Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-07-19
CHEBOYGAN, SATURDAY, JULY 49, 1879.

and tiresome journey many of you have
performed, in coming from your homes
to this city. In your social intercourse
with each other and with our citizens,
may old acquaintances and friendships
be renewed and strengthened, and new
ones formed that will prove pleasant
and lasting; and may remembrances of
this event be among the most pleasing
and cherished reeOllectiOns of our lives.
Following the address of welcome, Rev.
C. A. Mum, pastor of the Presbyterian
church invoked the divine blessing after
which the viands were thoroughly tested
by those present, 337 being seated at the
tables. After the feast, order being re-
stored T. 7. Bates, of the Traverse City
Herald delivered the following:
RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
The cordial reception you have given
us tonight would, under ordinary cir
cumstanceS, have OccasiOned surprise;
but knowing as we did, something of the
hospitality and warm hearted liberality
of the people of your city, we ought not
to have been surprised at anything they
might do for our comfort and pleasure;
the result Of your efforts. however have
far exceeded anything we could have
expected.
The gentleman whom you have chosen
to extend us this hearty welcome has
gracefully alluded to the Importance
and influence of the press. The growth
of these must increase its responsibility,
and realizing sense of this hold to be
among the first lessons an editor should
learn. The egOtism and desire of self
aggrandizement inherent i'm every mans
nature finds too ready growth i'm the Op-
pOrtunities offered by our profession,
and against this evil we should guard;
using as has been so truly said, these
opportunities rather for the good of those
for whom we Ostensibly labor. To this
end self should be lost sight of and Civ
ing to our calling the best energies of
our nature, our nOblest thoughts and
chief aim to do good and benefit man
kind. God speed the day when the press
of the country shall be prepared to ac-
cept this mission.
l. Mr.. President: The bOunteOus repast
of which we have partaken. the careful
preparations made for our comfort and
the liberal programme for our enter
tainment are proofs sufficient that Our
committee acted wisely and well in
selecting Big Rapids as the place of our
annual meeting. The fame of this young
and growing town is justly wide spread.
Less than 25 years ago the unbrOken for
ests stretched away on either bank of
the noble MuskagOn where now are the
wide avenues, the extensive business
blocks, the mills and factories and ele-
CANT private residences of Big Rapids
The speaker we'll remembers, but as yes
terday, when the numbering stages which
supplanted the winding Indian trails
were the only means of communication
with the north and south. Iron track:
now penetrate your city from north an(
south and west, while another is max
ing all speed to reach your limits, will
the fourth soon to follow.
In your prosperity we all rejoice. Th,
interests of all portions of North Western
Michigan are Identical, and its citizen
are bound by common ties.
Leading her sister cities i'm population
and wealth, Big Rapids has equally vel
sustained her reputation for intelli
gence, enterprise and business thrift
and how we'll she has sustained it fO
generous hospitality we, who are he
guests tonight can witness.
Time would fail me to more than re
!; fer to the we'll established and extensiv
manufacturing interests of your tOwI
of its we'll known business houses, of it
public spirited press, of your militar
organization, of the costly and elegan
private residences, of your public inst
; tutiOns, your schools and churches, wei
: kept hotels, neatly kept streets, your ez
cellent and we'll sustained system o
water works, and the many other impol
| tant and attractive features which hav
, given your town the excellent name
+ bears. AS for your gallant firemen, thei
' reputation is national; competing at th
3 late tournament with the best traine
1 companies in the entire country, the
: bore away the beautiful and costly pri7
{ which secured the first premium at til
8 Philadelphia exhibition. And your cit
= zens have not only reason to be proud {
+ this, but also that, true to their nam
Q the Alerts, watchful of their own reput;
: tiOn and that of the town they felt it a
4 honor to represent, reserved all the vigt
f of their manhood for the conquest
which they were victorious, and won Il
O high distinction of being the most gel
q tlemanly and orderly company in IL
r city at the time. 1t is with pleasure v
h accept the invitation to meet them
a morrow. The city cOrnet band which h;
|, cOmplimented us this evening, like yOl
g fire department, has a well deserv,
d reputation, extending far beyond yo1
b city limits. 1t has our thanks.
4, We also gratefully accept the invit
n to view your beautiful city; and last, b
l. not by any means least, we desire to e
4, press our appreciation of this handsOn
t, reception you have given us. An editor
hunger is prOverbial, and we can on
n account for the ample provision ma
,s for meeting this need of our nature
n night, on the suppOsitiOn that in this,
,r in all other respects, the press of yO
Al city is representative; and your intima
n acquaintance with its members h
ID prompted you to provide so bOuntifu
at for our physical needs. AS we enter
If this room tonight and looked upon the
10 well spread tables and rich viands
of were fain to exclaim i'm the words OF
n quaint writer on similar OccasiO
"Thank God for the room that is with
u.s." And now that we have partak
". thereof, would that the limit of O
~ capacity had not been so circumscrib,
- And now Mr.. President, and citiz
1y friends of Big Rapids, thanking you
N behalf of our Association for your kline
i. reception, for the extensive preparatiO
ye made for our enjoyment and comic
re- for your open hearted liberality whi
IN has led you to do so much more for
ne than we can by any possibility hope
n make return for, allow me to assure y
ed that we shall long remember this vi
o. to your city with pleasure and pri
r. May the acquaintance here renew
of and the friendships formed serve
al unite us more closely in the bonds o
va common brotherhood. May prosper
or attend you; and as you have done to
In may others do to you.
ad EoIIoxy;no, fh;s oopa fba foocfc n