The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-18
HESS FAMILY REUNION.

Hess famlly was llSiu dt YAK lrrOVc
on Thursday, August 10th, and about
seven hundred people were present
In the afternoon meeting was held,
and after music, and prayer by Rev.
C.. II. Brandt, the President, ]. Will
son Hess, of Montandon delivered the
following address:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Relatives
and Friends Of the Hess Fdmily:-
Another year has rolled into the
past and we are again assembled to
renew our allegiance to each other as
relatives and friends and enjoy days
intercourse with each other and &C.
ment our social ties more secure than
ever. 1t is true that not EVERYONE
who has partici lated in these festivl-
ties can mnge with us to-day, as some
have taken the spirits flight into eter-
nity. while others have been sorely
afflicted with the ills and disease to
which our flesh is heir, and while
others have taken their leave and emf
grated to other parts of the country.
Yet with all those unavoidable absen-
tees we find a goodly number present
today TO all who are with us we
extend happy welcome and assure
you that your presence here this day
is appreciated by each one who is in
terested in the perpetuation of the
Hess reunion.
1t would seem hardly necessary to
invite your presence every year at
each succeeding meeting, inasmuch as
the pleasure afforded in meeting rela-
tives and friends at least once a year,
will amply repay you for any incor-
venience or expense to which you may
be placed. AS each year passes we
notice the aged to be more
feeble, the young more vigorous
and the children steadily grow
ing up TO manhood and wo-
manhood, and such sight is we'll
worthy of our time and attention.
If we wish to perpetuate our kind
and friendly relations with each other,
inaugurated at our first meeting, we
must each expect our proportionate
share of time and labor to be expend-
ed to that end, and every kind word
spoken, each cordial shake of the
hand, and pleasant smile from each
to each is conducive to the furtherance
of the cause and the interest Of these
annual meetings. The younger gener
ations must necessarily display lively
interest and make everything attrac.
tive and agreeable to those who favor
US with their presence. 1t is hardly
necessary for me to refer to the fact,
but you will notice the greater activity
displayed by the younger element of
the organization and it is proper they
should do So
The old Indian adage, "Old men
for counsel and young men for war
riors," holds good in almost every de-
partment of life. l can only congratu-
late the committee in charge of the
matter, that they have acquitted them
selves admirably and deserve the COM
mendation of everyone assembled here
to-day, and we should all with one ac-
cord say to them (he committee) we'll
done thou good and faithful. When
received the invitation to attend the
Hess re union to-day concluded the
day was a suitable one and the time
all right, and l thought it would Ger.
tainly be success, but when con.
tinued reading came to that part OF
the program which made the announce.
men. that speeches would be made by
the president and others. Now the
others part suited me admirably, but
could not for a moment reconcile
myself to the fact that was elected
president to make a speech at every
annual meeting. / was under the i'm
preston that when my inaugural adj
dress was made as president, my mis-
sion at speech making was ended. l
congratulated myself last year. after
the committees had been appointed,
that would not be called upon the
coming year. ] pondered over the
matter as to what ! should say and
was In a serious quandary as to what |
should say and how l should say it, IN
order that might not disappoint you
too seriously, and l finally came to the
conclusion of the precious little Sun
day School boy who was regular at
tendant at the village Sunday School.
The boy was perfectly conscientious
in his way of thinking and reasoning
and occasionally rather abrupt in his
way of speaking. Among other an
noyances and unpleasant occurrences
that frequently occur in the best regu'
lated Sunday Schools, this particular
school was quite frequently pestersd
with would be orator who, upon
every occasion that presented itself,
would torture the youth, the middle
aged and older members with a long,
drawled-out harangue, to the great dis
comfort OF all, who were by courtesy