Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-07-15
The Early Settlers
In Annual Reunion

Inc Early Settlers of COdington
county held their adjourned
ton on July 9. The program as pub
lished in this paper July 1 was car
ried out in full with one or two vari-
atoms.
Fred. J. stroup of South Shore pre-
sided and briefly addressed the gath
ering. The response was by Miss
Flora Spicer. In place of Hon. G. w.
Case, Hon. J. B, Hanten delivered the
annual address, Mr.. Case being abb
sent. Rev. c.. J. Christianson deliy-
cred the memorial address.
The officers chosen for the ensuing
year are the following:
President-Fred j. Stroup, South
Shore.
Vice PRESIDENT. j. Purcell, KAN
peska.
Secretary-Mrs. Alex Dawson, Wa
tertown.
Treasurer-Mrs. Geo. Heathcote,
Watertown.
The readings by the Misses Kemple
and Wagner were received with en-
thusiasm, as was the music by the
Grover band, which,, by the way, is
declared to be fast developing into
a musical organization of an excep-
tlOIally nlSn OrQer.
For the first time in four years Rev.
A. D. Chase was present and was
called upon for remarks. He respond
ed very briefly, but requested Rev.
Mr.. Christensen to read the balance
of his speech from manuscript.
Elder Chase's Speech.
81 am glad to meet you again in
our annual convocation and to grasp
the friendly Land and pass a few
hours together upon this chosen place
so beautifully adorned by nature and
grandly hallowed by the associations
of the past, for this to US seems al
MOST "a consecrated spot, for here
many of our friends, the early settlers
Of the county, have joined in other
years with us in our festivities and
greetings and paid devotion and hom-
age to those called to the spirit land
and we meet to discharge the sacred
duties binding upon us to bring to
our minds upon this occasion the
memory of those who have passed
from us during the past year, joining
the great throng, the vast majority, in
the great beyond-in the home Of the
spirit. We should cherish and M
ulate their many virtues, and their
many deeds of kindness should lin
ger long with us, being imbedded in
our hearts by the associations of the
past.
why these are taken and we are
spared is not a question that we can
debate. The knowledge of our Heav-
emily Father is far superior to ours
His wisdom and ways are past find
ing out by us. 1t is ours to yield
gracefully to his will. How shall we
best perform the obligations we are
under to the dead as well as to the
living? We a do it only by de-
our lives to deeds of Kindness,
to those in need of sympathy, in
helping to bear the burdens imposed
upon them. Scatter Joy and good
ness wherever o go. Let in the
sunshine, cast out the gloom; and as
you go to your homes, turn every pic
ture to the wall that does no light
UP your homes with Joy and glad
ness.
Let the sacred and holy thoughts
life and of being and of God, dwell
in the sacred sanctuary of the soul,
then shall be cast out all darkness
and sadness caused by the contem-
of death. Gaze with enrap-
joy upon the few trials and diff
hculties that seem to beset your path
knowing their nothingness.
"As you realize the grandeur,
greatness and allness of God, drive
put of your consciousness every note
of discord and inharmony. Feast
upon the rich dainties spread before
you every moment of our existence
and your soul will be satisfied. And,
like the eagle, soar above the earth
clouds when storms approach and
i've in the atmosphere pure and calm
where heavens sunlight is contin-
lous.'