Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-12-12
FIFTH ANNUAL FAIR OF THE
CAPE FEAR AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION.
FIRST DAY.

FIRST DAY.
/ The Fifth Annual Fair q the Cape
Fear Agricultural Association was for
mally opened yesterday, by a process
sion around the race-course, after
which Rev. George Patterson pro
nounced the following prayers:
Almighty God, we bless Thee, that
| thou hast watered the hills from
! above: that the Earth has been filled
with the fruit of Thy works. Thou
| hast brought forth grass for the cattle,
/ and green herbs for the service of
men; Thou hast brought food out of
! the Earth, and wine that maketh glad
! the heart OF man, and oil to make him
/ 4 cheerful cOuntenaEcc aud bread to
| strengthen his heart. And We beseech
! Thee that Thou wOuldst further
vouchsafe to bless our lands and null
! tiply oar harvests, as Thou didst bless
! these of the Parriarchs, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, that we Thy servants
may have plenty and that the poor and
! needy may give thanks unto Thy Holy
Name through Jesus Christ, our Lord
/ Amen.
! o God, We thank Thee for Thy
mercy that Thou hast watered with the
rain of Thy blessing these firstIings of
| Thy creatures, which Thou hast been
| pleased to nourish with the mingling
of wind and rain, and grant Thy peo-
pie ever to give Thee thanks for Thy
gifts. That those who hunger By reason
of the necessities of which Thou hast
been pleased to lay upon them, may
yet be SO well filed with good things
that they, together with US, may
ever praise Thy Glorious name through
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Almighty and Everlasting God,
Ruler of the Universe, Who governcst
the world, which hangeth on nothing,
and Who hath commanded US to till
the land with our labor for the sup
port Of mankind and the sustenaEce of
the body: VIC thank Thee for having
prospccrd us in our labcrs, by giving
us temperate weather, thus making
our crops plentiful, and giving them
perfection; VIC, Thy servants, CRATE.
fully receiving the abundant fruit OF
Thy Gifts do now pay due and accept
able praise to Thy name in Jesus
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
| O Lord, We besecch thee, help thy
people which prayeth INTO Thee, and
mcrcifilly grant Thine aid to us who
arc weak. that serving Thee with a
pure heart, We may rejoice III this
world and i'll the world to- come have
life everlasting, through our Saviour
Jesus Christ. Amen.
o God, from whom every good thing
hath It's beginning, and recoiveth its
increase as it goeCh on towards per-
lection, grant that the work which this
Association hath undertaken for the
glory OF thy Name, aud our bodily SER
vice, may be brought to completion by
dom, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Colonel \. :. Mckoy, President OF
the Association, delivered the follow
ing opening address:
According to the custom OF this
honored occasion, it is expected Of the
: President OF the Cape Fear Agricul.
tural Association that he would say
something to those who have met npon
the Fair Grounds for the advancement
Of Tie agricultural, mechanical and
manufacturing interests OF this section
!, Would that had the ability to ex.
/ press III fitting terms my ideas of the
/ wants of the farmer, the means Of sup
plying those wants and thus point hin
with certainty 10 the road which leads
to his elevation, his protection, and
above all, to the insuring of his pros
peYity which is the foundation stone
of the whole superstructure of oul
, mechanical, mercantile aud CONNER
cial well-bcing.
Time Will not permit ne 10 go ovel
this vast field, and it would be trench.
ing upon those grounds assigned tc
- another and 81 ADLER speaker upon
this subject.
But 7 cannot let this occasion pass
without urging upon al TO come for
ward and help to make the Cape Feal
| Agricultural Association what il
+ should be.
There is room under its bylaws and
: charter for the exercise of allthe brain
: thought and culture of the most giftej
: in tie land. The field Of labor marked
out by its founders was laid out broad
: enough for the energies aud intellect
: OF the practical, the thon-lltfu! END
the scientific.
, Thought and brain and cucrgy car
here, by combined effort. work out
; solve and display to the eye Of the oh
servant and those seeking advancement
} in agricultural practice and agricul,
tural skill those secrets Of natule now
, lying hidden only because we have
been content to follow routine cuitiva-
ton rather than to make discoveries
which will show agricultural science
J in It's proper light. Wig: as the highest
calling OF man, the most profitable Of
; all enterprises, as veil as the most
charming Of all science, lchIinr the
mind through nature to lop,: n}' (,
natures God.
] confess That ali our associations
and fairs have been comparative fail
uros when Vt consider what they
ought to be.
We assemble i'll vast numbers, hav,
one grand, social festive meeting, ad.
mire the best specimens OF different
} sections, are pleased with what We have
seen aud heard; yet when all is
told have we realized ally part OF that
noble object for which such Associa
ticns arc formed OF have We come any
nearer the attainment OF our ambitious
hopes. viz the elevation of the farm
CT, the enlightenment Of those cropping
in agricultural darkness and tho ma
terial prosperity Of that class desorv-
ing our sympathy, orr affection and
our earnest labor.
l think the answer will be that little,
y
that direction.
Let US next enquire whose fault is
this. Our Society numbers but few
members. But few feel an interest in
it's welfare. This may we'll be said if
We Judge from the few members who
take IN interest i'll its workings.
All are really to attend its Fairs
many are ready to grumble at the
management.
The shortcomings of those active
and energetic enough to keep it alive
are freely canvassed and often harshl,v
spoken of.
Yet how few, alas, how few, are will
ling to come forward at the right time
and in the right place to lend an help
ing hand to correct the errors thus
loudly blamed, to amend the workings
so pc TO free it from fault and adapt it
~ ...o "...its, Tastes and likings of
those for whose good it was originated.