The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-07-08
LOCAL NEWS
ZION'S FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC A
PRONOUNCED SUCCESS ~
Every Moment of the Day Filled with In
teresting Features Scarf Drill a very
Pleasing Performance

July Fourth is the one big holiday of
the year for Zion people On this day all
Zion people in Zion City attend the picnic
in Shiloh Park, giving themselves over to
a time Of wholesome recreation and enjoy
ment. This picnic is not only attended by
the people of Zion City, but by numbers
from Chicago, Kenosha, and other nearby
points.
1t would perhaps be difficult to find a
Fourth of July celebration in the country
where every moment of the day is more
fully occupied with interesting features,
or where the people seem to more thor
Oughly enjoy themselves. One Of the dis
tinctive features Of Zion Fourth of July
picnic is the entire absence of fireworks.
This is not so unusual now as formerly,
other towns and cities in the United States
having abolished the practice. However,
it is not generally known that Dr. Dowie
was the pioneer who condemned the bar
barous and dangerous practice of cele-
brating Independence Day with ex-
plosives. 1t was his voice that first rang
over the land in advocating "sane
Fourth" and while editorial writer's do
not give him credit for it, it was he who
originated the movement in this direction,
which has of late years been so fruitful in
preserving the life and limb of the young
people of the country, compared to the
havoc Of former years
Another very distinctive feature is the
entire absence of smoking on the grounds.
The picnic held in Shiloh Park last Tues
day, which many hundreds Of people at
! tended, was the one and the only Fourth
Of July celebration anywhere in the United
States where women were not annoyed by
having the fumes of tobacco smoke puffed
in their faces, and where the children
could romp and play in a pure and un-
defiled atmosphere.
There are other things which make a
Zion picnic different from others, such as
the absence Of intoxicated persons on the
grounds, the exclusion of dancing, and of
various immoral influences, but we can
not take time to mention them all here.
1t would be hard to imagine more
ideal day than last Tuesday. It was
simply perfect. The sun shown clear and
bright, and the air was cool and invigorat-
ing The streets were neither dusty nor
muddy.
| At 9 a. m. the various Zion Bands and
| orI oH
march at the corner Of 9th street and
Elijah avenue The parade was headed
by Chief Of Police A. A. Walker and Lieut.
Geo. Stried, Of the Fire Department, ac-
companied by Zion Guards bearing the
national and Zion colors Following in
line of formation came the Senior Band,
Senior Guard, Junior Band, Junior Guard,
and Zion new Flute Band The line of
march was south on Elijah avenue, west
on 29th street, and north to the Park, and
as the parade moved down Elijah avenue,
past the Administration Building and Zion
Home, to the music Of the bands, the sight
was inspiring and beautiful. AS it passed
into the grounds, upon arrival at the
Park it was reviewed by the General Over
seer from the observation stand
During the forenoon, band concert
was given until 80 a. M, and at various
hours during the day music was furnished
in turn by the different bands.
Perhaps few people have stopped to
think what beautiful natural park Zion
has for occasions of this kind. This was
especially remarked by visitors from a
distance.
Recreation was furnished for the little
folks by merry go-round, ferris wheel,
rocking boat, slides, swings, etc., distri-
buted at various points over the grounds.
Some of the features Of the day which
created much amusement was spectacu-
lar dress race, ladies blindfolded race,
an obstacle race, Japanese swinging log,
boom and pillow contest, and the tug-of-
war. There were athletic contests, includ-
ing tennis matches, baseball, basket ball,
and races for boys and girls, as we'll as
older people. In the evening there were
lawn games, throwing the boomerang,
balloon ascensions, bonfres, night il
luminations, and other attractions
: Perhaps the most beautiful and attrac-
tive feature of the day was a scarf drill
performed by 70 young ladies, on the
athletic field, with band accompaniment
AS they marched into the field dressed in