Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-11-09
The B. |. G. ANNUAL
1t Was Held at Greenville Frida,
Evening
Large Attendance and "A Very Pleas
ant Time Was Had at the Meeting,

The special train last evening took up
80 from Iona and % from Beldng to the
annual meeting of the 3. L. @ association
at Greenville. The visitors were cordial
ly received in the parlors of the Hotel
Phelps, which are admirably suited to an
informal gathering. The first decoration
bestowed was in the shape of very pretty
cognomen card. hand-painted in water
colors, for the more ready remembrance
of names in the social greetings, which
with music guessing contest filled up
the hour before the banquet very agree
ably.
Over 100 sat do Wn to the banquet; at
each plate was menu leaflet. enclosed
in pumpkin design cover, which held
the standing B. |. G. song, and set forth
the items of a most attractive feast; also
at each plate were several song sheets
and carnation. The menu and service
were worth the excellent reputation of
the hotel.
The program was essentially musical
and took place in the dining room immed-
lately following the supper Besides the
singing of the several fraternal songs of
the association by the general assembly,
there were solo numbers and songs by a
male quartette, all most charmingly rem
dered. A conversation at one of the ta-
bles may be taken as fairly illustrative of
the reputation of the three towns. An
lonia lady of undoubtedly literary cul-
ture remarked graciously that in her
opinion Belding is especially distinguished
in literary way; while another said that
Greenylle is certainly eminent for musi-
cal talent and culture; and then somebody
asked, what is Ionia's claim to distinction,
and the Belding gentleman, extremely So
licitous to say something flattering to his
town, in return for the compliment to his
town, after considerable hesitation finally
said that be had always understood that
Ionia was high-toned.
The program certainly gave good evi
dence of Greenville's musical competence,
the company. AS part of it, three brief
speeches were called for by President
Belknap, Supt. Bemis being called for
Ionia, Mr.. Ballou for Beldng and Mr..
Rarden for Greenvlle. These talks were
mostly in jocose vein, although the latter
was more earnest, expressing sentiments
indicating the basis Of attachment, of
membership to the organization, and ex-
pressing the welcome felt by the Green
vile toward the guests of the evening.
A. S. Wright spoke of the worthy SER
vice done by the late Prof. j. w. Ewing
in this county, and moved the superinten-
dents of the three schools be appointed a
committee to draft resolutions expressive
of the sentiment Of the association on his
death, which carried.
President Belknap in closing spoke of
the benefit and pleasure to be derived in
the meetings and emphasized the desira-
bility of giving the social feature prom-
nence in the program. HE said the con-
gratulations Of the association should be
extended to Judge Smith on his matrimo-
nial alliance,
The next meeting is to be held at Ionia.
and the following officers were elected:
PRESIDENT. c. TAYLOR. Ionia.
Vice Presidents Margaret Mum
70, lonia; W. |. Benedict Belding; Miss
Mary Fish, Greenvile
Secretary-Miss Margery c. Streeter,
Ionia.
A half hour following was spent in So
cial way in the parors, md the visitors
left for the train which pulled out at low
IL. The ride to Belding was jolly one,
with free-for-al singing. Belding high
school yells and the Battle Of the Nile
in deeply solemn voice, as steady re-
frain. 1t was the only time known when
the iteration Of the senseless
lines WAS reallv funnv -Ionia Standard