Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-31
THE BIG TEMPERANCE PICNIC.

! Rock GrOve-Many Towns In The + State Represented-PrOmf Reps
 resentatfves of The Order-VariGus
 Addresses.
 As early as 7 o'clock yesterday morning nen, women and children carrying baskets filed with good things toeat began to gather ,n and about the platform of the Derby de- pot in this city in order to obtain seats in ,he special train which was to carry them to High Rock Grove, it being the day of the | State picnic of the Sons of Temperance un- der the charge of Harmony division No. 5, of | this city. Most of the people around the | depot were Sons and Daughters of Temper 1 ance, and they were going to have good l time and returned well satisfied that they got what they went after. By 8 o'clock nearly 1, 1,500 had gathered in the neighbor- hood of the depot, and the members of the with their different colored badges dutte-ing in the wind, rushed here and there about the depot, some selling tick cts, while others were busy seeing to those who wanted to get rid of their heavy baskets till they arrived at the grove. Seventeen cars, among them two baggage cars, which stopped in front of the depot, were crowded in less than five minutes, and at S:45 the train with an engine at the head and one at the rear of the train steamed out of the de- pot with it's load of human freight and in about an hour arrived at the grove, where the sons and daughters quickly left the train and were soon scattered about the grove, looking for some suitable place to spread out the dinner they had brought with them. These places were easily found they being the suitable tables Superintendent Beach of the Naugatuck railroad, the founder of High Rock Grove, had provided for the picnic sea-
 fh1 train had arrived at the grove and steamed on out of the way, train of eighteen cars, many of them freight cars, came rolling up the track and stopped at the grove long enough for nearly 2,000 more members of the Sons of Temperance, from the divisions at Bridgeport and those of smaller towns and villages on the line of the Nauga- tuck railroad, to disembark and help swell the throng already present. train of six teen cars brought nearly 1.S0O more from South Norwalk and intermediate towns to the grove. The regular up train from New Haven which arrived shortly after this brought about 800 more from New Haven, many of whom were from the divisions in Milford, East Haven, North Haven, West Haven and Branford, who had been too late for the excursion train. At the grove were also nearly three hundred people from divisions in Middletown, Dan bury, and also members of divisions in other parts of the State, who came up later on the trains, and by eleven o'clock Super Beach, who gave his personal at tention for the occasion, estimated that there were at least 6,000 people present,-by far the largest crowd that has visited the grove this season.
 After arriving at the grove the children made rush for the swings, while the older people sat down under the pavilions, and the young men and their girls made rush for the boats, and while some went rowing on the river, for the vast outlay of fifty cents an hour, others visited the skating rink while the more am bilious of the young couples ascended the rugged path of the glen which runs up the rock, by the side of the brook which comes babbing down off the moss-covered rocks, making a pretty scene in the bright sunlight. The gorge is about half way up the side of what is known as High Rock, and from the grove takes it's name. Along this path through the glen are benches for the use of those who care to rest during their walks, and yesterday these seats were occupied by many young loving couple who watched the sparkling water as it dashed over the rocks and thought of loves young dream. Several of those who were more courageous than the others ascended to the top of High rock, from which place the occupants of the grove looked like midgets to those on the rock. The majority of the people who re- mained in the grove during the morning lis tened to the music of Wheeler & Wilson's band of Bridgeport and walked up and down the promenade in front of the several build ings in the park and waited for the exercises of the day to begin. At about 12 o'clock John Mccarthy, who appeared to be the managerial chief of the picnic, mounted the stand, together with Professor B. Jepson, the music teacher of this city, Rev. Charles E. Barto of Canaan, Conn.,, Grand Worthy Patriarch George W. Sanford of New Haven, Past Most Worthy Patriarch B. R. Jewell of Boston, Charles A. Baldwin of New Haven, Hon. James Gallagher, Dr. Frank Gallagher. Rev. Spencer H. Bray and John G. North of this city. Also the committee who had charge of the whole affair of the different di- visions, consisting of Ira A. A.Wildman, No: |; Samuel Parker, No, 15; F. W. Wheeler, No. and A. H. Morse, secretary and treasurer, asct.nded and took seats on the band stend. Professor Jepson, after taking off his white D. rby hat, donned his skull cap and with his baton in hand gave out the first song on the programme, Praise God from whom all blessings how," which was impress1vely sung by the people around the stand 10 the music furnished by the band. sv. c. E. Barto then pronounced the invoc Ation, after which the choral clubs finely srng My Country 'Tis of Thee" :" Chairms n Mccarthy then introduced Grand
  who delivered a brief address of welcome, durin 2 which he said: While it is duty, it is als % great pleasure for me, as represen- tati ye of the grand temperance army, to meet yo here to-day and bid you a most cordial welcome to this beautiful grove. When we compare the number of those present at the State gathering of the Sons of Temperance five years ago to the great throng present
 here to-day we must all feel encouraged and strengthened. It is good for us to be here and get acquainted. These gatherings tend
 to increase our membership, and in the name of the Grand division again bid you hearty welcome here to-day
 The opening ode, the next thing on the programme, was then sung by the choral clubs and the members of the different dlvi- sons present. The ode was as follows:
 Yes, we in those principles join. ~' And such shall our actions display;
 Our hands and our hearts shall combine To extend their benefcent sway
 Our laws we shall ever respect, Arise all contention above,
 And stand by each other erect
 In purity, friendship and love.
 The choral clubs then sang the 'fOld Oaken
 Bucket" ''The Coming of the Lord" and the
 Friends of Freedom" after which Past Most Worthy Grand Patriarch Benjamin R Jewell, of Boston, made short address or the cause of temperance. He dwelt mostly on the good work done by the divisions ol the Sons of Temperance in the State during
 the past forty years. The choral clubs again exercised their lungs in singing 'The Coming Day." s'When Rum Will Cease to Reign and "Joyous Tidings," after which other short temperance addresses were made by Charles A. Baldwin, Rev. Spencer H. Bray Dr. Frank Gallagher, Hon. James Gallagher and John G. North. In his address MT. North denied that any of the Grand Army men were drunk at Portland during their recent | trip there. After these addresses the chora
 clubs, assisted by the band and the waving of Professor Jepson's baton, sang ssHold the Fort for Prohibition, {" "Rsformer's Battle Song' and Banner of Temperance,
 and the programme was finished | The people who had brought baskets | with them then spread their contents ! on the tables and ate dinner, while
 those who had not taken the trouble to car ! " provisions seated themselves at the tables at the lower end of the grove and waited pa
 tiently, some waiting half an hour for the | walters to serve them dinner which con. sisted of Holsters, clans, oysters and greer ! corn, while an occasional guest got piece o1 | baked bluefish. After the dinner many | stayed and listened to the concert given by
 the band, while others again wandered into
 the woods and by-paths in the grove. There | was no racing, or regatta, as no entries were made, and about 4:30 o'clock the people be-
 gan to gather along the railroad on each side ! of the track to wait for the trains and to ob