MASON CITY LODGE, NO. 337, OF I. O. O. F.-Regular Meeting every Thursday evening in their hall, LaForge Block. G. W. Ellsberry, N. G. P. Mundt, Secretary.

One characteristic of the people of Mason City, and that to which we attribute the success and healthfulness of every department of her trade and her manufactures, is the system of home patronage she has always pursued. Her own mechanics are the first choice of her citizens for them to bestow their patronage on. Her own merchants are the persons who receive the patronage of her manufacturers and mechanics. This system of mutual patronage is one of the most commendable as well as the most profitable that can be pursued. It increases and fosters neighborly feeling, sociability, and the improvement of society, and is alike commendable and desirable to the head, the heart and the pockets of the people who practice it. It is not a principle of selfishness, but is an application of that christian principle which is older than christianity; practiced, recommended and enforced in the days of Confucious, adopted in a negative form by later rulers, and affirmatively commanded by the founder of the Christian system, viz: "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you."

POSTMASTERS IN MASON CITY.

The first Postmaster, on the establishment of an office in that city, was Mr. A. A. Cargill. Then Israel Hibberd, E. J. Mell,

J. H. Cleveland, Miss Louisa Hoyt, and J. S. Baner, the present gentlemanly incumbent.

Mr. Cargill, in addition to being the first Postmaster of the city, served a second term in that office, between the terms of Mr. Hibberd and Mr. Mell.

The observance of the

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

Is thus set forth by the Journal, published at Mason City: The celebration of the Centennial Fourth of July in Mason City was satisfactory, in its general particulars, to all who participated. Great preparations had been made, and on Monday P. M. the prospects were fair for a good time, and an occasion of pleasure without any alloy. The heavy wind and rain storm of Monday night seriously damaged the wigwam and flooded the ground, so that on the morning of the Fourth everything looked inauspicious, and disappointment sat on every countenance. By nine o'clock, however, such large numbers of people were coming into town, that it was evident that the war of the elements had not in the least quenched the patriotism of the people, and that the prospects for a glorious Fourth were still good. A large force of men were put at work to repair the wigwam, and it was determined to proceed with the programme as arranged.

Immediately after dinner the procession was formed by Capt. Weaver, the Marshal, in front of the Journal office. The Mason City band took the lead. Following next came the chariots of State, the first one representing the States in the Union in 1776; the second one the Union as it is now. In each chariot the States were represented by young misses, appropriately dressed. These chariots were followed by the fire company, with the engine ornamented and bedecked with flags. Next came the carriages with the speakers, the clergy, the members of the press, and a lengthy procession of citizens. After marching through the principal streets, the line of march was concluded at the wigwam. The ground about the wigwam was, in consequence of the rain, in a very damp condition, but every one seemed willing to make the best of the situation, and the programme was gone through with with great interest to all. After music by the band, and an eloquent prayer by Father Randle, and a patriotic song by the Glee

Club, Augustus Green, the President of the day, delivered a most thrilling and eloquent poem, for the opening address. The Declaration of Independence was read by Capt. W. H. Weaver, and was read in a manner that elicited the warmest applause. Next came the oration of the day, by Rev. John Crozier, of Menard county. Mr. Crozier's oration is worthy of an extended notice, which we are not able to give it at this late hour, before our paper goes to press, especially as we are too much demoralized by the fatigue and excitement of the week to write anything connectedly. Suffice it to say that the oration was eloquent and eminently appropriate, and was listened to with great interest by all. The oration was followed by short addresses by Geo. W. Ellsberry and Joseph Baner, Esq., and then by toasts and responses, interspersed with songs by the Glee Club and music by the band. Of the responses to the toasts, the original poem by Mr. Green, to the sentiment "Now and Then," received very many encomiums, and while all who responded did themselves great credit, this poem was the bon mot of the occasion.

At night the vast assemblage gathered about the wigwam to witness the display of fire-works. The discharge of these pyrotechnics was superintended by Frank Culp, and as a matter of course, under his management, was a perfect success; being, probably, the finest exhibition of the kind ever given in Mason county. Notwithstanding the war of the elements, the celebration was an occasion of which the managers may be well proud. It is probable that at least four thousand people crowded our streets, and enjoyed the day and its ceremonies.

