The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-28
OLD MEDFORD.
Novel Watch Meeting in Medway--A
jug Of Rum Opened After Twenty
Years Incarceration.

A watch meeting of character not
often found reported in the religious
papers was held in certain part Of Med
way Sunday night, 1t is necessary to
state that just 20 years ago watch meet
ing was held of much the same character
as this one, but intended more as a bur-
lesque on the protracted religious meet
ings of the day than for any serious watch
ing business. The meeting of the club,
held just 20 years ago last night, was more
than usual Of bolsterous nature. The
people OF the neighborhoOd became
scandalized and determined to institute
legal proceedings against the members,
looking to suppression of the club. In
order to escape such fate a special meet
ing of the club was called on the evening
of Jan 10, 1857, and after the performance
of the usual routine business the subject
of the apprehended legal prosecutions was
brought up tor debate. A member from
Walpole 1.-THE club was composed of resi-
dents from all the surrounding towns
offered resolution that the minutes OF
the last meeting be securely sealed and
placed in charge Of the youngest member,
and that the club ajourn to meet again in
Midway on the night of Dec, 81, 1876.
The minutes were accordingly sealed, Eand
the resolution adopted, and the club ad-
journed,
Of the IS members of the club of 1857
nine met last Sunday night, according to
appointment The roll was called To
the names OF those who had died in the
interim the chairman responded, Across
the river" At the conclusion of this
ceremony the chairman announced recess
none of the members to leave the room.
The time was devoted to storytelling and
social converse. The old fellows, none of
them being under so years, seemed to be
come young again, and cracked jokes and
played tricks with all the gusto for which
the old club was famous. At promptly
ii O'Clock the chairman, a gentleman from
Wrenthan, called the club again to order
A member from Medfeld offered a motion,
That the secretary be now instructed tC
produce the minutes Of the last meeting,
and that the club now proceed to discuss
the same, which was adopted after being
amended with "A committee Of two Of the
Oldest members be appointed by the chair
10 assist the secretary in procuring and
breaking the seal of the aforesaid min
utes." The committee retired and soon
returned. The secretary carried a sus
picious bundle, covered with coarse bag
ging, This bundle was deposited on the
table and the chair raped for order.
The members were requested to stand
while the ceremony Of breaking the seal
was gone through with, The members
stood with uncovered heads, the gunny
cloth was lifted from the object on the
table, aud gallon jug, of antique pattern
covered with cobwebs, stood out in bolC
relief. After a short explanatory address
the chairman said: The minutes are
before you, and | now order the secretary
to break the seal which has held the con-
tents intact up TO this hour" A cork,
screw was produced, and the cork brought
out with a jerk, and Immediately thu
pungent aroma OF the genuine "Old Med
ford" filled the room. Tumblers were
produced from mysterious hiding place, anC
the liquor, clear aud yellow as gold, poured
forth. The club formed a circle. Their,
was an audible chuckle of qualification.
smacking of lips, and long drawn sigh
just five minutes before midnight the las
page Of the volume" was reached. |
was debated in solemn silence, Tn
glasses touched the table. there wa
a shaking of hands, hurried farewels wer
spoken, and the Norfolk Social Club" ad
journed sine die as the peals Of the churct
bell rang ont the old, aud in the brigh
young year Of 1877. Boston Herald, Jan
3rd 1877