The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-24
GRAND EVENT
Was the Mechanics Edu-
CatiOndl Celebration
Yesterday
GOV. NOT HERE
Er Was Ably Represented, How
ever, by Hon. Geo. L. Winston.
Glorious Observance at the Acad-
my Last Night.

Inc OCCdSIOH OIL Tie CeleDI dlIO4 yes
terday by the Junior Order Of United
American Mechanics of their bible and
flag presentation to the Union and
Hemenway Public schools, of this city,
was a glorious success and reflects to
the greatness Of the order. h pro-
gramme was carried out precisely as
arranged, save for the visit from Gov
ernor Charles B.. Aycock. who was
compelled to fOrego coming on account
OF the very serious illness of his daugh-
ter. Miss Alice Aycock. However. he
sent an exceedingly acceptable and a
very able representative in the person
OF the Hon. George T. Winston, presi-
dent of the Agricultural and Mechanical
college at Raleigh. This distinguished
gentleman and the Hon. George E.
Hood arrived in the city on the after
noon northern train and were met at
the depot and escorted to The Orion
hotel by a grand military parade, which
included the Mechanics. the Whining
ton Light Infantry and the Naval Re
serves. The latter fred the regular sa-
lutte to a governor. The Mechanics
were commanded by Colonel A. Wat
kins and Captain Walter E. Yopp and
Robe H. CoWan.
AT THE ACADEMY.
The scene at the Academy of Music
last night was a grand one and the ex-
ercises were both inspiring and impos-
ing in their pleasure for the many hun
dred people who crowded the theatre
from pit to gallery. Bot the parquet
and balcony of the house were filled to
Overlooking, until the gallery had to
be pressed into service, out even that
wa not sufficient and many people had
TO forego the great wish to be pres
ent and had to return to their homes.
The stage was a beautiful and patriotic
sight, being ~prOfusnly decorated with
American flags, while the two exceed
ingly large flags presented to the
schools were artisticaIly draped from
the stage curtain. Seated on the stage,
besides the guests Of honor, were
Messrs. James F. Post (chairman), r.
j Jones and E. Borden, of School Com
4nittee No. l; Messrs. Samuel Northrop
(chairman) and c. W. Worth, of School
Committee No. ,; Mr.. w. H. SprunJ,
of the Board of Education: MIR. john j.
Blair, superintendent of the city public
schools; Professor Washington CatleJt,
superintendent of the county public
schools; Councillor Langley, of George
Washington Council. No. 81; Councillor
Craig, OF jeff Davis Council No. 63; Mr..
James H. C~hadbourn. president of the
Chamber OF Commerce; Major ". f.
Robertson, member of the Board of
County commissioners; Mr.. H. Mel.
Green, county treasurer Mr.. William
Z. Springer. mayOr-elect; Aldermen
Hashagen, Murrell, Bailey and Tienck-
en-; Walter Gafford, Esq, n ]. T.
Kerr and Walter E. Yopp, alderman
elect; DR.. Charles P. Bolles; the COM
mittee of arrangements. composed of
William J. Bellamy. Esq. chairman,
ex-Mayor S. H. Fishblate Secretary.
and Messrs. r. c. DeRosset. John E
Wood, Marsden Bellamy, Jr., and ]. H.
Swinson; Rev. J.. NJ. Wells, D. D. n
Rev. G. B. Webster; and Misses Carrie
Duffy I Edith Butler.
The exercises opened with scripturaf
reading and prayer by DR.. Wells, which
was followed by the anthem, "Ameri-
ca" sweely sung by the schoOl children,
who occupied several front rows in the
parquet. Next followed an exceedingly
entertaining address by VIM. J. Bella
my, Esq, as follows
Ladies, Gentlemen and Brothers:
1T becomes my duty as chairman of
this occasion. in accordance with the
ritualistic provisions of our Order. to
address YOU.
1.-The man who truly loves his coun
try. loves his COuntry'S flag as we'll,
and delights to see its folds unfurl in
h free air. teaching with silent elo-
quence. a lesson of patriotism that
language cannot express. It is that
spirit and desire which brings US here
now to place over an American School
House, the American Flag, where the
children of today, who will be the men
e and women Of tomorrow, may learn TO
revere it, and the principles it repre-
sents. In this mob work the Junior
Order of American Mechanics has
taken a prominent part, and as there
are many here who do not thoroughly
understand the organization. I will en-
deavor to explain to you our princi-
pies.
Men associate themselves together
in formal organizations because they
have something in common a COM
mon Fatherland, whose they
desire to maintain, n whose mem
cries they would keep green; common