The thanks of the community are due to the band and the Glee Club for their music and aid; to the committee who labored hard to get the wigwam erected; and while we never like, on such occasions, where all are willing to do what they can to aid a laudable enterprise, to bestow especial praise on any single individual, we know that we express the unqualified thanks of all who participated in the jubilations of the day, to Ben Riner, who, though least conspicuous in the ceremonies, was the main spoke in the wheel; in fact, the hub of the whole affair. Almost unaided, he solicited and collected the funds, amounting to nearly $500, and paid the bills as presented, taking upon himself a large responsiblity, and pushing the matter to a successful issue. We only hope Ben may live to raise the money for another centennial in Mason City.

The following is from the Independent, of Mason City, on the Centennial Anniversary.

HOW MASON CITY DISPOSED OF THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH..-A

GALA DAY.

The long-looked for and long-talked of Centenary Fourth of July came last Tuesday, made its bright page in history, and left its glorious memory with those who celebrated it. It was the grand spectacle of a powerful and patriotic nation, rising simultaneously throughout its broad expanse and doing honor and homage to a beloved country and revered ancestry, and it now remains for the innumerable localities to record what they did and how they did it. It is our province to help make up the record, and preserve from oblivion, the manner in which the patriotic people of Mason City commemorated the Great American Day.

The storm of the previous night disarranged our plans somewhat, but while we reverently acknowledged our dependence upon the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, we were not disposed to superstitiously look upon this as an interposition of His providence to prevent our celebration, but rather to give thanks that the day was so pleasant after all. Our artificial shade was blown down, and the ground underneath made wet and muddy; but with this exception, which caused a delay of the exercises until afternoon, everything passed off pleasantly.

The Centenary Independence morn was ushered in by ringing of bells and firing of anvils (the cannon failed to come), and a general jubilee of salutations. Early in the day the business portion of the city, and a large number of dwellings, were beautifully decorated with flags and banners. At quite an early hour the streets were thronged with people, and as the clouds broke away, wagon loads almost innumerable came pouring in from all the surrounding country, and every train brought still others from distant places. Everybody seemed happythat they were vouchsafed the great privilege of stepping across the centenary line in the life and progress of their beloved country.

The procession was formed at the corner of Tonica and Chestnut streets. The order of the procession was as follows: First, Mason City Cornet Band; second, a chariot of state, containing thirteen Misses, representing the original thirteen States; third, a chariot of state containing thirty-eight Misses, representing the present num

ber of States; fourth, the fire engine, followed by the fire company in uniform; fifth, carriages containing the mayor, president, orator of the day, editors and ministers; buggies and wagons. The line of march was through the principal streets of the city to the wigwam.

The exercises at the wigwam commenced with music by the Band and Glee Club, which interspersed the excrcises throughout, which were in the following order:

First-Prayer by Rev. G. D. Randle, the oldest minister in the

city.

Second-Reading of the Declaration of Indedendence, that im mortal document, which, though old, is ever new, and which for a complete century has stood the test of criticism, and stands to-day unchallenged as the masterpiece in the English language, as it was admitted to be by the learned and eloquent Wm. Pitt in his day. It was read by Capt. W. H. Weaver, and in a manner that did justice to that time-honored instrument, and credit to himself.

Third-Poetic Address, by Augustus Green, President of the Day, which was a beautiful and expressive production, acknowledging the protective beneficence of God in preserving our nation, and paying a glowing tribute to the immortal heroes of the Revolution.

Fourth-Oration by Rev. John Crozier, in which we think he fully sustained what we promised of him, as an orator, scholar and historian, in this paper last week; although the circumstances of the situation were against him, yet by his elegant and eloquent style and expression he held the marked attention of the vast and uncomfortably situated audience, while he beautifully traced the history and outbursts of the spirit of liberty down through the despotisms and monarchies of the world, and how the hand of God had led the people on through succeeding ages to the full establishment of Liberty and Independence in the great nation of the United States, and how the same divine hand had led the little but heroic band of patriots through the terrible war of the Revolution.

After the oration, short addresses were delivered by J. S. Baner and G. W. Ellsberry, after which a variety of toasts were read and responded to, which was a pleasant feature of the occasion, and which was both amusing and instructive. This concluded the exercises at the wigwam, and the audience adjourned up town for a