The Russellville Democrat., 1891-07-09
The Glorious Fourth At Mini

Tire Glorious Fourth at Mill
Creek.
Correspondence Of tne 5emocrat,
The browning event Of the season
vas the celebration al MIL Creek
last Saturday. participated in BY the
Sunday schools Of Mill Greek, Lon
don. Ball Hill, Pleasant View and
Onita.
The sun rose TO greet cleudless
sky, and with q delicious breeze blow
ing, all looked forward to d GLORIOUS
fourth ID the fullest sense Of the
woodland so 1t proved to be,
Very early vast crowds began to
gather on the grounds, and long ere
the exercises Of the day were opened
| with the melodious strains OF the
Russellvilie band, fully two thousand
people had assembled to celebrate
our natal day.
| Promptly at 8 a. N. the different
Sunday schools met at Mill Greek
church, and with flying banners,
marched to the picnic grounds, head
ed by the band.
After singing by the Mill Greek
choir the audience united IN prayer
with Ed. r.. X. Blackburn. Then
came the welcome address OF Mr.. A.
M. Sosbee, IN which the speaker as.
sured the people that they were re.
ceived with open arms by the
different Sunday schools, referred to
the moral manner ID which they had
chosen to celebrate the birth oil
American independence, and de-
clared that he had never before seen
as large concourse OF people at Mill
Creek. Ed. Blackburn responded
in brief but interesting address.
The speech of Hon. Lawrence Rus
sell on the Declaration of Independ
ence was mastery effort, land justly
deserving OF the hearty manner in
which il was received. The speaker
traced the progress OF our nation
from the old colonial days. spoke oil
the wrongs perpetrated upon it by
other nations, its hardships and pr
vations, paid glowing tribute to
the spirit of freedom inculcated in
our forerathers, related the causes OF
the American Revolution, the story
of the signing Of the Declaration,
how the dauntless Americans, fired
with inspiration therefrom, arose and
shook the bonds of tyranny from
them, and how the freedom of the
mighty nation which we proudly call
our own was purchased with the life
blood Of our forefathers. He dwelt
upon the great pro2r ess made by
our country since its formation as a
free aad independent government,
and closed with an earnest admoni
ton to American people to cherish
the memory of the fathers Of indie
pendence.
Ed. J. A. Myers Of MorrIlton, de
liyered splendid address on the IN
fuence and power OF Sabbath schools
in shaping the destiny of nations.
Among other excellent things he re-
ferred to the Sunday school as being
the cradle Of the church, contrasted
the nation or community where NOR
ais are adhered to with the criminal
and immoral, that every one enters
and leaves the world on the same
level, that all are working in one com
mon cause, and all bound for the
same goal,
He was followed by Ed. T. J..
Woodland of Clarksville, ia an excel
lent address on the duties and quail
fications of surerlntendents and
teachers. Though the speaker said
many things worthy of notice, space
forbids further comment.
Next came the most interesting
portion of the program-the point
that had been anxlously awaited
with bated breath and sharpened ap-
petites, that was greeted with that
joy and self satisfaction that relief
from great anxiety can only bring
/. e., dinner. And to attempt to de
scribe that dinner would be but to
exhaust our entire supply of adject
ives. Had we the versification of a
Shakespeare, the sublimity of Ian
guage Of Milton, the simplicity
and grace Of an Irving, the wonder
full imaginary faculties of a Roe, or
the thrilling versatility of a Scott,
we could not describe that dinner.
We can only concentrate column
of comment in the one word "Good,"
with big G, but there was plenty
of it there, and If anyone went away
hungry it was his own fault.
At Z o'clock the people were called
together by the band to listen to an
address by DIR. G. w. Harkey of
Russellvllle, on the duty of pa.
rents in the Sunday school work,
followed by singing by the choir,
apd an address to the children by
Ed. w. A. Clark, editor of the Ar
kansas Baptist.
The Russellville cornet band and
London string band rendered excel
lent music during the day.
1t was doubtless the largest con
course of people ever at Mill Creek
at one time, and the people of tina:
com munity manifested their appreci
alton of their presence by bidding
them thrice welcome.
ONE OF EN-.