Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-21

Hon. william jackson, With Response
by Hon. C. +. Whelan-sendon for Hon.
J. 6. Johnson-Notes OF Convention.
Modern Woodmen officials from
throughout the Jurisdiction were the
guests of the Rock Island camps last
night at an entertainment given at
Harper's theatre. 1t was fine sue
cess and will doubtless be remem-
bered as one of the haPPiest social
functions in connection with the con-
vention. The local reception COM
mittee, accompanied by forester
team of Is memb ers and Bleuer's
band, met the visitors at the Harper
house. in the rOtunda of which the
foresters gave a series of artistic man
euvers. and escorted them to the
theatre. where quite an audien &c of
Woodmen gathered.
The Giffen entertainment COM
pany, of Chicsgo, was engaged to
provide the musical part of the pro-
gram. and was introduced by Hon.
William Jackson, of Rock Island, who
officiated as master of ceremonies,
and who, af. er the presentation of the
overture, '.Hippodrome." by the
orchestrs, delivered the address of
welcome, saying:
ut is my privilege. and also a
great pleasure, as the representative
of the mem bers of the order of Mod
ern Woodmen of American, in this
part of the states of illinois and Iowa,
to stand in the presence, and to look
into the faces, of our distinguished Wis
iting neighbors who are now soJourn-
ing in this mecca of Modern WoOdmen,
and greet them with that expressive
word, welcome a cordial welcome
to our cities, our homes, our lodges
and our hearts.
Coming from within the bounds
of the jurisdiction of our noble order,
which encroaches upon the Atlantic
and the Pacific oceans a territory
rich by nature, embell shed by art.
elevated by science and containing
within it's limits men aud women the
pride of this republic. intelligent and
resistless American citizens, who by
their genius and progressive spirit
are welding. producing and imProv-
and wonderful industrial instrument
talites of the world.
.tOur welcome is as broad as our
and love, as rich as our boundless re-
sources. Coming 70 this city on the
bank of the Father of Waters, our
distinguished neighbors may inquire:
Where are our neighbors?' Look
around. From within the limits of a
few miles 1900 Woodmen with one
voice awake to proclaim their pres
ence.
Covers a Large Territory.
But the radius of a few miles is
not the limit of the Woodmen's pres
ence and sphere of action. Our order
covers large and ever enlarging ter
ritory, marshalling a fraternal army,
devoted to peaceful purposes and
neighborly results, nearly a half mill
lion strong. and ever increasing, rep
resenting the interest of multiplied
thousands of wives, children, parents
and friends.
This vast army operating and COOP
Grating within well defined limits and
EN- phasizing by their zeal that there
is among men a common brotherhood.
Mighty and lasting are the results
that mark the passing century, cast
ing far into the shade the centuries
preceding.
Intelligent and observing men
may note and listen to the receding
footsteps of the departing century.
and while listening, feel a sense of
weight and responsibility, while con-
sidering the commanding and unpar-
alleled results of the energy and am
bition of mankind which the years
have developed and which now stand
as great recorded facts.
THE surprising industrial agencies
that the century has introduced into
life and business entering into the
warp and wool of daily toll. relieving
human labor of its drudgery. Where
men and women had heI etofore per-
formed hard and exscting labor, the
genius, enterprise and skill of man
kind in the 18th century has so far
developed the forces of nature, COM
biued with mechani, al agencies, pow
erful and intricate, that every man.
woman and child has now 1t their in-
dividual command mechanical slaves
to assist in doing their work Where
as, at the beginning of the year $500
so few and far between were the op-
portunities for mel TO know the great
world in which they lived and in
which the battle of life was being
fought that they died with limited
appreciation of the great earth in
which they moved, so beautiful in
variety and design and adapted TO the
wants of man that the great God on
the morning of creation pronounced
it very good
Forces of Nature United
Now we see the forces of nature
united with mechan icsl power so de-
veloped by mankind that we may
know and obtain such a knowledge of
man. his power. capacity, ambition
that the great created things of God
which man by cooperating with his
fellow is gradually developing and
finding out, teach US that there is