Daily Republican., 1879-07-26
'a4 WILMINGTON, DEL, SATURDAY, JULY 26 1879.

gfegats Of those who came in the train
alone, reached 3,s4O. Computing thss'
who are staying at Rshoboth ant
the number Of people who came in car
riages and every conceivable kind o
teams from the surrounding country, il
was thought by competent judges thai
there could not have been less thar
5000 people at Rehoboth yesterday
and many put the numtsr as high al
5000. When the last train arrived, 9
parade was formed in the camp meet.
ing woods, composed Of the Uniformed
Battalion of Patriarchs, the different
brass bands and the members of the or.
der who saw fit to fall into ranks.
The parade made very imposing ap.
pearance as 1t marched down Surf Ave
to the beach, and along the beach to
the Surf House where 1t countermarch
cd and was dismissed. Though the
grounds of the Association enclose over
400 acres, every place seemed to have
occupants yesterday, and little parties
enjoying their lunch which they had
brought along with them were strswn
around everywhere. The Surf House
and the Bright House were the priuci.
pal points Of attraction, hundreds sur.
rounding each place waiting for the
sounding of the dinner gong. Several
hundred were accommodated at these
places, 81 being charged at the Bright
House and rs cents at the Surf, and
hundreds of others got dinner at Will
ley's boarding tent at the Camp Meet.
ing ground at the moderate figure Of so
cents.
During the afternoon a reception was
held in the psrlors of the Surt House in
honor Of Mr.. Ridglsy, constant stream
pouring in to pay their respects TO the
old veteran Odd Fellow, while the brass
bands alternately played inspiring airs
upon the large portico Of the hotel. The
ocean surf was grand beyond descrip-
tion, and bathing suits were at dis
count all the afternoon. The only
draw back to the pleasures of the occa
sion was the foggy condition of the
weather which prevented the visitors
from seeing but few rods ahead of
them, and it was much regretted that
the weather which, while it protected
from the hot rays of the sun and made
tho day pleasant, at the same time so
shrouded the place in fog that its real
beauty and attractions could not be
seen by the excursionists.
One of the disappointments of the
day was the non arrival of Judge Geary,
Of Maryland, who had been selected to
deliver an Grafton on Odd Fellowship at
the camp ground at half past four o.
clock, but the Judge did not put in an
appearance at that hour, and to add to
this disappointment, it commenced to
rain very briskly about this time which
had the effect of Fastening the excur-
'ionists out to the depot all anxious to
get seats in the first train that was to
cave the place.
Notwithstanding this large audi
.nce gathered in the tabernacle, listen
ng to the music OF the brass bands
blended with the welcome music OF the
ain pattering upon the roof of the pa
'ilion. In this emergency Grand Mas
er William II. Foulk appeared on the
platform and apologized for the disar-
continent which they had all met in
allure of Judge Geary to he present as
IL had promised and ss the committee
+ arrangements had fully expected.
Mr.. Foulk however succ eded in
making all admirable little impromptu
peech which kept every body in good
'umor as was manifested by their hear
y applause. Mr.. Foulk told how the
iaa OF the excursion originated which
las already been stated. He was sor-
y the day which though pleasant was
for sight seeing, on ac-
cunt of the thick fog which prevailed.
me Committee he said had no control
'vpr the fog or else h. doubted not
here would have been no fog.
When the arrangements were being
made, he said the weather was the OBJ
ect which troubled the committee most,
nd the great desire which seemed to
,revail was that rain might fall the
lay previous to the excursion, that the
xtreme heat might be tempered and
he dust laid. The committee, said Mr..
y, at that time jocularly appointed
ub. committee on weather, and how
'ell that committee had arranged the
feather the day previous those whose
carts were gladdened by the refresh
Dg showers that fell, well knew.
Had similar committee been ap-
ointed on fogs no doubt he thought
nat the day of the excursion would
ave been prepared cool and pleasant
, it was but without the fog. This
as an oversight which Mr.. f. assured
10 audience would be remembered the
ext time the order had an excursion.
/. hoped however tn At everybody had
njoyed themselves, and were not sorry
lat they had come. He discaimed
is ability to make a speech, but he
,ok occasion to say the order in the
tate was in an excellent condition.
. had since his election as Grand
aster visited every lodge in his juris-
iction, and he found peace, prosperity
nd harmony prevailing everywhere.
. was glad he was an Odd Fellow and
ext to his church he cherished the
der, and he thought that everybody
lght to belong to it. Q
Mr.. +. in referring to the benevolent c
ature of the order said that the mere ,
ttance Of SO or $5 a week given to /
ok members did not measure their |
The record of their benevC- {
nee was shown in the hundreds of d
ousands of dollars that had been con- i
buted in seasons of great calamity
d distress, such as the ravages OF
. and of infectious diseases. He was
pased to state that all the Lodges in |
lmingon were Initiating members a