Founded 1892

No. 17

The report of the Reunion, which appears in this number of the JOURNAL, is the work of many willing hands. The Historian to whose lot it fell to combine the material from the several sources found that the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. Harry Mayham Keator, had made provision for a complete report. To his forethought and energy the first acknowledgment is due. The "Roxbury Times" of September 3rd, devoted nearly a page and a half to the doings of the More Family, giving some of the addresses in full, and presenting a wellrounded account of the Reunion as a whole. For this report, of which free use has been made, the JOURNAL herewith expresses its hearty thanks. Mr. Arthur Frisbee Bouton has rendered valuable assistance in editing a full report of the business meeting, with the help of the stenographer's notes. Special contributions have been made by others who will be named, each in his appropriate place. Some details have had to be sketched in from memory. We trust to the tolerance of the readers of the JOURNAL if there are errors or omissions.

The Fifth Reunion of the descendants of John More and Betty Taylor was held at Roxbury, New York, August 27, 28, 29, 30, 1910, in accordance with the announcement made in the preceding issue of the JOURNAL. The register of those in attendance shows 278 names, the largest number since the First Reunion in 1890. Every condition was favorable to the complete success of the program that had been prepared. There was, first of all, a succession of bright summer days. We were given once more the freedom of the beautiful church, perfectly adapted to the needs of the Association, for our various gatherings, business, social, memorial and devotional. The committee on local arrangements had made provision for

*Professor of Greek, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, and Historian of the John

More Association.

the comfort of all visitors, and we were again made welcome by the people of Roxbury. Particular mention is due to Miss Ella Katherine More, who assumed charge of Claremont Hall which had been rented for the occasion, and looked after the comfort of upwards of fifty guests.

The opening event of the Reunion might be said to be the arrival of the special car from Chicago on Friday evening. From that time on it was plain that the most important condition of a successful Reunion would be satisfied, namely, the presence of enthusiastic and loyal members of our family. Throughout the days that followed there prevailed everywhere a spirit of goodwill and fraternity, together with an eager interest in the future as well as the present welfare of our Association that made the occasion a memorable one.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

During Saturday members registered and received their badges at the Jay Gould Memorial Church. The formal program of the Reunion began with the President's Reception, held on Saturday evening in the parlors of the church.

President's Reception.

The arrangements for this most successful gathering were in charge of a committee of the Catskill Mountain Chapter, whose chairman was Mrs. Maria Burhans Lauren. Standing at the end of the room, under a banner of Scotch flags, was the committee designated to receive the guests, President Charles Church More and Mrs. More, of Poughkeepsie, New York, Miss Helen Miller Gould, of Irvington, New York, and Dr. Bruce Smith Keator and Mrs. Keator, of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The occasion was dignified by the presence of many of the older members of the family, at least two of whom, Charles Church More and Liberty Preston More, had passed their

eightieth birthday. The reception was thoroughly informal, and was keenly enjoyed by old and young. The fact that many had come as strangers to a part or to all of the company did not prove a bar to enjoyment. A common basis of friendship was soon established. The cousins went their various ways from the reception feeling that the Reunion had opened most auspiciously.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

On Sunday morning the More descendants in a body attended the regular services at the Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church at 10:30 o'clock and listened to a scholarly and eloquent sermon by the pastor, Rev. N. H. Demarest.

Sacred Musicale.

In the evening an entertainment of rare merit was given by members of the More Family, assisted by Robert Craft and Bruce Kilpatrick, at the Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church. It was a sacred musicale portraying the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and was one of the best musical programs ever rendered in Roxbury, and was highly commended by the large audience that together with the More Fam. ily completely filled the spacious church auditorium and Sunday School room.

In the program which follows, Part I, No. 1, was rendered by a chorus with an antiphonal chorus in the distance; No. 4 was given by a choir of twelve More children, with Ruth Scudder Frisbee Keator carrying the solo part. Part II, No. 1, was rendered by the quartette, Miss Maud Elizabeth Van Alen and Mrs. Helen Van Wagner Davidson and Messrs. Craft and Kilpatrick. No. 3 was a recitation to musical accompaniment by Miss Grace Van Dyke More; No. 5 was a solo by Mr. Craft. Part III, No. 1, was a duet by Miss Van Alen and Mrs. Davidson; No. 2, as well as No. 5 of Part I, was by the chorus of twenty-six members of the More family, with solo parts by Mr. Kilpatrick.

The organ solos and the accompaniment were by Mrs. Bruce Smith Keator, and the violin accompaniment by Mr. Frank Howell Holden. To Mrs. Keator, chairman of the Music Committee, whose rare skill as a musician and whose organizing ability are well remembered by those who heard the sacred concerts in 1900 and 1905, the Association is once again indebted for this most inspiring part of our Reunion program.

"See now the altar garlanded with flowers
Spending their perfume on this festal day.
Hail to our new born King, what joy is ours;
Let every one approach and homage pay.-Cho.
For unto us a child is born at last;
Called Prince of Peace, bringing to us salvation.
Lift up thy voice! The Christ of Bethlehem
Brings hope to thee of full salvation.
Cho. In chorus loud resound His praise;

Let every voice be raised in exultation,
Hosanna! Praise to the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes bringing sal-
vation.

Organ Solo-Andante Cantabile....
Part II-THE DEATH.

Widor

1. "A Legend" Tschaikowski "While yet the Christ was but a child A rose tree in His garden smiled. From which He hoped, by tender care, He might, ere-long, a rose wreath wear; But, when in bloom the roses stood, The Judas children-that fierce broodFell shrieking on the rose tree fair And plucked its twigs and branches bare. "What wreath will choose now for a crown?" They cried. "The roses all are flown.' "Leave but the thorns for my head," This, without wrath, the Christ child said. So, with the naked thorns instead, They twined the crown upon His head. Then shown that forehead pure and good. Not with the rose, but stained with blood." 2. "Olives Brow" .....W. B. Bradbury 'Tis midnight; and on Olive's brow The star is dimmed that lately shown: 'Tis midnight; in the garden now The suffering Savior prays alone. 'Tis midnight; and from ether plains Is borne the song that angels know Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Savior's woe.

They can be no more availing, as when Jesus soothed thy fears.

Raise the strain the heavens are ringing, thousand voices joyous singing,

Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Magdalena, joyful hearted, peace of heaven shall with thee stay,

For the night is now departed. of the day:

Lo! the glory

Christ hath freed the race of mortals, Christ hath burst the grave's dark portals; Hallelujah! Christ is King.

Magdalena, thou delightest in the light that may not wane

Resting where the beams are brightest, Lo'
thou fear'st not death nor pain.
Grief and woe are henceforth banished.
In the day the night has vanished.
Hallelujah! Christ is King.