The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-12-29

WHOSE Hlc,
Coipcident, exhibit lucid proof
That he Is honest In tLe sacred cause
-COpper.
MIR. EDITOR surprise party Was CIV
en- one evening last week, to the rector o'
~. Andrews Episcopal church, Farm
Ridge, on the thirtieth anniversary OF hi'
rectorate of that parish. A goodly ndm0ei
of his parishioners were present. mostly OIL
the Younger portion; the roads being rough
and the evening cold, ana the older and
more distant members simply sent In theil
regrets,-some of them In u very tangible
form
A handsome donation was made, and
most beautiful gold headed, ebony cane
WAS presented as manifestation of respect
for declining years and an appreciation OF
long continued services.
Ii was truly q surprise TO our worthy rec
tor, He had some inkling, however, that
his worthy people Intended to call upon
him that anniversary evening and to bring
their accustomed baskets Of good things
for their own entertainment, but he had no
intimation, whatever, of the Gaming he was
TO receive.
II has been matter Of surprise and won
der 10 me, as old a man as 1 am, that the
secret should have been kept for more than
a week before the deed was done. knew
Of II and many other husbands and fathers
knew II, but there WAS not man OF us dare
tell him, for fear of the consequences,
The whole affair was concocted, arranged
and matured, by the ladies of the parish In
solemn conclave at the last meeting of their
sewing society, without the knowledge and
consent of the wardens and vestry, and
without levying contribution on them.
The funds used for the purchase OF the
cane were taken out of their surplus treas
ury-the accumulation OF their ten cent
"antes" from time to time.
Ii Is wonder that plot known TO so
many men, should have been kept secret
and 1t is still more wonderful that thirty,
more or less, female Gamers should enter
into conspiracy to commit such an act
without the knowledge Of the canee. But
1t was even 80, ign0rantia leqis non ercusat
The Consul of Rome heard of the con-
spiracy of Cataline before 1t was consum-
mated, but the rector of st. Andrews WAS
In utter ignorance of their intentions until
he was overwhelmed by all their forces.
Say, now, ye Opposers OF woman's rights,
that women cannot keep u secret
Rev. Edwards, rector Of Christ church,
Ottawa, was present on this joyous occasion
and was requested by the ladies to admin
lister the cane, which he did In IN exceeds
ingly graceful manner and with the best Of
good humor.
His preliminary remarks and the short
speech that LIE uttered, We're so appropriate
to the occasion and 50 feelingly expressed
that both the rector and his people were
not only pleased, hut impressed. He spoke
of his long and uninterrupted rectorate of
thirty years-loBger than that of any other
rector Of the church la the province of
Illinois; two clergymen only have been
In the diocese longer than he-Drs. Nor
rison and Locke of Chicago, neither of
whom has been rector of one parish SO
many consecutive years.
Mr. Edwards also spoke of the good
feeling that had existed between him and
his congregation during all these long
years; that nothing had occurred to inter.
rupt the ever tenor of his way. He com
plimnted the new generation that hadIgrown
up around him, some Of whom he had bap-
tized 10 their infancy, presented for conhr.
nation and married In their ripper years,
and some Of whose children he had also
baptized, and concluded by reciting from
Goldsmith's Deserted Village those beau
tiful lines 50 appropriate In this instance,
where he speaks of the walk and conver>
sation" and the daily life of the country
parsOn,
Our kindly rector after recovering from
his surprise" and resting himself on the
cane just presented, responded In an i'm
promptu way in his accustomed manner.
He, too, spoke of his long rectorate and
the pleasure he had enjoyed, living among
us these many years. lie spoke of those of
the present, Of those Of the past, and kindly
alluded to the few (he very few now llv-
Ing IN the parish that were here when he
came
He kindly thanked the ladies' for their
present--it was something that he needed,
something that he appreciated.
After many congratulations and kind
wishes, not only for our own rector but for
the genial rector from Ottawa, the SUI
prise came Ia an end, and the good things
that were not consumed, and the cane and
contributions were left behind
Allow the writer of this now too long,
notice, 70 offer few thoughts of his own !,
one VINO has known your minister for forty
years.
Rev. Henry 7. Holster came 70 dwell
among us, as our pastor and spiritual guide,
thirty wears ago about one walk hefore