River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-16
Menona Lake Assembly.
PORTAGE WIS, Aug II, 1888.

PORTAGE WIS, Aug II, 1888.
EDITOR JoURyAL:-A few notes from
this popular summer resort Of Wisconsin
may prove OF some interest to that por-
ton of your readers at least who one year
ago partici pated in ITS pleasures and en-
ioyed its intellectual feast Of fat things
The session this year commenced July
oath and closed Aug. 9th, and throughout
was a success. Bishop Warren, of Attain
ia, Ga, gave the dedicatory Grafton on the
evening of July oath, and to say that he
captivated his audience is putting it mild
~ The program as published was not
carried out to the letter on account of
many of the speakers falling to respond
to most positive engagement to be pres
ent. But other and equally good ones
were secured and the array Of talent rep
resented was second to none Of the eight
or ten Assembly gatherings held in this
country during the present summer, Chall-
tauqua itself not excepted. Such names
as Bishop Warren, Drs Tiffany, Stocking
Alabaster, Vantuda, Fulton and BaylisS
are synonymous with rich intellectual
treats and oratorical victories. The diff
ferent religious denominations were well
represented as the following will show
l Congregationalist, Baptist, Presbeter-
ian, l Episcopalan, 8 Methodists. This
has reference only to the public lectures
and the unusual number of Methodists is
owing to men ofother denominations being
compelled TO break their engagements.
The President of the Assembly is 3
Presbyterian, the Treas. a Baptist, the
Sec. a Congregationalist, while the board
of directors is made up of one from each
denomination. This is mentioned only to
to show the intention on the part of those
who have charge to make it an Assembly
for all.
Financially it was a success, as ON q
number of days over $500 were received
as the gate fees alone. This will give you
some idea of the number that attended
as the enterance fee was only % cts. and
the number holding season tickets are
not taken into the account. Nearly $4,000
were the receipts for a period of ten days
Several improvements have been made
the past year, that show the permancy OF
the work A magnificent tabernacle l0(
by POO it. has been constructed capable Of
seating about 5000 people. Wells have
been sunk, buildings erected, tents and
cots purchased, and several additional
acres secured, as the ground is proving toe
small for the crowds who tent Looking
over the register we found several tents
located from Illinois, iowa, Minnesota
and one or two from Texas. Menona is q
| fixture, and in the future thitherward the
masses as well as the rich will go and Sc
cure blessings that our mere fashionable
resorts cannot give. The expense of q
two weeks sojourn is comparatively light
A party Of four or six can club together
come from River Falls, spend two weeks
| pay all the bills necessary, and throw il
| some for boating, etc, and once at home
again find themselves not over thirty dol
| lars out of pocket. This means boarding
at the hotel on the grounds TO do you
own cooking would materially reduce the
price of living. Living and extras cost tn,
writer $2.53 for seven days. / though
when commenced of speaking al length
of the speakers, but time viii not allow
A good word for the Assembly spring
naturally from the heart, and there i
not even a complimentary ticket back o
it. Wisconsin has right to feel proud o
| her summer resort.
Faternally,
A. S. COLLINS.