Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-08-21

The Most Successful Ever Held IN
this County.

The Most Successful Ever Held In
this County.
Rally Day for the Gratiot County
Sunday Schools, was the most success
ful ever held in the county. Ithaca was
the Mecca of all the schools in the
county, and they came in gaily trimmed
carry-alls from north, south, east and
west, and at noon, according to the
most conservative estimate, there were
1000 persons III the village. The pro
cession was formed shortly tefore noon.
headed by the bicycle calvacade" from
st. Louis. Then came the Alma band
followed by the different schools i'm the
county, each school having beautiful
banners, and at intervals were the
! Ithaca, Forest Hill and st. Louis mar
| tlal band. AT least 800 teachers and
pupils were III hne, as the procession
marched to Winton's grove, where the
exercises were held. t'nst on the pro-
gram was the basket picnic dinner. ana
All over the grove, were gathered aronns
Ill schools, families and quartets-
seated or standing around spreads" of
"h abundance OF good things to eat. |
Alter Il selection by the Alma band. and |
singing by the large concourse of people. |
led by l.. a. Sharp, Rev. w. f. Jones
offered prayer. Then came the address
OF welcome by NJ. II. Salter, in behalf
oi H. W. brown, president OF the village.
TO which Rev. j. A. McGreaham ner.
spohded III most felicitous manner
A recitation by Miss Winnie Griffin of
Anna, was followed by America" hy
'he congregation. Next on the program
was the address by Hon. +. p. Allen of
I pSllanti. The Ann Arbor train was
several hours late, and Mr.. Allen had
iot arrived, and music, recitations. and
of the first Sunday schools
II the county by Rev LAFAYETTE Church
occupied the time until about four a..
JOCK when Mr. Allen came As he as
ended the platform, he was greeted
With rouslng cheers. Mr.. Allen spoke
or lorty minutes on the importance of |
sunday school work in our countrv |
1e pretaced his remarks by saying that I
ne hrst time he ever heard of Gratiot /
)ounty was i'll lS51-5S, when a Young
nan, working in Sunday school in the
outhern part OF the state, he was asked p
D take up collection for starving I
'ratlot' tie then urged the organiza- {
oh ana support of Sunday schools in
very school district in the land. While
ohtlclans are discussing the pros and
Dhs OF the financial and tariff questions. =
nd prophesying that the country is Il
'lng to the dogs unless one or the r
'her political parties carry the day.
wanted to impress upon his hearers "
lie TACT that work in the Sunday school
OF vastly more Importance than polj- I"
Us " hen government is by the people "
Is absolutely essential that there should w
pubic virtue He compared this u
untry, III this respect, with Russia. III
ermany and other European countries: "i
oke OF the French revolution, and of 81
e futile attempt of that country to
l'hrohe reason Ill the place of virtue.
closed with plea to continue the ~.
ork OF the Sunday school. =.
Ihe address was replete with noble. .1
trlotic utterances, and timely sugges- -,
'hs' ana the approval OF the large "a
dlence was frequently shown bv A.
arty applause.
closed what is pronounced by
who We're there to have been the -
'st successful rally ever held in this TT,
unity. Ia