Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/170

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES even the w ires lent themselves lo the purpose of the decoration committee, all uniting in m aking a scene th.it was gorgeous in its mag­ nificent splendor. There w as scarcely a resi­ dence within the town limits that did not show its loyalty to the spirit of the occasion. Many strangers were heard to exclaim that the deco­ rations were more elaborate than they had ever seen in a place the size o f Bloomsburg. Beauti­ fu l arches electrically illuminated were erected at the Town Hall, Courthouse, Market ^ l u r e. F ifth and Market, W est and Main, I.conard and Main, East and Fifth streets. That at M arket Square w as erected by the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Royal Arcanum, and the others out of the general fund. T he Centennial exercises opened on W ednesday evening. Aug. 27, 1902, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, where an audi­ ence o f 6w o thousand people assembled. It w as an inspiring sight, and an occasion never to be forgotten. On the platform sat all the clergymen of the town, and addresses were made by Rev. D. K irkby. rector o f St. P au l’s Episcopal Church, whose text was Psalm xlviii, 9 - 14 : Rev. J. R. Murphy, pastor o f S t. Columba's Roman Catholic Church, whose subject w as "T h e Ethics o f Politics”; and R ev. Dr. W. M . Frysingcr, pastor of the M ethodist Episcopal Church, who took fo r his discourse, "W hat do wc owe to the Blooms­ b u rg o f a hundred years ago, and what do we ow e to the Bloomsburg o f a hundred years from now?” T he addresses were all able and appropriate, and were listened to with marked attention. Rev. T. D. Smith of the Baptist Church offered the invocation: Rev. W. R. W hitney. Methodist, read a scripture lesson; R ev. M. E. M cLinn, I.utheran. made a p rayer; and R e v. | . W. Bentz, Evangelical, pronounced the benediction. 'The music fo r the occasion was furnished by (he Centennial Chorus, organized from the variou s churches and numbering nearly one hundred, led by P rof. O. H . Yetter. They rendered K ipling’s hymn. "G od of our Fath ers.” and Mozart’s "G loria,” and led in the hymns. "A ll Hail the Pow er o f Jesu s' Nam e,” "H o ly, H oly, H oly.” and "A m erica.” M ade up as it was. of the town’s best vocal talent, the music was all beautifully ren d e r^ . M rs. Fred Holmes presided at the organ. N ever before had there been such an assem­ blage in Bloomsburg. Never before had an audience listened to addresses from the same platform, at the same time, by Episcopalian. Roman Catholic .ind Methodist clergymen. It wa.s a most auspicious opening of the celebra­

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tion, and it was fitting that wc should show our loyalty to our town by first showing our loyalty to (he Great Creator. On Thursday morning, Aug. 28th. at 8 o’clock, (he ringing o f all the church bells and the blowing o f all the factory whistles for five minutes ushered in the prt^ram of the day. Brass bands arrived from W ilkes-Barre, Cata­ wissa, Berw ick, Buckhorn and Lime Ridge. The Bloomsburg Band gave its service gratu­ itously both days. A il incoming trains brought throngs o f visitors, and the streets looked like a county fair. Governor Stone, who had accepted an invi­ tation to be present, arrived in the morning, accompanied by his private secretary, in time to attend the Historical meeting in the Normal School auditorium at half past ten o'clock. A large audience w as present. Upon the stage and in the audience were many men and women who helped to make Bloomsburg a pro­ gressive industrial and educational center. M ayor Townsend presided, and opened the meeting with appropriate remarks. H e then presented to Roland Hemingway the prize offered by the Century club for the best his­ torical essay on the "T ow n o f Bloomsburg,” the prize being ten dollars in gold. Addresses were made by Governor Stone and Hon. Fred Ikclcr, a brief histoty* of the several churches in Bloomsburg w as read by Rev. D. N. K irkby, and an historical address on Bloomsburg was delivered by Col. J . G . Freeze. Several selec­ tions were sung by the Centennial Chorus. .At half past two the civic and industrial pa­ rade started from the fa ir grounds. It was headed by mounted police, followed by W . O. Holmes, chief marshal, and his aides. C . W. Funston, C. W. M cK elvy, A. W . D uy and S. H. Harman. Then foUowed. in order, the Bloomsburg B a n d; Governor Stone and M ayor Tow nsend; Bloomsburg town council; Dan­ ville Post, G . A . R .; Ent Post, G . A . R .; the Catawissa B an d; Knights of the Golden Eagle o f Bloomsburg and C ataw issa; Lim e Ridge B an d; Patriotic O rder Sons o f A m erica: O r­ der o f United .American Mechanics; Orange­ ville B an d; Jun ior O. U. A. M .; B ric k l^ ’crs’ and Masons' Union o f B erw ick; Y. M. C. A. Cadets o f Berwick, led by Col. A. D. S ccly; lohn K nox Commandery. Knights o f Malta, No. 12. o f W ilkes-B arre; the Berwick Ban d; the Locomobile Club o f Bloom sburg: the Ninth Regiment Band o f W ilkes-B arre: in­ dustrial and mercantile floats. A prize of $25 was awarded John K n o x Commandery for best appearance o f secret organizations, and a specLil prize o f $20 for exhibition drill.