Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-06-08
From Quasqueton.
QUAsQUEToN, Iowa,

June 9th, 1877.
ED. BULLETIN:-Our Gala day, June 2,
was most beautiful day in relation to
the weather, for had it been made "to
order" it could not have been better
Not cloud to be seen, and the rain on
Thursday had laid the dust SO nicely that
it was nothing but pleasure to march the
streets. Prompt at the hour Of ten the
people began to flock to the grove, and
when the eleventh hour arrived it found
nearly 800 waiting to hear the "good
speakers" to be present. The speakers
from abroad were not present, which does
not, according to the circumstances, as
surmised by some. give very desirable
credit to the committee on orators; as also
the committee on music, for at ten o'clock
there were none to help in singing, not
even an organ on the grounds. So the
Worthy Patriarch, at that late hour, sent
for the organ, collected a chorus of voices,
with Thompson Waters as conductor, and
at II as A. M. they were prepared with
the exercises, which opened with prayer
by Rev, Mr.. Damon, pastor of the Bap-
fist church, which was followed by sing
ing, after which few remarks were
uudC ny VuC w " III Au0IOouOCo tIC
speaker, whom he had engaged that
morning, Rev. N. Jones, pastor of the
Methodist church. Mr.. Jones common
ced with confession that he had had no
time to prepare himself, therefore would
present an address he had given at a tenn
perance gathering before. The address
was about forty-five minutes in length,
which is too long for full report, but we
will give few extracts.
He said the tax-paying people were
complaining of their taxes being so high,
and when the question, What caused it
was asked, the answer was returned,
Rum Rum He referred to the wo-
men in Ohio, who few years ago Or
ganized the Womens Temperance Cru
SADIE, and the amount of good they
performed, and how they defended tenn
perance. How many men to-day were
true temperance men, but they did
not dare to speak out in regard to it,
fearing 'twould injure their business. He
liked the Maine law and wished they
would use it here, for the Prohlbitory
Law was the mode to quit intemperancc.
He said the manner in which young men
began intempcrance was to commence
with sweet cider, $50 cheap in tone" beer
or old ale to raise the dropping head; but
when that failed, must have something
stronger. He emphatically advised the
young men not to begin, for it was GER
tain DEATH and when they were in doubt
which side to choose on any question, to
take the safe side. He said, no man can
be Christian unless he is a temperance
man. He gave the number of licences
granted in some of the cities of the Uni
ted States, their revenue, and concluded
by citing the Prohibitory Law adopted by
Maine. He then gave some very good
rules for young Christian to adopt, and
unless they were adopted they would
never be safe, for an Incorporate man
under reformation was never safe; there
was always danger of a relapse.
After the address, which was listened
to with much earnestness, the song,
'Hold your Head up like a Man." was
we'll rendered. especially the solo, by Miss
Gertrude Northrup, although in the last
verse there was slight break.
Rev. Mr.. Damon was then introduced,
and made a few remarks. He began by
saying he wanted the attention of every
body as he was going to show how to
get rid of intemperance. His method was
to have all the temperance people 60
earnestly at work, put on their armor,
find the persons who sold the intoxicating
cup and prosecute them to the full extent
of the law, and soon they would have
King Alcohol overthrown. He addressed
the Christian people. by saying, Let us
carry our precepts with US and fight in
temperance.
After these remarks, which occupied
nearly 30 minutes, the Worthy Patriarch
made few remarks about the committees
on orators and music, and endeavored TO
explain the cause, in his mind, why speak
ers from abroad were not pre- sent, but
hoped all would enjoy themselves, and
after song and prayer, would look to
their lunch baskets.
The exercises were then closed by a
song after which a short prayer, by
Rev. n Jones, when all scattered for a
shady place tor their basket dinner.
Thus ended our Gala day, which perhaps
to some city people would not appear at
all gorgeous, but with US, we were as well
pleased, and may be more so, than Eng
land Is in the visit of Ex-Presldent Grant.
l wish to add that credit is deserved and
should be given to two ladies who so
willingly came to the rescue with rakes
in their hands, on Friday P. NJ, to help
clear the grounds.
Few more items are worthy of reporting
but Electric has been slower this week
than his name signifies, therefore have
not the time, as It's now late hour
am penning this. ELECTRIC.