Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-18


shals and thetrial of the track having
been dispensed with on account Of the
weather. thai the Fair.sas oRened with the
| followir s.e Sd ttd touching
PRAYER. TY kT.S XIV. BIsE, T ATKINSON.
| ALMIGHTY and merciful God. by whose power
We were created, and by whose bounty We are
sustained, who hast commanded Us to work while
it is day, and hast declared that to take por
ton. and to rejoice in our labor is Thy gift, we
beseech Thee to grant wisdom to the councils.
and success to the undertakings, OF these Thy
servants who have joined themselves together in
brotherly fellowship for the purpose OF more full
ly improving the bounties and good gifts which
Thou hast bestowed upon Us, aud OF eniarging
the prosperity and happiness of the land
in which We live. AS Thou hast put
into their minds good desires and
wholesome purposes, SO do Thou enable them
to bring these to good effect. Mako all their
councils aud their Iabors to begin in Thy fear,
aud to end in Thy glory aud the welfare of Thy
people, while they work with their hands the
thing which is good let them not trust for enc
cess in any but Thee. let them not sacrifice unto
their own nets and burn incense unto their own
drsgs. Enable Us all to remember that it is Thou
who makest the grass to grow upon the mountains
and herb for the use OF men; that Thou gigest
fodder unto the cattle, and feedest the young
ravens that cal! upon Thee; That it ia Thou who
blessest the labers of the husbandman and the
ruits of the field; that it is Thou who refreshest
the weary earth with seasonab!e showers, for
Thou hast the key Of rain and the key Of provi-
dence; that Thy hand is not shortened, and Thy
mercies have no limits. Bless u.s. then, God,
continually with Thy loving kindness, and crown
each revolving year with plenty, so thai the
mower may fill his hand. and he that bindeth up
the sheaves his bosom; that our gamers msy be
full with all manner of store; that our eheep may
bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our
streets; that orr oxen may be strong to labor;
that hearts may be repleuished with food and
gladness;that there be no complaining, no cry Of
hunger and famine heard among u.s. Give rs
sufficient for this life, the light of Thy countcn-
anoe, and eontented spirits, and, above all in
cline US to seek fret tho kingdom Of heaven and
the righteousness thereof, being sure tlat, then,
all other things shall be added unto ug. Grant
the desire-, aud hear the prayers of Thy ser
wants, for the sake Q! Jesus Christ our cny Lord
and Saviour, who haa taught ia rhon v" prsv, 70
say Our Father. &e,
Tie grace. e.
Immediately after the Prayer Cci. S. L..
Fremont, President Of the Association,
surrounded by the Executive Committee,
delivered the following
ADDRESS AND WELCOME.
70 orr GuestS-- Lddies and Geanca,cu:
In compliance with a custom inaugural
ed at our First Annual Fair, and which
seems to me to be altogether appropriate,
am hero to welcome you again.
One year has passed since first VIC met
upon these grounds One short wear SO |
full of Gods mercies and bounties and Of
our own unworthiness.
Seed time and harvest have come ard !
gone, and We arc again permitted to as.
semble upon these grounds, consecratcd !
TO improvements in agriculture, commerce !
and the mechanic arts.
l am most happy to greet SO many of our
Did friends, colaborors and patrons on
his occasion.
10 all tender the Iarmest welcome q
he Cape Fear people and their Agrioul-
ural Association.
AS told you last year, wo make no pre-
EN- IONS to any excellence in our arrange.
has yet been perfected =
hough We have made improvements since
7ou were last here.
We failed TO receive the aid. we hoped
10 have obtained, and had q right to ex-
oect from the city government, hence only
moderate progress has been made in our
improvements. Though We have received
10 aid from the city whose interest it was
20 help us, and that too with liberal means,
hat we might complete these Grounds
md make them, not only a beautiful place
or holding our annual exhibitions, but q
pleasant resort for her citizens. Yet we
we're not disheartened nor discouraged.
We did not undertake this work with
he expectation that we were to recline
pon a bed OF roses We knew there was
york before us, and that the pioneers of
his Association who placed US here ex-
ected much from us-muoh that could
My be achieved by patient and unremit-
ing toll.
While other cities that have been bene-
ted by similar organizations have do
ated their ten thousand, their thirty /
nousand and even fifty thousand dollars, {
re have received nothing. and have relied l
ntlreIy upon private means for the i'm
rovements that have been made. Wheth-
r or not we have done our duty to the
ublic at large We leave for others to /
ldge. t
This much I have felt it my duty to say
i behalf Of myself and the committee {
with me-by way Of explana-
ON and as reason why CUR improvements c
ave not been commensurate with our just '
Expectations. L
GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSOCIATION,
hat are The duties devolving upon us ? y
That are the duties and objects Of the :
ssociation Are they simply to hold ,
nnual Fairs upon these grounds ? Are =
ley alone to give our people opportuni- I
es TO meet annually to exhibit the pro-
acts of their fields, their fresides and
leir work shops, and nothing more? y
link not Though we consider these :.
nnual gatherings Of the greatest impor :
noe, yet we must not rest our work here. y
fe must not content ourselves by holding Il
lese annual or semi-aunual exhibitions. :
o this Association was organized foT y
igher and nobler purposes. Good as =
lese objects fproperly managed) may he y
ley are not oil. They are leading features e
nly. =
In addition to the annual exhibitions, u
luostion should he an object of the Asso- -"
aticn. Education planted broad and ~
eep, are not the least OF it's duties to the ~