The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-01-06
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

in the parlors of the NJ. E. church, which
were crowded by the l50 people pres
ent. The ladies of the church had fif-
teen tables loaded down with an as
sortment of good things. AT $3.50
o'clock Rev. and Mrs. Rule were eS-
corted from the parsonage to the
church, where everything was in read
mess to receive them. G.
After few familiar songs had been
sung, all sat down to the tables. where
ample justice was done to the eata-
bles. When tn inner man and wo-
man had been satisfied, Elder Hair
arose and requested the bride and
groom to stand. He then addressed
them, saying:
II am sure, it seems unnecessary for
ME to assure you, Brother and Sister
Rule, that it affords me great pleas
ure to be present on this joyous occa-
sion. 1t gives ME great pleasure,
also to extend TO you, in the name of
the company present, and of others
who are absent, the most hearty
greetings and congratulations. on
your having reached the twentytifth
mile stone in the journey Of your
married life.
II suppose, you like others who have
gone this way before you. will not
find it difficult to call up the memo
rieS of the past, and that you Will new
er forget the day when you. my broth
er, gave your heart away; the day
when you captured the heart and Sc
cured the hand OF the companion who
now stands by your side, when you
took each other for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer and pooling
your issues, entered upon, to you, Il
hitherto untrodden pathway, resolved
TO travel together as Joint Rule
Of course you know each other bet
ter now, after twenty five years ac-
Quaintance: and [ suppose, in COM
mon with other married folks with
like lengthy acquaintance, you have
as Rule--that is as Joint Rule,
so to speak-you have had your joys
and sorrows, the light and shade, the
tolls and triumphs incident to our
earthly life, during the past quarter
of century. Had | the time or the
disposition, / might call attention to
the fact that you bear the honorable
badge on your shining crown, that
is said to be significant mark--one
Of the incidentals or accidentals Of
married life--but | fOrbear.
"And you, my sister, having so long
lived by Rule, we are glad to presume
that you have by this time settled
down to steady habits. and it is hoped
that you will be enabled in time to
come, to walk in the same pathway
of orderly depOrtment-acco to
apostolic precept--'Walk by the same
rule and mind the same things that
the coming years of your life may be
many and healthful and happy.
''It gives me additional pleasure,
my brother and sister, as further
expression OF heartfelt graduation
and an indication Of the esteem in
which you are held by your numerous
friends, to present, in their name,
this silver service and accOmpani-
ments, which we earnestly hope you
may be enabled to use for many years
to come. We wish to remind you
that they are designed to be useful as
well as ornamental. We trust that
you may ever regard them as constant
and shining reminders of this occasion
and of the regard of the donors, who
Join heartily in wishing for you a
long, honorable, useful and prosper
Gus life. Moreover, we assure you
that if we all live long enough, it will
afford US no small pleasure, twenty
five years from date. to enjoy with
you the anniversary of your Golden
Wedding. We pray that the God of
Providence may be with you, and
bless you in the future as in the past;
and that we may all be counted wor-
thy to obtain that world, where they
neither marry, nor are given in mar
riage, but are equal to the angels,
and are the children of God. being
the children of the resurrection" /
close in the language of the Ritual:
God the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost, bless. preserve and keep
you-the Lord mercifully with His
favor look upon you, and SO fill you
with all spiritual benediction and
grace, that you may so live together
in this life, that in the world to come
you may have life everlasting. Amen.
Mr. Rule responded and said that it
was difficult task TO respond to such
an excellent presentation address, and
yet more ditficulGto express the senti-
ment of the hearts of the recipients
For during the past quarter of a CEN
fury they had found many friends
yet never had they been watched" as
the people present had watched them
two years since, and now in this de-
lightful repast which we have enjoyed
together, and in this elegent silver
service you have again given express
sion to a friendship dearer by far tbs
any material substance, however val
liable. We shall use the service anG
ever cherish the memory of this occa
sion as one of the brightest in our Elk
perience, and regard the donors az
among cur most cherished friends.
He then facetiously suggested thai
the speaker had come within Hairs
breadth of touching upon persona
matters in his allusion to the "shin
ing CROWN" but he wanted to assure
all that the ''blushing bride" of TWEEN
ty-five years ago was not a any wa,
responsible for that condition. TIL
reference was, although he did no
say it, that piety was the cause, ant
that ere long there would not be
hair between him and heaven.
Again, dear Brother Hair, ladie
and gentlemen, we must sincerely ant
FOL f<N,. hi ncci ia,