The San Francisco call., 1899-07-05
CHURCHES
IN CHARGE
OF IT ALL
Greatest Celebration in
the History Of the Gar
den City.
Christian People Show Their
Skill in Providing Pleasure
for the PopulaCe.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, July 4.-The churches ana
Sunday-schools had charge of the Fourth
Of July celebration hSre to-day. 1t was
the greatest celebration ever seen in the
Garden City and proved that these Chris
tian people are past masters when 1t
comes to celebrating Independence day.
Besides being the largest it was the most
orderly event of the kind ever held here,
not a single incident occurring during the
DAY to mar the pleasure.
The celebration opened with sunrise
guns. At o'clock the church bells tolled
and a few minutes later the year was
rung on the fire bell. From this time on
the fun was fast and furious until the
good night piece announced the end
of the fireworks. The celebration was a
grand success.
The parade was a couple of miles long
and the best ever seen here on the !
Fourth of July Every church and Sun
day-school in the city and many from the
suburban towns were in line. In all near
ly 1000 Sunday-school children marched
pretty spectacle in their white suits,
with bright ribbons and flags. The floats
were numerous and pretty.
Chief of Police Ktdward and platoon
of police headed the procession. Grand
Marshal Whitton, with Chief of staff T.
j. McGeoghan and aids, followed. The
Regiment band. w. b. Hobson was mar
shaI. 1t was made up of Company b,
Native Sons of the Golden West; Sons o.
Veterans; Phil Sheridan and John a. DIX
Posts Grand Army of the Republic; La
dies of the Grand Army of the Republc,
and the " oman's Relief Corps, in car
rfages The second division was headed
bv a platoon of the various clergymen OF
the city. J. p. Radford was marshal.
Then came these various church organi-
cations in line:
A NJ. E Zion.
Calvary Baptist.
First BaDtlst.
First Christian.
First Congregational.
Grace English Lutheran.
Centella Methodist Epworth League
CenteIIa Methodist SUNDAY School
East San Jose Methodist
Volunteers Band
Second Section-Religious Organizations.
Drum Corps
Volunteers of America.
First Methodist Epworth League
First Methodist Sunday School.
South Methodist.
First Presbyterian.
United Presbyterian.
Cottage Grove.
Gardner sunday School.
Second Presbyterian.
Campbell.
Lawrence.
Santa Clara
Valley View
Loyal Legion.
| Most Of these organizations had floats.
! The Santa Clara float was the prettiest
| one in the procession. 1t represented Cali
|
! In the center was a young lady represent
! ing California. Above her was a bower
of greenery and poppies. At each corner
| was another young woman, ana ABOUT
! her were the fruits and flowers OF the
season she represented. The W omen
| Christian Temperance Union had me
| float as did the Congregational church.
| which had a float representing the May
flower, in which were seated some young
persons dressed as Q9aHers. Campoell
hundred Sunday school scholars on Dl-
cycles. All the floats were good and far
above anything ever witnessed IN the city
EXCEPT at the time of the rose carnival.
F. p. Russell was marshal of the third
division. 1t included the following;
Marine Band
Uniform Rank, knights OF Pythtas.
Enterprise Lodge No. Il, A. Q. U. W.
Mount Hamilton Lodge No 4S, A O; U. w.
Board of Supervisors.
Ora[or of the Day. Hon. T B. Hutchinson;
0i"@' poet. Rev. G. j., Thompson.
Fraternai Aid Societies
Junior Aid Society No. 413
Junior Order Of Mechanics.
The fourth division consisted or the
Fire Department.
In the afternoon literary and musical
exercises were held in st. James Park:
enioTsd rhoVsadnfS the % occasion Hon. + B Hutch
fnson of Napa vas the orator of the day.
The programme included an invocation by
ETY., Gloria from the Twelfth Mass,
(Mozart); opening remarks, by Mr.. Will
lam G. AIe%ander president Of 1t6e,daX the day;
ence, by Mr.. James P. Sex; MUSIC, solo
and chorus, Oratorio Society, Unity"
words by Mr.. Alfred Austin, poet laureate
Hamilton Howe; Mrs. Mary Weaver
Macauley sang the solo part; Prize poem.
'The Stored Flag, by DR.; Charles j.
Thompson; grafton, Hon. T. B. Hutchin-
son. The exercises closed with the rendi-
ton of THE Coronation" by the Oratorio
Society.
given in a vacant lot on Julian street.
near the broad-gauge depot. The display
cost $4,000. The city turned out en- masse
to witness it.
The committee in charge of the celebra-
ton, of which W. G. Alexander was chair
man, is highly praised for its success.