The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-13
RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL.
A Great Gathering al AryOnis.

coming toward their town from the
four quarters of the compass-and es-
pecially from the direction of Emporia,
| they came in such force that they APP
peared, as coming over the hills in the
distance, like an "army with banners"
Had this been the troublous times of
the war, they might have supposed that
some Quantrell was approaching with
his bowling, fiendish comrades, to de-
| stroy life and demolish their little town.
| But it was far otherwise. They were
men and women, carrying within their
| warm, Welsh, christian hearts, coming
not to demolish nor to kill, but to sym.
pathize and mingle with the Joys Of
their countrymen in the conservation of
church and cemetery grounds; upon
| the former of which is soon to be erect
ed capacious church edifice, of stone,
sufficiently large to accommodate 500
or 600 persons. The people of ArVonia
expected the general turnout of all the
| families within the circle of ten miles,
and thought few might accompany the
Rev. Henry Reese, from Emporia, but
| that they should come from Lawrence,
Burlingame, OttumWa, Neosho, West
Point, Emporia and other places, in
such large numbers, the people them
selves were astonished, as well as the
Arvonians, and certainly your corre-
spondent could not but regard it as a
| fitting compliment to the generosity and
liberality of the leaders of this new en-
terprise,, There was wigwam erected
on the church grounds with sitting ac-
commodation for nearly 400 persons.
The hotel, with every other available
room, was occupied, and even the Office of
the company, and there were between 80
and 40 vehicles on the grounds, giving it
the aspect of a camp or fair ground.
AT 101& in the morning, in answer to
the call of the bell, all resorted to the
wigwam. Rev. Thos. w. Jones, of Chi
cago, having been chosen moderator
to preside over the doings of the day,
| and all the assembly appeared as order
ly and devout as if in house of wor-
ship. The exercises throughout were
very interesting, having sufficient vari-
ETY. of good singing and good i'm
Ipromptu speeches to enable the au-
dience to keep their seats without ap-
pearance of uneasiness during period
Of two hours. The opening address of
the moderator, though short, especially
the portion of it referring to the sala-
ries of ministers, and sectarian di-
visions, l wish could give entire for
the benefit of your readers. the senti-
ments of which were sustained by an
eloquent address by Prof. Barrows of
Olivet, Mich, a gentleman whose every
feature indicates intelligence and kind,
liberal soul. Your toWnsman, also,
Rev. Henry Reese, spoke with fervid
eloquence and touching pathos, kindling
within every Welshman's heart honest
pride and warm affection. Even the
English-speaking part of the audience
said they were inserested through his
} manner and earnestnes, though under
standing not word he said. The Welsh
of EmpOria are evidently proud of their
minister, for they spoke of him in terms
of high praise and affection. I should
not omit mentioning here that the Wor-
thy acting pastor of the Arvonia church,
Rev. Mr.. Thomas, has gone to Emporia
to spend few days. His large, gen.
erous heart, iberality of sentiment and
earnest talk yesterday, accompanied
with SO much of the Welsh "HwyI,"
have no doubt endeared him to the
people of Emporia, and doubtless they
will hear from him while on visit to
your town. Among the speakers, also,
who spoke with earnestness and effect
were Rev. Mr.. McChristian of Neosho,
Rev. Mr.. Hughes of Wisconsin, and
in compliance with an earnest desire on
the part of the audience, the leaders OF
the enterprise, John Mather Jones and
| CduAcS IA" w uItdAcr, IIdu0 SIlOEIs ROOCi
speeches-good particularly because of
the sentiments they expressed, which
gave satisfaction to all present. They
both expressed great interest in all that
concerned the cause of Christ in Ar
vonia, and that much as they would re-
jOice over their material prosperity,
they would rejoice more over their
spiritual-that in all their efforts to
promote the intellectual, moral, or spir-
itual good of the people, they might
rely on their support and sympathy.
1t is gratifying to know that persons
related to such an enterprise as this, as
these gentlemen are, have hearts to
sympathize with something higher than
the mere material prosperity of peo-
pie. They will never be losers by such
a course, for in the end twill be PEE
cuniary gain to them. Narrow policy
and selfishness, for the sake of little
present gain, always defeats itself in the
end. Yesterday they welcomed the
hundreds freely to their table, refusing
pay when offered, saying to all, "You
are to-day our guests, and we are glad
q to see you. Make yourselves at home,
and enjoy yourselves among u.s." Two
long tables were loaded with provisions
THE best of meats and vegetables, tea,
and coffee, and enough and more than
enough for all.
1 should not omit mentioning poem
of great merit, composed for the occa-
sion by the well known bard, d. Lloyd
/ Davies, and which was read at the close
Of the morning exercises, and as it was
in Welsh the Rev. Thos. w. Jones had
been requested to translate it for the
benefit Of the English-speaking part of
the audience. The translation was into
prose, and Mr.. Jones, before reading it,
remarked he could do it but poor just
ice, as it was as difiult to translate
Welsh poetry into English prose as to
put the whole of Kansas into Arvonia /;
that the Welsh language gloWed with
living inspiration when expressing po-
etc sentiment, and that English words
conveying the same sentiment seemed
tame in comparison. But the audience
and even the poet himself, thought that
the English translation glowed, but as /
understand, by the request of the friends
from Emporia, . copy is to be supplied
for your valuable paper, will leave
your readers to judge of it themselves.
AT the close of these interesting exer-
cises votes of thanks were offered to
friends and neighbors from a distance
for their presence and kindly sympathy /;
to Jones & Whitaker, for their generous
support and cooperation in their efforts
to build a house for God, and also
to the moderator, Rev. Mr.. Jones, for
the able manner in which he presided
over the exercises of the day, and for
his interest, sympathy and cooperation
to help them to build q church. They
said the movement commenced with
Mr.. Jones, since his visit to them, and
they would never forget his labors of
love among them.
After these exercises the first COM
munion of the Lords supper ever ceIc-
brated in these regions was celebrated,
and ! should think about hundred
partook of the elements, and consistent