The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-16
Especial to The MeSsenger0

Especial to The Messenger)
Greensboro, y. c, October 12.-NOt
until yesterday did Greensboro wake up
to the Importance of the First North
Carolina Reunion" Greensboro knew
the Reunion would be great, but it did
not know how great and in its fondest
anticipation it did not picture it as
the first day showed it would be-
An ideal October day-the occasional
clouds Were nothing of u drawback for
there was enough sunshine of the right
sort to make everybody satisfied with
the weather conditions.
Bright weather showed its effect ear
ly III the appearance of the streets.
Troops of children rosy with excite
ment We're out to see the sights. And
such an inspiring sight it was! Elm
street 4 waving, tossing, rippIing mass
of flags. flags on buildings, flags on
wires. flags on poles, flags everywhere.
Red flags, yellow flags. green flags. blue
flags and flags of all colors and shapes.
North Carolina flags and United States
flags. College pennants, lodge embIems
and what not. The wind was a favor
ing one for otherwise the scene would
have been less impressive. 1t gave
moment and that was all that was
needed to make the picture the entranc-
ing sight that it was.
mn rhA nd Lo.A
people who go up and down them could
tell yesterday morning that the
throngs were not the usual Sunday
morning throng. There were evidently
many visitors. You saw here q group
of sun Drowned. bearded, staIwart farm
ers from Indiana. You saw there per
fectly grOOmed professional Or business
men from the great world centerS. All
were interested in what they saw. They
talked of the growth of the city. of the
changes. OF the state at Iarge-of all the
thousand and one things which the
time and the circumstances SUgg Sted.
1t was u glad scene-one to b given Il
place among pleasant memories
At the hour for service at the
churches the sidewalks were crowded
with the throngs of home folks and
visitors on their way TO one or the
other Of the churches at which reunion
sermons We're to be preached.
At every church in the city morning
and night and in the opera house in the
afternoon, We're especial sermons
preached 10 overflow congregations
by distinguished divines, natives but
now nOn-reSidents of the state Every
sermon was in itself an event. and
probably at no time in the history o.
North Cardinals religious life have
so many able sons of a ike class IN
spired and uplifted so many people in
one city in one day.
Among these preachers were Dr..
Moore. Of Richmond, said to he one OF
the ableSt men in the south today. IN
the Theological realm. Dr.. {. ". Byr!.
Of Atlanta DR.. ROberl Pei. Of South
Carolina and Dr.. A I. DiNo2. o. Bos-
ton.
The day and night were given t. de-
votionaI exercises and the day was
truly one Of fraJernaI Fellowship and
spiritual refreshments
As the trains Saturday night brought
in almost four hundred visitors from
Indiana, Illinois. Kansas and Tennessee
ana other states. 50 yesterday and last
night. every train brought 4 few more.
Among prominent ones arriving last
night were Hon. MurIt Holstead.
Of C.rciunati, William Turner More
head. Of New York. DR.. ]. Allison
Hodges. Of Richmond. and many others.
Today from early dawn until o'clock.
every incoming train has literally pour
ed passengers from points in and out
Of the state. and when at o'clock the
formal exercises began at the opera
house, with = seating capacity OF 2.oop
people. Il was Seen that not hardly the
visitors alone could be accommodated
What an extraordinary gathering IL
was. for distinguished men and plain
citizens, returning home to look upon.
In one group on the stage they cOu !
look in the faces of every state officer
of North Carolina. every one Of its dis
tinguished supreme court. One of the
United States senators. lis two United
States judges and its ten representa-
tiVes in congress, notable group.
headed by the noble Ransom. with the
governor of the state. the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of