Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-02-21
6. A. R. SURPRISED
AND ENTERTAINED

r. G. and it proved truly surprise.
SO the ladies say. The soldier boys,
assisted by Mrs. McGlynn and Miss
Cora Pratt arranged a fine oyster
supper together with coffee, cake,
butter and biscuit and nut cakes.
The tables were set and oysters
already to serve when Commander G.
G. Packard and Past Commander l..
Porter called upon the ladies while
they were in private session at the
home of Mrs. Frank Wagner and said
to the ladies that the boys of the G..
A. r. were in trouble and invited
them to como over to the hall and
help them out. Did they come? Did
they? Well yes, and the oysters went
Supper over, the soldiers invited
their guests to the lodge rooms to
listen to short program which had
been prepared for their entertainment.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Fred
Staff. Past Commander Porter took
the chair while Commander G. c..
Packard delivered an address. A solo
by Mrs. McGlyhn accompanied by Miss
Cora Pratt on the piano. Anecdotes
of General Grant Was given by M. S.
Pratt. Solo by Fred Stamm accom-
panied by his wife. Remarks were
made by Rev. Fred Staff, pastor of
the Congregational church, which
were spicy and full of witticisms.
Recitation by Master John Burget.
Prof. "Huzzy Buzzy' with his horn
| 1.-TWO pieces.)
| BY request we append Commander
Packard's address as follows:-
1.-The principal reason why [ became
a soldier of the Civil war was because
L believe the duties | performed as a
soldier to be the duties that God
called me to perform and give as few
OF the many reasons first, there are
two great methods by which God
Indicates His will concerning the
nation and the people, the resources
he places within their reach. Second
the Presidential training He bestows
upon them in their developing the
resources OF this great country. The
monstrOsity of coal and the coal fields.
Then the iron and it's unbounded
resources and developments, the
copper and Its industry has developed,
shows that the copper of this country
and it's mining far exceeds that Of the
entire whole world. At the UNI
Verd, mine of Arizona, the shaft
pierced the ore bed at 600 feet and the
drills shows ore 400 feet deeper, still
at the Red Jacket mine in the
Superior district the shaft has been
sunk perpendIcularly nearly 5000 feet,
making it one of the deepest holes of
its kind in the world from which rich
ore has been taken. Notwithstanding
all this Montana is considered Natures
great store house for copper. When
this country was discovered there was
but sixty millions of gold in Europe.
California and the territories have
produced one thousand million in
twenty years. Sixty-one millions was
the largest gold yield in Australia in
any one year. California has several
times produced ninety millions in
year, and every month in the year
along the Pacific coast states there
are new leagues and new mines that
pay rich. 1t is thought by the most
experienced mining experts that but
small portion of the gold has ever
been taken from the ground. With
these facts before Jus the question
ARISES, why was this great continent
hidden SO long from the eye of Europe,
and why after it's discovery was it
kept unsettled century and quarter
longer. All that time it was a work
ing lcaven in the mines of Europe.
| will tell you why in my judgement.
God would not suffer tyrannical ideas
of government or religion to take root
here. He yelled the new world from
che vision of the old, till the old had
cultivated seed worthy to plant the
new. God directed the Mayfower
over the sea so that the Plymouth
fathers were safely landed on
Plymouth rock. He has directed the
course Of our civilization until we
have become great nation. On
December q, 1920, one hundred
volunteer exiles landed on the coast
of New England. Here New England
was born and this was it's first baby
cry, prayer and a thanksgiving to
the Lord. They came with the
noblest purpose that ever did inspire
the breast of an emigrant. See them
land from the Mayflower upon the
frozen beach amid the storms of
winter, Shedding tears that froze as
they fell and yet tears of gratitude.
They had trouble enough with the
Aborigines to drive them together
and to drive to God. They had the
utmost simplicity of manner and
reverance for the Bible and bitter de-
testation for tyranny whether in
church or state. They have not, for
the love of freedom, left their homes
in the old world to become slaves in
the new. The God that instituted
the colonies moulded their history and
kept them connected with the mother
country until they were able to stand