The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, July 17, 1924
BEING SAVED IN THE VILLAGE PARK: The Cantrell evangelistic party which is conducting a campaign against sin in this community is drawing large crowds nightly to the big tent in the village park. There are evidences of an awakening on the part of many to the need of higher ideals in their lives and the acknowledgement of the saving power and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. More than a thousand people from in around the tent last Sunday evening listened attentively to the evangelist's discourse on the theme "It pays to be a Christian."
A men's meeting was held in the tent on Sunday afternoon. where Mr. Pecaut offered a fine solo, "Somebody Knows." Evangelist Cantrell took the platform and for 35 minutes held the closest attention of the large crowd of men and boys as he told them some of the plain facts about sex and the sex problems of the day. He made a moving appeal for purity of thought and life and urged his hearers to rise up in their might against sin in all forms.
At the same hour, Mrs. Pecaut, wife of the song leader, addressed the mothers and daughters of the community at a meeting held in the U. P. Church. The audience completely filled the edifice and all were deeply moved by the appeal which the speaker made in her address, "God's greatest gift, a Mother." The song service was led by Mrs. G. T. Cantrell. The musical features of the nightly meetings at the tent are no small factor in the success of the meetings.
HIKING TO THE COUNTRY: Monday afternoon eleven Boy Scouts of Stronghurst together with the Scoutmaster went on an over night hike to the home of W. W. Ross. The Scoutmaster took his car and hauled the tents and other impediments for the boys so when the tired boys arrived, some of the tents were already up. Soon all were up and numerous camp fires were burning merrily, indicating the desire of hungry scouts to supply the inner man.
Mrs. Ross proved herself the hostess superb. She provided iced tea, fruit sauces, eggs and then when the boys had well eaten, a big freezer of ice cream that was "some" cream; cookies topped off the dessert. Oh, boy, what a feed! One of the scouts was so overcome that he feelingly made the motion that the group hike to Ross's every Monday afternoon.
After many games, the tired scouts crawled into their tents and when they could quiet their exuberance and cease from throwing a few vagrant shoes, they slumbered until morning light. After breakfast cooked over the camp fires, they folded their tents (not silently stealing away like Arabs) thanked Mrs. Ross for her kindness and were off for home voting this hike a dandy time.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Ex-Congressman J. W. Graham of this district, who is now the presiding judge of the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals at Washington, D.C. was the guest of honor at a luncheon in Monmouth at the Kiwanis club. Mrs. Mary (Finch) Dawson of American Falls, Idaho, who was sent as a delegate to the war mothers' convention at Davenport, Iowa, extended her trip to Stronghurst for a visit with her mother Mrs. Finch at the old home south of town. Walter Woodward is assisting at Harold Simonson's farm near Olena. Frank Johnson shipped two loads of hogs for the Association: one from Media and one from Stronghurst. Mrs. Addie Gray came from her home at Syracuse, Kans. for a visit with her mother, Mrs. M. Crane and her brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Crane. A family reunion of the Germanicus Bowen family at the old home in Terre Haute was a very pleasant event last Saturday night. A splendid supper was served (long list of attendees in this article). Little Helen Sutliff of Burlington visited the home of her grandmother, Jennie Galbraith. Mrs. Alice DeAtley of Kansas City, Mo. arrived for a three weeks visit with her mother, Mrs. S. S. Slater and sisters, Miss Grace and Mrs. Ivins. County Farm Agent Walker went to Oquawka to attend a meeting on the T. B. eradication committee of the county Farm Bureau which convenes for the purpose of selecting a county veterinarian from the list of applicants for that position. Mr. Levi Ray and Mr. Ditch of Roseville, Ill, accompanied by C.S.Cooper of Raritan drove the Ray car here and picked up B. L. Mudd and the Graphic editor before journeying to the river near Carman; they spent the day fishing. The S.A.D. Steffey home in the village has been the scene of a happy family reunion. A. J. Steffey and family of Norwood, Minn., Chester Steffey and family of Basco, Ill., and Harry Winter and family of Maysville, Mo.. All spent several days in the parental home.
Real estate agent George Chant reports the sale of Mrs. Annie Smith residence in the West part of town occupied by J. W. Denum and family to Mr. Gus Johnson. A bunch of about 25 from the Dallas City Christian Church, comprising the Philathea and Berean Classes, traveled to Stronghurst Thursday afternoon to enjoy a picnic supper with the Cantrell-Pecaut bunch of devil chasers in the Stronghurst Park and attended the revival meeting that night. Some went in autos and some by train, all taking well filled baskets and report a joyful evening. Mr. and Mrs. N. W. Grainger have located in Stronghurst and are engaged in remodeling and refitting the rooms in the McElhinney building recently vacated by O. R. Gent. They will engage in the practice of the Chiropractic profession. Mr. Grainger is a recent graduate of the Davenport school of Chiropractic and Mrs. Grainger is a student in the same institution.