The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-06
Rural Happenings.

we are not I'd Ut uCNCiNC GU 'hS'Soyt AN'
remember the old saying, IF March comes IN
hhe a lamb, it will 30 out like a lion," so we
,ook for few touches of winter ere we wei
come showery April -.
The time for municipal elections drawelh
On apace, and the question agitatlng the public
mind OF Seneca at present Is, "Shall we nave
An anti.lcense town for the year 10 Gomez
Rome parties have already begun their argu
men,s against prohibition. at will XIII the
town." saws one. Says another, "liow are we
going to raise funds " &c In offices, in stores,
and ON the street corners, the issue oi the en'u'
Ing election is the absorbing topic. NO less
is the theme present in the minus Oh Tue goou
house. mothers of our place and rs they busy
themselves with household affairs, their hearts
are sending up prayers that our town may I'VE
made safe for husbands, brothers, sons anu
friends. MAY God grant them the desire oil
their hearts
Among the temperance people here Inc IN
terest of the cause has not waneu one Will
During the summers heat and the nciemency
of winter the attendance at the Sunday meet
ipgs has always been good, and speakers nu
merous OF late the platform has been sup,
plied by ministers. On the evening OF the 2od
Hlt. Elder Jewett gave an excellent temper
ance address, and at the regular meellng last
Sunday afternoon Mr.. Co0mbs, OF Evanston,
dist pulpit-spoke cloqucntly on the subject
10 often called "trlte" and "threadbare."
On last Sunday evening Rev. Thomas Sweet,
pow of La Sale, addressed a very large audi
ence at Red Ribbon hall, 1t was real pleas
are once more to listen to our former pastor
His theme was Prohibition" and his manner
of treating 1t showed that he had carefully
studied the subject His earDcstness and elo'
quence were warmly applauded.
Church matters seem to be IN better condl-
non than formerly. There are now three DIS
tinct soceties--thc NJ. f., the Baptist and the
Episcopal, the last named holding service in
.the NJ. 4. church.
Spesklng of churches reminds us that we
are in receipt of particulars of the progress of
the NJ. f. church in Marseilles Quite won
derfil transformation has been wrought there.
When the present pastor was appointed In
1878 that institution seemed to be in ruins, and
for a wear afterwards she maintained but a Tee
BILE existence Had the minister consented,
she would have disbanded long ere this. ut
"A always the darkest the hour before day"
and so indeed it proved IN NJ. In Nov. last
the preachers family moved there, which for
Me church was most fortunate move. The
NJ f. society in that place have never owned
q church building, but have met Tor some
years in the Episcopal church. That for sew
GraI TetSOUS WIS uDt uuuIlCu w thti "th'o'
Like Banquos ghost, the Methodists are ire
pressible, and having determined to Give and
thrive and grow" they, last fall, hired the
Protestant Methodist church IN East Mar
-seiiles Then the "bcOm" struck them. The
house has been well flied at every Sunday
service; nearly every scattered member and
attendant has returned home. Forty persons
have recently joined, as a result Of the late
protractcd meeting. We are told that the
church did not employ, or desire, an evange-
list, but relied upon home help. Mrs. Chip.
pertield, the pastors wife, breaches with en-
ire acceptabiity on every Sabbath morning,
while the minister himself breaches every
Sabbeth evening. A committee was lately ap.
tOinted to bargain for the church where they
now meet, and to raise a subscription to pay
for the same The board Of church extension
have indicated their purpose to donate $500,
and loan $780, payable in small installments
with q very low rate of interest. Finances are
.prosperous, and there il strong probability
mat the NJ. Il. people in Marseillcs will soon
have what they never had bcfore-a church
edifice. The Sunday school is also in flourish
ing condition; it embraces more than hun
bred scholars The library has been replen-
sshed with 1870 "brand new" books. We think
these facts speak well for the energy and per
severance OF the pastor and his gifted wife.
We wish them continued success UNA.
GRAND RIDGE, Ills, March 2.-February
shook her shaggy tail in regulsr hurricane
fashion in the very face of March, -neverthe-
less the latter comes with a smiling counc-
nance to remind us that spring is hard by
ROBIN redbreasi, with some of her sister song
sters, have already chirped their greeting
songs, and sit upon the trees seemingly impa-
tienl for the red cherry to grow,
had rnaJs thn mast fpv yyppLs have
made times rather dull, both IN the business
line and IN amusements; hut with continued
fair weather we look forward to good times at
the musical concerts to be held at the Luther
an church on Friday, and at the Presbyterian
church on Saturday, evenings.
1t is gratifying TO see that the young folks
have taken an immense interest in music tht
past winter. A new music teacher has found
his way to our ncighborhOod, soliciting pa
tronago for summer term. He halls from
the town of Grand Rapids, has already one
scholar to begin with, and We predict for hin
success, If not particular about the number o.
scholars
Mrs Lizzie Vance is victim of the mea
sies; the only case known in this vicinity.
The friends of the Methodist church at Yale
have recently adorned their church with an
elegant Prescott organ, which will doubtless
add to the interest of their services.
| was somewhat amused at "C's." lengthy
contribution in the FREE TRADER of Feb 18th
From the reading, one would think that "Pecl
ed Eye" was about to get up corner on
churches IN Grand Ridge by Stealing a churcl
for each corner in town In his item, referring
70 "Gcsso," he says, mo sooner did he make
up his mind to move to town." &c. Now sc ;
you are entirely mistaken. | never made W
my mind to move to Grand Ridge or any 9th
er town: neither have at any time made W
my mind TO build hotel or hall in Crane
Ridge; neither have | manipulated in til,
moving Of the church as asserted, Yet it /,
no discrcdit to the man, formerly member
of the Grand Ridge church" that has manipu
lated in the work. am not of the belief that
he has any1nancial, selfish or personal motive
N view. &C." also makes sundry Other enron
eous statements showing that his shots are al