Arizona republican., 1904-03-23
FAREWELL TO nR. WALBRIDGE
His Co-wOrHe-s in Church and Socie.
 ties Wish Hin Godspeed.

tleS WISH L1ln GOuSDeSQ.
 The Christian church was filled on Monday night by the friends and CO., laborers of A. P. Walbridge who came to tender him a farewell reception, up7 Cn the eve of his departure for Cali fornia, whither he expects to go in about two weeks. MT. Walbridge has been so long in Phoenix, and has been so prominently identified with church and temperance work during the past sixteen years, that he has formed a large circle of friends, who desired to wish him God-speed, and to express | their regrets at his departure. His work has not been confined 10 Mari Copa county, but the whole territory has been his field. As grand secretary of grand chief templar of the Good | Templars, he has visited almost every town in the territory, and as an eff cer in the Territorial Sunday school | association since it's very organization he has been called into distant parts of Arizona. The Good Templar lodges in the rural district of the valley were well, represented, as MT. Walbridge is held in high esteem by the members whc appreciate his efforts in planting ] As a preliminary to the real business of the evening, a very delightful pro gramme was given, which deserves more than passing notice.
 | After an eloquent invocation pro nourced by the Rev. A. NJ. Gibbons Of the First NJ. F. church, Mrs. Bagby rendered a beautiful piano selection, | and this was followed by a vocal solo I by Miss McFaH. MT. ChristaI also de- lighted his audience with a vocal se- lection. MT. White gave very hu- l merous recitation and MT. Davis aD- i peared in one of his inimitable char | acter sketches. These numbers ell re- ! ceived hearty encores, as they richly | deserved. The last number on the | programme was a brief historical Il sketch of the lodge, which dates its Il existence frCm March 21 1878, by MT. | Walbridge. The old original charter II issued by the grand lodge of California | was hanging on the wall, and was an II object of interest to many of the mem | bers. MT. Walbridge spoke of the Il pioneer work of the Crder in Arizona, and pointed out that it had initiated | many of the reform measures that had ' been adopted in Arizona, and had ai- Il ways taken an aggressive and a de- cided stand on all issues effecting the moral welfare of the territory. The beautiful silk flag which the Good l Templars Of Arizona presented Col. Il McCOrd's regiment in 1898, was on ex- hibition, and as usual was greeted with hearty applause. MT. Walbridge gave it's history briefly, telling of the pre- II sentation ceremonies in Prescott, and | of the subsequent return of the flag, after the close of the war with Spain. It has been held and highly prized by the Good Templars since that time After the programme had been ccm- II plcted Chairman s. s. Green introduc- II cd several speakers, who referred to MT. Walbridge's work in various fields in very complimentary and apprecia- tive terms.
 The first speaker was Hon. F. M II Doan, P. c. C. T. of Arizona. who dwelt upon the work that he had done in the temperance field in Arizona, and of the wide influence which had been eXerted through the order by his ef- forts. Judge Doan, always an interest ing speaker. was more than ordinarily impressive on this occasion.
 Mrs. NJ. C. Wright, P. c. V. T. of California, was next introduced and
 
 ute impromptu talk fer she was called from the audience without warning.
 Mrs. Wright was G. V. T. of California when Arizona was set off as an inde- pendent jurisdiction, and naturally feels more than a passing interest in Good Tempiary in the territory. She spoke feelingly of her associa for
 with NIT. Walbridge in the grand lodge of California, before thac time, and o1
 the debt the order in Arizona owe him. for his untiring and efficient ef. forts in its behalf for SO many years
 C. H. Davidson spoke in behalf of the
 Proh.b .bitiCn Alliance. ment oning f
 very complimentary terms the worl , done for temperance reform in Ari Zona by MT Wllbridge. who, he sa d had the courage to stand up for hi convictions lie paid g. glowing tribut, to the work of the I. O. c. T.. which Ii, showed to be the parent of all recea movements for the abolition of in ; liquor traffic and the saving of mel , and women from the curse of intem perance.
 Dr. Halsey was called for and re s sconded ir a few wei chosen word along patriotic lines, as he spoke fo { the Sons of the American R avolu -for E of which MT. WSlbridge was an activ : member, and to whom he referred i most appreciative and oOmplimentar
 terms.
 The Rev. W. II. Bagby, pastor os U Christian church, spoks very b-iefly q Mir. Walbridge's work il the ohurc
 and asserted that he wou'd re mcr
 deeply missed there than in any ot> e ] organization, IS there had Eeen h
 most active and infuant al lacor-. A
 pastor of the church, he should mis him personally more than any oth