Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1910 — THANKSGIVING CHEER [ARTICLE]

THANKSGIVING CHEER

Big Audience Attended and Contributions Shew Hany to Be In a Giving Mood. The Thanksgiving service given by all the churches in a union pt the Christian church Tuesday evening was a splendid success and the large auditorium and the Sunday school rooms were filled with one of the finest audiences ever congregated in Rensselaer. Probably six hundred people attended the service. Many brought packages containing something to be distributed under the directions of the ministers to the worthy poor and there were chickens, potatoes, canned fruit, vegetables, etc.. In large quantities. The silver offering amounted to $33.60. The names of twenty-four worthy and needy families had been handed to the ministers and this Wednesday morning the provinder was distributed, the money being used to buy things to help each family have a good Thanksgiving dinner. The distribution fell upon Revs. Clarke and Green, owing to the absence of Rev. Parrett to conduct the funeral of Mrs. Rusk at Rantoul, 111., and to Rev. Harper being in charge of the funeral of Mrs. Simons, held this morning.

The program as printed In the Republican was carried out and proved very interesting, holding the closest attention of the large audience. The choruses by the young ladies and gentlemen instructed by Mrs. Thompson proved very popular. It was fortunate this year to have Mr. W. Cheney Beckwith and Mrs. Josephine PhippsShore here and they were very kind to give so liberally of their services, both responding to the applause so liberally given them by giving extra numbers. Another very pleasant, feature was the readings by Miss Eva Miller, who gave “The Ruggles Family,” in a very delightful manner and followed it with "An Old Sweetheart of Mine.” Miss Miller graduated from Shortridge high school at Indianapolis last June, when only 15 years of age and her ability as an elocutionist is very extraordinary. She is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kirk. The, speaking and solo numbers were all very much enjoyed. Among the speakers were Ruth Clark, Josephine Washburn and Cecil Lee. The solos were by Mrs. J. A. Dunlap, Mrs. G. H. Healey, Miss Esther Padgitt and Miss Bernice Long. The program throughout was pronounced a very excellent one and the audience seemed reluctant to leave after the end of the program had been reached.