Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-05-29
STATE so yF,.,,,
", ,uAE 1918
JUNE 20 WILL NOT ONLY MARK
WEST vlRGlNIA,s FIFTlETH
BIRTHDAY BUT ALSO
STATEWIDE cELE.
BRATION.
WEST VIRGINIA AROUSED
OFFICIAL Celebration In Wheeling VIII
Be Supplemented BY Observance
Throughout the State OF Golden
Jubilee.

Scene: Any free school in West
Virginia.
Time: Present.
Characters: Teacher, pupils, par
ents and other visitors including
school officials.
Teacher: Willie Tell, please arise
What date are all West Virginians go
ing to celebrate this year?
Willie: Friday, June 20.
Teacher: What anniversary falls on
that date?
Willie: The Semi-Centennial of the
State.
Teacher: Give us in few words
some facts about the birth OF west
Virginia.
Willie: The first steps that led up
to the formation of West Virginia as
an independent state were taken ID
1851. On January Z, Of that year. the
Virginia General Assembly met in e1
uaordinary session, and week later
ordered an election held February 4
for delegates to q state convention at
the Capitol February Is. This con
vention passed an Ordinance Of Sc
cession April IT. The vote which was
taken in secret was So in favor; ~5o
opposed Meetings Of protest fol
lowed, but on the 18th Of June the
Virginia Declaration Of independence
was adopted in convention. Ordinance
reorganizing and restoring the Vir
ginia state government passed June
10, with Francis H. Pierpont as gov
ernor.
Teacher: Very good, Willie. Now /
shall ask Ina Speaker to take up the
story from this point. Ina, what
happened next?
lima Speaker: At meeting Of the
convention August 20 an ordinance
was passed ordering an election with
in the boundaries of the new state.
Teacher: What was the date of this
meeting?
lima Speaker: October "a, 1851. II
was at this meeting that the ques-
lions of division and of delegates
came I'D. The vote for a new state
was largely in its favor, the vote be
ing 1889 for and 4S1 against. A new
constitution was framed and ratified
by the people April 3, 1862, by vote
of 1882 to 514.
The loyal assembly Of restored gov
eminent of Virginia met IN Wheeling,
May 18th, and gave consent OF Vir.
ginia to formation of West Virginia
May goth certified copy of the Con.
stitution was presented by Senator
Wiley in the U. s. Senate.
Bill for the admission Of West Vir-
ginia passed Senate July 14th. In the
House Of Representatives, the bill was
made the order of the day for Deem.
Der 9th. Passed the House, Decem
Der 10th, and was approved, as New
Years gift, by President Lincoln, the
night of December 81, 1852.
The Convention which had framed
the Constitution, without emancipa
ton, was recalled and reassembled
February II, 1863. The emancipation
patch was put on, and the amended
instrument ratified March 26, 1868.
April Goth President Lincoln, hav-
ing received the certificate of ratif.
cation, issued proclamation declar.
ing West Virginia State in the Union
sixty days from that date.
June 20, 1863, West Virginia was in.
augurated and first administrative of.
ficers assumed their duties, at the
temporary capitol, the Linsly Insti.
tute, in the city of Wheeling.
School Oficial: wish to compli.
ment the teacher who has 80 success.
fully impressed upon the memories of
these pupils this particular bit Of his
tory that we all, young and old, should
be familiar with. l also wish to ex
press to these two pupils my pleasure
at the intelligent manner in which
they have related the incidents lead.
ing UP to the birth of West Virginia as
a state.
You all know that there is to be a
honor of the states f1ftieth anniver
sary. The official place where these
exercises are to be held is the city
of Wheeling. An elaborate program
is being prepared. In addition, how
ever, to this official recognition of the
tons everywhere throughout the state.
1 want the children of our great free
school system to take a lively interest
In this great event, and assist in ev.
cry way they can to make the day
one long to be remembered. The
Semi Centennial Commission has been
very much interested in the schools
and school children Of our state and
are going to present two flags to ev.
cry school-one U. 8. flag and one
state fag-the latter made and de-
signed especially for the celebration
play a prominent part in the exer.
cises in commemoration of the states
natal day and the Semi-Centenniai
Commission will undoubtedly see to II
that a place is reserved for you IN
the program. In addition to any for
NAL part that You may take, however.
there is nothing to prevent you from
holding a meeting of your own, elect
ing officers and preparing a days out
ing for yourselves. Why not picnic
and games and jolly good time after
the official program is over? Think 1t
over, and IL 1t appeals to you call your
meeting early, as June 20 is not far
distant. and let your teacher assist
you in formulating our organization
or club. Why not call it after your
school, the School Semi-Centennial
Club, for instance. All children should
observe June 20. Let our school be
one of the first to take steps in that
direction.
fiere is Relief for Women.
II you have pain in the back, Urinary, Bladder or