Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-15

FOURTH ANNUAL FAIR OF THE
CAPE FEAR AGRICULTURAL AS


n
CAPE FEAR AGRICULTURAL AS
| ISOLATION.
The Fourth Annual Fair Of the Cape
Fear Agricultural Association was inaugu-
rated yesterday. The day did not open
very auspiciously, as rain was threatened
early in the morning. The attendance at
the Grounds was, as is generally the case
the first day, slim one, and the General
Secretary and his assistants were all busy
in entering the articles that rapidly arrived
for exhibition. The Grounds were all in
good order, The race course, only, being a
| little heavy from the effects of recent rains.
But this has already been remedied, to
great extent, by tie bright sun that shone
| Yesterday afternoon.
Floral Hall was beautifully decorated by
the ladies who had so kindly taken the
matter in charge, and was fast filling up
with the many articles sent in by exhibit
| ors. These, as we'll as those Oh the
Grounds, will receive full justice in to-
morrow's issue.
The proceedings of the Fair were inau
gurated by the procession of Marshals, on
Horseback around the race course, while
! full band of music, at the Grand Stand,
added life to the occasion. On their re-
turn, the Marshals halted in front of the
Stand, when Rev. George Patterson, es-
corted by Col. S. l.. Fremont, the PreSi-
dent of the Association, read the Collect
and delivered beautiful Prayer, as
follows
THE COLLECT.
g God, our refuge and strength, who
| Judges among the nations; who Takest
wars TO cease who breakfast the bow and
cuttest the spear in sunder, give peace i'll
our time, O Lord, that without sacrifice Of
duty or of true honor, the sword may be
broken into the plOughshare and the spear
into the pruning hook, that we may learn
and practice the arts Of peace; and surely
trusting inethy defence, may not fear the
force OF any adversaries. Through the
might of Jesus Chris, our Lord. Amen"
PRAYERS.
"Almighty and merciful God, by Whose
| power we were created, and by Whose
bounty we are sustained, Who hath COM
manded us to work while it is day, and
hast declared that to take our portion, and
to rejoice in our labor is Thy gift, We be-
seech Thee to grant wisdom to the cOun-
ellis and success to the undertakings Of
| these, Thy servants, who have Joined them
selves together in brotlleIiy fellowship for
the purpose Of more fully improving the
bounties and good gifts which Thou hast
bestowed upon us, and OF cnlaI9ing the
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. Make
all their councils and their labors to
begin in Thy fear, and to end in Thy glory
and the welfare of Thy people. Willie
they work with their hands the thing
which is good, let them not trust for sue
cess in amy but Thee, let them not sacri-
| f1oIl inf Jnir lpt al
unto their own Grags. Enable us to re-
member that it is Thou who maliest the
| grass to grow upon the mountains and herb
for the use Of men, that Thou giveSt fod
der unto the cattle, and faedest the young
ravens that call upon Thee, that it is Thou
who beSsest the husbandman and the
fruits Of the field, that it is Thou who re-
| freshest the weary earth with scasOnable
| showers, for Thou hast the key OF rain and
the key of Providence, that Thy Hand is
not shortened, and Thy mPrcies have no
lmits.-Bless us then . God, continually
with Thy loving kindness, and crown each
revolving year with plenty, So that
the mower may fill his hand, and
! he that bindeth up the sShcaves
his bosom, that our gamers may
be full with all manner of store, that our
| sheep may bring forth thousands and tens
| of thousands in our streets, that our oxen
may be strong to labor, that our hearts
may be replenished with food and gladness,
| that there be no complaining, no cry Of
! hunger and famine heard among us. Give
us sufficient for this life, the light of Thy
countenance, and contented spirits, and
| above all, incline us to seek first the King
dom of Heaven and the righteousness
thereof, being sure that then all other
things shall be added unto us. Grant the
desires and hear the prayers of Thy ser
wants for the sake Of Jesus Christ, our
only Saviour, who hast taught us when we
pray TO say: "Our Father" &c. The
Grace Of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.
At the conclusion OF The Prayer, Col.
Fremont arose and, in behalf of thc Asso-
citation, delivered the following eloquent
Address of Welcome:
PRESIDENTS WELCOME.
Ladies and Gentlemen Another seed
| time and harvest has succeeded the one
marked by our last gathering upon these
Grounds. One more cycnliul year has
rolled around since we greeted each other
within these halls.
How many and how great are the changes
that have filed up the history Of that pc
Rod! a large portion Of two great cities
laid in ashes ! reminding us Of our own
desolatiOn few years past. How many of
those who were with us last year are alb
sent to-day, and will be with us no more
| forever!
T." They, the young and strong, who cherished
| Noble lOngings Tor the strife,
By tho roadside fell and persisted,
Weary with the march OF life"
The past year has been one Of general
prosperity. The busy hum of industry has
! been heard from the field, the workshop
and the warehouse. Our commerce has
whitened many seas; carrying our products
and bringing wealth from afar All this
energy and enterprise is tending to our
advancement i'll the right direction. 1t is
bringing wealth to our people, enabling all
professions and occupations to produce
more and better articles for exhibition
within these halls, and for the markets Ct
the world.
Four years ago this Association inaugu-
rated the first Agricultural and Mechanical
Fair, upon these Grounds, that had ever
been held in the Cape Fear country. 1t
set in motion and encouraged by its success,
several of the largest agricultural societies
that now have an honorable existence in
the State. When the charter Of this AS
ISOLATION was enacted by the Legislature,
the State Fair had net been revived, after
the great war. The Weldon and the Char
lotte Fairs followed us one year later, and
recently the GoldsborO Fair has been in
augurated. And all of them, VIC hope
are placed upon permanent and cndur-
ing basis.
Such are some Of the fruits Of our hum
BILE, yet earnest, endeavors to rebuild and
advance the material wealth and prosperity
of our county. We envy none Of then
their greater (if they have lad superior)
| vOnrifyy md