Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-03-23

Ladies' of the Congregational Church
Cover. Themselves with Honor
-Gentlemen's Banquet One of
the Finest Ever.


Covered with highest honors the ladies'
of the Congregational church retired
from their last nights banquet with a
credit in their favor that will not soon be
forgotten. The menu was as tempting
as one could well wish and one that for
point Of beauty in selection and serving
has meyer been beaten in the city, and
to the ladies Of the society who success
fully carried the matter through the high
est honors are due.
100 men answered the call that sum-
moned them to the festal board and al
Of them did ample justice to the regal
spread accorded them, and as the last
course was carefully laid away in its re-
ceptacle Deacon Lapham, who had been
selected as POSTMASTER of the occasion,
arose and after paying beautiful COM
pment to the ladies of the society for
their success in building SO fine repast
stated that the objects sought by ban
quet Of this kind we're to get the hearts
Jf the ordinary business men nearer TO
The doors of the sanctuary and if possible
secure their attendance at the regular
services of the church. There is ten
dency, he said, for the men TO allow their
~lves to handle that portion of their as
sets which belong to spiritual affairs and
The Sunday services as well as the week
day services were noticeable for the
dearth Of the sterner sex. IL a change
could be brought about the banquet
would not have been in vain, He then
introduced in his own way Geo. w. Moul-
ton, whom he said would propose the
coast, Our City," Mr.. Moulton made a
fine talk and spoke of the proposed water
works system which will be found in an
other column.
He was followed by Mayor Wilson who
responded to the toast in we'll chosen
words which showed that his heart was
well in sympathy with the welfare of our
little city.
DR.. j. n. Armstrong and H. j. Leonard
handled the subject of Our Business
Men in a manner that at once won its
way to the hearts of all present, Mr.
Armstrong making witty references to
some of those who have helped to make
our city what it is. And Mr.. Leonard
resorting to the language of poets to tell
lis appreciation Of Our Business Man.
Mrs. DR.. Armstrong then gave a fine
,olo which was we'll received and loudly
lpplauded by all present, following
which G. II. Barr spoke briefly on the
subject of Our Young Men," He paid
his respects TO the young lady who al
lowed the years to glide by without as
sumng the role Of housewife. and urged
ali of the young men to do all in their
power to keep these ladies from a disas-
Ter Of that kind.
n. L. VanBenscoten, former Bedding
citizen, and now resident of North Da-
6ota, was called upon and told of his
pleasure at being permitted to meet in
such an assemblage as this. He said he
lad chosen one of the most advantageous
countries on earth flor his abiding place
and speaking of the atmosphere COM
.nended it to his listeners as a grand
remedy for mat tired feeling.
Dr. Ferguson then proposed the toast,
The Ladies" and paid high compliment
TO those who had been instrumental in
bringing about banquet of the caliber
Of the kind presented this evening. He
vas followed by the versatile F. A.
Washburn, whose bouquets for the ladies'
we're so fragrant that the fragrance is
still observable.
Rev. A. Secord then proposed toast
to Our Guests" and said that he was ur-
1oubtedly the happiest man in the large
4ssemblage. He hoped that coming days
night find large percentage Of those in
attendance at the banquet numbered
among the regular attendants at church
in the future. Rev. j. B. Silcox of Lans-
ng, responded to the toast and as one OF
The guests told Of the grand work which
mad been and was still being accomplish
ed by the church. The church ano
school 60 hand in hand in the enlighten-
ment and betterment Of the world and
that man who fails to sit within the drop
pings of the sanctuary loses an opportun-
ty that could not be found in other
walks Of life.
After another song by the Bedding Male
9uartette the assemblage retired to their
homes happy in the fact that their lives
mad been cast in such pleasant places.
heath rate in New York and Chicago.