The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
LOudOun Chautauqua Dates
Back Thirty Years.
QUAKERS STARTED MOVEMENT
Each Year Association Adds New
Features - To-day and Yesterday
Observed as EvangelistIc DRys-On
Patriotic Day Senator Martin and
Representative CnrIin VIII Speak.
eclal to rhs Washington Hernld

perance Chautauqua, which began its
| annual session here on last Tuseday and
will continue until next Wednesday
organization Of its character in the South
les history and growth are interesting
and remarkable
1t had its origin In a county temperance
society founded in the Quaker settle
ments OF Isoudoun IN the early 7Os.
Just what was the membership OF the
society in those days The Washington
Herald's correspondent does not know.
but it was comparatively small. aad the
members were widely scattered. There
was, however. at about that time fairly
strong lodges at Lincoln, Waterford.
Hillsboro. Leesburg. and other towns in
the northern part OF the county.
Started in 1873.
At a meeting Of the county organiza-
ton held at Lincoln oa March IS. 1878.
with John w. Thomas as the presiding
officer, a resolution was passed on mo-
ton OF the late E l. Bennett. for many
years clerk OF the Circuit Court OF LOU
doun. to hold q bush or camp meeting.
devoted to gospel temperance. at Pucen-
vile, on the first Tuesday IN August OF
that year. lasting three days
This first meeting was not largely at
tended. owing 10 the fact that but little
sympathy had yet developed in the coun-
ty Leesburg was alive with saloons. and
liquor was also sold az other points in
the county. Only local talent was en-
poyed at the meeting, and at It's con-
clusion. though there were but few Wis
ible results. the leaders announced them
selves satisfied.
The late +. L. Bennett presided at this
first public meeting with twenty-three as
sociates. Of whom DR.. J. W. Taylor, OF
Hillsboro: L. Dow Hess. Of Hamilton:
Joseph II. Jewett, OF Lincoln; Henry
Whitlock. OF Aldie; Judge J. b. McCabe.
OF Leesburg; 7. A. Baker, OF Purcellvile,
and others are now deceased. In fact,
there are but few survivors.
The first Tuesday In August, 1872 a
second meeting was held with Mr.. Ben
nett IS its chairman. I'm which more lively
interest was taken.
Brought Local Option Law.
From this meeting the society began 10
bear fruit On December 4, 1872, at a
meeting OF the county lodge. Mai James
F. Divine presiding. a resolution was
adopted providing for special petitions
from every part Of the county asking for
a special local option law for the county
OF LOudTun. which was enacted February
10. 1850. through the earnest efforts OF
William Matthews and George r. Head.
who represented Loudoun In the legis-
lature.
In 1881 the fourth bush meeting was
held, beginning the first Tuesday IN Au-
gust. with Thomas L. Taylor as chair
man and c. c. Gaver as secretary and
treasurer. Mr.. Gaver has continued as
secretary Of the organization until the
present time, and was also its treasurer
for fourteen consecutive years, OF until
a. 3. Davis. the present treasurer. was
elected 70 that Office in 1895.
The first meetings were held under the
shade OF the trees. with a rude stand for
the speakers. Later a tent was pur-
chased. as the attendance began 10 grow.
and for years the meetings were held
under canvas.
HOge Gave 1t New Life.
At the fourteenth annual meeting. IN
1881. Daniel J. Hoge was elected presi-
dent and has held the office continually
since that time. Mr.. Hoge gave the or
ganization new life. Noted talent began
TO De employed, and the annual sessions
began to attract widespread attention.
The attendance grew from hundreds into
thousands. The work Of reforming the
county went speedily onward. until to-
day there is not saloon IN the county.
In all the years the association has
els f~svT~~
weather for its meetings, there being but
one Incident IN It's history TO mar its
pleasures This occurred on August 9
1894. Just as the meeting was drawing 10
close for the year, a terrific tornado.
the most severe ever known IN the
county struck the grounds. There were
between 1900 and 1000 persons there, and
the grove was full OF horses and We
hicles In a moment the scene was turned
Into one Of wild confusion.
One Person Killed.
The storm not only tore great limbs
from the trees. but giant oaks were
twisted of and sent crashing 10 earth
among the terrified people and the
maddened horses. A rush was made for
the tent for shelter and protection. and
with hundreds under its folds its moor
ings were torn away and with a mighty
crash It fell, imprlsoning its occupants
In falling one OF the tent poles struck
John Nichols. aged twenty-five years. on
the head, crushing his skull and killing
him instantly. Two others were seri- |
Cusly hurt. while a large number received
INJURIES.
The tent was cut and ripped into rib
bons. but the next year the association
appeared with a new and much larger
canvas, in which the meetings were held |
until 1903, when the present commodlous
was built
Each year the association has strive, /
10 put forth q more attractive programme !
adding features annually. Only two davs
of each annual gathering is now devoted /
strictly TO the prohibition cause. One
day is given TO the Sunday schools OF |
the county. a shalf day to the Woman's /
Christian Temperance Union two and a /
half days to evangelistic services, and /
two days to general and patriotic ad- |
dresses.
Now n Big Reunion.
No other event In this section OF the
State is referred to so frequently as the
Bush Meeting" II IS a reunion occa-
sion for thousands OF people. and by
force Of circumstance has become an
established institution
The evangelistic part OF the meeting
for this year began yesterday at noon
under the leadership of Rev. Richard
Wilkinson, of Augusta. Ca, and will con- |
tinue until Sunday night There will be |
no exercises on Monday until after night |
when a moving picture exhibition and
concert Will be given. On Tuesday morn |
ing a grand concert will be given bv |
Parsons Fourth Regimental Band ana
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