Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-14
THE ORANGE PICNIC.
A Great Day at Titles Grove near
Presumption.
saturday Devoted TO n Big Ceiebra-
ticn-A Procession. speeches. Music
and n Good Time.

The annual picnic and celebration of
the Orangemen of Rock Island. Henry
and Mercer counties was held at Lit
ties grove, which is located two miles
north of Presumption, Saturday. The
weather was threatening early in the
forenoon with slight showers up to 10
o'clock There were large number of
people present early in the day. AMI
others arrived previous to and after the
procession. The lowest estimate of the
crowd was placed at 5000 but when il
is positively known tn At GS1 vehicles ar
rived on the ground during the day aside
from people who arrived by special
train, $500 would not be an ex4g-
gera,ion of the number present.
The procession left Presumption at 10
o'clock under the marshalshIp of David
Little with three aids, who headed the
parade followed by Ottos Great Western
band of Davenport. Then came twenty
four young men on horseback, the first
two carrying the American and the lodge
flags, the Gilchrist drum corps next. and
then followed fifty boys on horseback,
all wearing sashes and rosettes, both red,
white and blue and orange A four
horse float contained young miss es who
represented all the states of the union
with the the Goddess OF Liberty on
throne. They sang patriotic songs on
the road. and when the procession
marched around the grounds This was
followed by a long line of carriages and
wagons-the Reynolds drum corps,
feur-horse float with forty two young
ladies. Thirty ladies on horseback all
dressed becomingly in all colors. one of
the party wearing suit of orange, with
crown of the same color. A long line
of wagons and other conyeyances fin>
ished up the parade, which was very fine
and creditable. every team and person
carrying flags. the American flag predom-
mating in the line. One enthusiast had
a wide orange ribbon tied around the neck
and tail of his dog, while others had
their horses similarly decorated.
The refreshment booths and cane
racks, wheel of fortune, shooting gall
lerY. ETC.. were literally patroaized. The
crowd, after the parade, scattered about
the grounds with their lunch baskets. en-.
joying the good things brought from
home.
After dinner the Great Western band
gave concert at the stand which was
highly enjoyed, the principal pieces be-
ing the Star Spangled Banner" Home,
Sweet Home, medley of old-time mu-
sic, Columbia. the Gem of the Ocean, :"
Yankee Doodle" Marching Through
Georgia, "Rally Around the Flag"
Mr.. Foster Armstrong called the Assem-
blsge to order, when the Rev. Chamber
lain, of Peoria, made prayer. A hymn
was sung. led by male qusrtette. fol,
lowed by fifteen misses who sang, Free
dom's Banner" two OF whom waved the
stars and stripes at proper intervals
during the rendition. Two little girls
then sang Wrap the Flag Around me.
Boys" They, too, carried on the plat
form, the American flag.
Mr.. Armstrong stated to the vast crowd
who occupied the seats surrounding the
platform and those who stood on the out
side. that two distinguished gentlemen
from Chicago were present, who to his
mind and that of the committee, believed
they could better entertain them than 10.
cal talent and then he said: II have the
honor and pleasure of introducing to you
Col. Miner. veteran OF the Mexican
war and the war of the rebellion"
Col. Miner commenced by paying a
tribute to the Orangemen of this day.
and a higher one to the brave Of their
kind who fought the battle of the Boyne
end others in the cause of civil and re-
ligious liberty. The speaker thought
they as an army in struggle two
centuries ago which eliminated IN
the battle of the Boyne, had &C.
complished more for religious liberty
than anything since the creation
of the world His address was
DIVIDED under three heads-the past,
the present and the future His
remarks on the past dealt mainly with
ralifrinno hictnru TTnIar he Il
present. was bitter denu notation of the
pope, priesthood, and more particularly
the order of Jesuits, whom he thought
were the enemies of liberty and necessar.
lily determined to overthrow the institu-
lions of this country, and added that the |
only potentate who recognized the south,
ern confederacy and wrote a letter of
sympathy to Jefferson Davis was the |
pope. During the late war the speaker |
had mustered into the United |
States service thirty-four regiments, and
not one but had Orangemen on the mus
ter roll. One hundred and fifty of this |
class are members of mis- post in Chicago. |
lie warned his hearers to be on their |
guard in the future. The people have to
be watchful or the civil and religious
liberties they now enjoy will slip away
from them through the intrigues of the
pope of Rome, the Jesuits and priest
hood. and closed by saying that the Irish
portion of the church were the most
bigoted and easily deluded by the church
of Rome, and received no good return
for their persistent adherence to the Ital-
ian on the church throne or from the lie.
suits, who only desire their money. He