we are trying to make our own
paradise; to convert sterile earth into fertile
fields. AS VIC go not ourselves under the guns
and forts of organized violence for protection, SO
we said our property shall never go there Nor
y can Alcohol find an abode on our soil our in
dustry shall never so to burnish swords and
bore rifles to shoot and stab Mexicans or Others
All among us are to be educated; all are to be
fed all industry to be remuncrated; usury can
not be known here VIC laid the foundation oil
our prosperity in the intelligence and goodness
of all. Our government is an instrument OF
good to all and of oppression to nonei our only
army, an Industrial army; in which men, wo-
men and children are enrolled. Our only effort
and aim is, not to crush or oppress, but to en-
tighten, to lift up, to beautify humanity, and
help one another to a better state. We would
send out brigadcs of men and women, not to in
lure, kill and desoate, but to drain the marshes,
TO make rough places smooth, to wipe away
tears, to bind up the brokcn-hearted. Let us
then rejoice and sing amid our flowers and our
evergreen bowers, and go OH to accomplish the
glorious end of our organization. 1t has been
an address worth coming out from Boston to
hear. Adm is loved, and worthy to be loved, by
p this people.
o. Now sweet song of Welcome to Spring, by
A. p, one of their number, is being sung. Now
Z ar Address to Spring is being spoken by young
girl 10 years old. Now little boy is telling us
u who taught the birds and bees to accomplish
h. their various destnics. Now the children are
gathered upon the platform to sing, Brightly
~ the morning sum- SO. hardly know what tc
look at, the children, so joyously and heartily
-. singing, or the parents who hear so fondly.-
!. Now boy is telling US who is the happiest, anG
it now little girl, with wreath Of flowers ane
n. evergrecns about her head. is toling us what
dance her kitten is, that won't learn to read.
Now there is dialogue between Mothe1
and her Children, as to Why the people of Hope
dale have an army; What is the difference be-
"a tween good army and bad armyi Mrs. Bal