The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-07

Hundreds of people thronged the
bluffs at beautiful Sibley park yes
terday afternoon, congregating there
to attend the first vesper service ever
held there by the united churches of
the city. The day was sweltering hot
and the spectators sought the shady
spots on the side of the hill where a
cooling breeze and shade from the hot
sun added to their comfort. Among
the large audience were many visitors
and former residents, brought back to
renew old friendships, and visit dear
familiar scenes of former days.
At five O'Clock the program opened,
Rev. A. F. Winter presiding, and aft
er few appropriate remarks of well
come he asked everybody to join in
singing the doXology. AS the words
of the sacred old song echoed from
hundreds of threats, resounding from
the shady bluff, the scene became
very impressive, and spirit of holt
ness seemed to descend over Goods
first temples" Rev. Winter contin-
ued to preside throughout the meet
ting and announced the different
numbers of the program.
Rev. w. E. Evans delivered the in
vocation, and led in the repetition of
the Lords Prayer, the murmur of
voices, like the voices of reverent
multitude, rising to the clear blue
heavens. The entire assembly then
united in singing Nearer My God to
Thee after which scripture readings
were given by Rev. G.. j. Shut, and
Rev. Henry Moss. The orchestra, un-
der the direction of Alvin Skog, gave
a number of very pleasing selections
during the program, which lost none
of their sweetness from being given
in the open air, but were rather in
creased in beauty.
Rev. T. Ross Paden offered prayer,
after which the Orpheus club, under
the direction of d. NJ. Jones, sang
'The Destruction of GaZa'' This
splendid organization of talented men
and the efficient dictatorship of Mr..
Jones, gave several songs during the
program, the mighty choruses being
very well rendered, and appropriate
to the service Three addresses were
given, all dealing with the home COM
ing event, which is now holding the
attention of Mankato, and the his
torical pageant, which is to be one
Of the biggest attractions ever staged
in Southerns Minnesota.
"The Home of Yesterday"
Rev. G. A. Cahoon spoke of "The
Home of Yesterday" Vividly he
described the little pioneer homes
which at one time dotted the country
which is now Mankato and vicinity,
and described the habits of the peo-
pie of those early days. He stated
that he was well qualified to describe
these homes of yesterday as his par
ents had come to an adjoining county
in 1864, and seven years latter he had
been born in the first frame house in
that part of the county. Although
the pioneer homes were often homes
of privation they were Christian
homes, and developed sturdy up
right characters, and in closing his
brief talk Rev. Cahoon expressed the
hope that the Spirit of Almighty God
might be manifested in the homes
of today, as it had been manifested in
the homes of yesterday The Or
pheus club then united in singing the
Crusaders.
Rev. o. j. Arthur was the second
speaker, and his topic was 1.-The
Home of Today" Rev. Arthur dwelt
strongly on the piety of the pioneers,
whose greatest happiness lay in their
own homes, and whose Christian lives
were an example worthy of emula-
ton. He compared the homes of the
present with the homes of pioneer days
and the homes of the present suffered
thereby, as although in riches, beau
tiful appointments, ETC., they far ex-
celled the pioneer homes, there APP
peared to be something lacking in
many modern homes, and that was
Christian piety, which made home the
dearest and most sacred place of ALL
People of the present time spent a
very small part of their time in the
home, he stated, which was a sad
state Of affairs, as there is no place
like a good Christian home for the
development of noble and beautiful
characters. "Let our slogan be Back
to the Home" said Rev. Arthur. The
audience, led by the Orpheus club,
united in singing Coronation"
"The Home Eternal"
Rev. r. W. Hobbs spoke of t"The
Home Eternal, -; showing that the
man who has but the "home of yes
terday," precious though that men,
DRY be; or the man who has but the
"home of today" but was no hope for