The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-06-28
RusselfviIle Picnic on st. Johns
Day.
The Grandest Picnic Ever Seen
in the State.
5000 People Present.

cOOO People frcSenS.
1t is seldom that picnic that
costs as much in time, money, work
and care, as the Russellville picnic
of last Saturday, results in . perfect
satisfaction to all parties participat-
ing. But for once the returns are
completely satisfactory, and our lit
tie queen city, flushed with the pride
of the grand occasion, modestly lays
claim to che distinction of furnish
ing the most splendid specimen of
like occasion ever seen in the state
We do not know what more fitting
terms to use in it's description, or
the general estimate of It's size and
Importance, than to quote as near as
re can the language of an esteemed
visitor from Little Rock. Mr.. c. c.
Dean who is the secretary of the
State Fair Association. 81 was
brought up in Boston, and have seen
many grand picnics, but this beats
anything ever saw or dreamed off,
and then turning to the writer he
enquired~ if it was good day for
picnics." From early morn to the
hour of 10 a. m. sharp, the people
from every portion of the country
came pouring into town. And at
that hour, the procession having
been duly formed, Mt the first swell
| ing note of the Dardanelle Band, un
der command of grand marshal of
tile day Capt. j. w. Russell, the pro-
cession began moving. The para
| phanalia of the various orders, the
beautiful waving banners with their
| sparkling notices OF the five Sunday
schools, the streaming sashes of the
several sub-marshals, and the bright
colored ribbon badges of the Sun
day schools, altogether made this
the most pleasing and most impos-
ing array that ever put itself in line
Of march through our streets. 1t
consumed but "a few minutes to
bring the procession to the picnic
grounds where there was already a
large crowd Of people Once there,
tile happy throng disposed of them
selves as best they might, to await
eagerly the arrival of the L. r., train
containing the distinguished guests
for the occasion. At ABOUT hatf past
10 o'clock the whistle Of the engine
gave the signal of our visitors ap
proach, and our gallant committee of
reception was on the ground TO re-
ceive them. From the train they
were conducted To the speakers
stand few hundred yards away,
and in one of the most delightful
groves to be found on the prairft.
The grand marshal conducted Grand
Master Logan II. Roots to the stand
together with Past Grand Masters
S. w. Williams, NJ. nj. Mcclure, ID.
ID. Leech and Deputy Past Grand
Master G. l.. Kimbal and Grand
Marshal G. C. Dean and Grand Lee
turer G. A. Dannelly. And here the
bal. opened by the introduction OF
the Grand Master who IN his earn
est style was listened to by all who
could crowd close enough to her him
in his address, initiating the servic-
es of the occasion. Following that
splendid Grand Master, came first,
ringing out clear and beautiful a
string strain from Mr.. Toomer's
band. Then the address of welcome
by Rev. j. L. Massey, this was a
diamond that flashed from every
point of view, after which the install
alton of officers. This ceremony
as performed on that occasion, was
impressive to the last degree, and
why shouldn't it be with as fine a
specimen of the genus homo perfect
'ly skilled in the work in hand to in
stall, and another specimen equally
as fine in the person OF Capt. James
NJ. Harkey to present the officers
elect, and then the officers them
selves were all good looking solid
citizens and such as reflect honor
upon any institution that may hap.
pen to hold their membership. The
installation over and another piece
OF Toomer's mnsic, and we listen tc
the SUNDAY school address of Col
Sam w. Williams. All effort was
made prior 10 this address TO have
the Sung from the Sunday schools
on lhc programme, but The audience
was SO iinuense and packed SO solid
that the effort was abandoned, and
we had only the beautiful piece by
, the band. Col. Williams address
deserves more notice than can BIZ
given it here. At sparklcd all ovel
with gems OF thought, well set II
| the back ground OF logic. Al the
: end Of this address came the impor
tant feature of the occasion DIN
ner. But here success reignet
t again. Plenty TO eat and everybody
I cared for. AS the people scattered
. for dinner, il reminded one of tina
scene near the Sea OF Gallilee where
five Thousand were seated on TIL,
ground, and fed by Him in whose
name the vast multitude were as
' sembled on the 23fd Of June. Ate
: dinuer, it was more Of a-gc-as.you
! please concern, although the pro
: grammc was resumed and completed
: and as good Masonic speeches a
!, man ever listened to were said frs
by that giant of KING Solomon
: craft, @. A. Dannelly, and secondl.
By Past Master D. G. Leach OF An