unde No. 3. STRATFORD, ONT., FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1927 Vol. 5 The Hon. Dr. Monteith Donates Handsome Cup (Kindly contributed by Secretary ~ W. C. Sillifant.) The Honorable Dr. Monteith has presented to the Stratford Flying Club a handsome Silver Cup to be won by a member of the above club in the Old Bird Pigeon Races. This Challenge Cup has to be won three times in succession before it becomes the personal prize of the winning member in the longest distance old Homing Pigeon Race each year. All members of the club are well pleased with the presentation from the Honor- able gentleman, and being an old pigeon fancier himself, he wishes to encourage the pure bred racing pigeon of the long distance type. In the late war pigeons were used as message Carriers. One instance of their value was instanced at Masapatroli. The Turks cut off a whole brigade, sur- rounded and hemmed them in for days, and all lines of communication were cut off. Men were dying with thirst under the hot desert sun. The Brigadier General wrote a message on the last pigeon, as a last resort. The bird liberated, flew back to the base and in a very short time a fleet of airplanes came over the dying troops, dropping small tanks of water and in the evening fresh troops came through, and the poor worn-out troops retired. In the early morning when the Turks made an attack they were faced with fresh troops, and not the troops they expected to meet dying with thirst. The fresh troops soon put the Turks to flight, backed up by the refreshed troops who were dying with thirst, that had been refreshened by supplies and more water, ete. And so the battle was won by the message of a pigeon. When the Brigadier-Gen- eral went back to the base, for no other purpose only to see the pigeon he saluted the bird saying, You won- derful bird. You saved the day and Saved my men. Volumes can be writ- ten of the usefulness and good works of the racing pigeon. They can be used as pets and also can be used as a national defence. Our club is open for new members. There are quite a few old time pigeon racers here in Stratford. We would like you to join us in the sport and hobby and win some of these cups that are raced for every season and are presented by the gentlemen of the city. For full particulars see Mr. Wm. C. Sillifant, 71 Argyle street, secretary of the Stratford Flying Club. The cup is on exhibit in the window of Gillies & Emm, jewelers, Downie street. Pertinent Patter BY THE PHILISTINE The Jubilee Celebration committee has its plans well in hand for the big three day celebration which opens to- morrow. The parade which will real- ly be the opening gun of the three day program will be the largest seen here for many a day if not the largest in the city's history. It is hoped that citizens will get together and co-oper- ate in the picnic at the park to make a real community affair of it. Then there has been an excellent program of field sports laid out for the school children and also a program of speech- es on patriotic subjects. Then there is the water spectacle at night with illuminated boats and fireworks and followed on Saturday by a sport pro- gram. Sunday there will be a public service of thanksgiving in Lakeside Park. In all it is about as complete a program as could be desired and while there is nothing particularly spectacular about it there is plenty of amusement for all. Since the com- mittee has gone to such trouble to work up the celebration it is to be hoped that there will be good weather and that the citizens will stay at home and patronize the affair. Eo * ok On Sunday St. John's United church celebrated its Ist anniversary. It was an event which drew large congrega- tions for both services and it marked a year of successful effort on the part of this infant church in the city. St. John's congregation in its first year has set up a real record and proven the success of union. The church is in a healthy condition and last year raised $39,000, and added 100 new members to its roll, both of which are fine achievements. It was particular- ly fitting that the preacher of the day should be the Rev. Dr. Martin, of St. Thomas, formerly of Knox church here, and of the 1st United hurch be- fore it joined with Trinity to form the new congregation at St.. John's church. * bd * Dr. Martin in his sermon at St. John's church had something to say about the needs of the church today and the necessity of placing Christ first if the church is to meet her prob- lems. He thought with others that the church as it is at present consti- tuted was not wide enough nor repre- sentative enough of the people to really touch the lives ot fhe majority. His contention that the church must place Christ first and all other con- siderations second in the interest of Christianity, will be considered with interest. It is not hard to see that this is not always done. Dr. Martin's idea that there must be toleration and a housecleaning in the church itself before we can convert others will find plenty of followers. * * * An impressive service was held at Zion Lutheran church on Sunday night when two memorial windows were dedicated. One window was given in memory of Henry Riehl, by his widow and the other by the congregation and dedicated to "Our Mothers." The windows, very fine ones indeed, were dedicated by Rev. H. F. Gruhn, the pastor of the church, who paid appro- priate tribute to the memory of Mr. Reihl and spoke feeling of the moth- ers of the race. * bd a This week school closes and the children are free for the long vaca- tion, to the dread of many parents, since youth sometimes tends to run somewhat wild when released from restraint. However, the holidays are an institution which the little folks eagerly uphold and undoubtedly it is good for them physically if not men- tally. The other day in London ,how- ever, a school] trustee raised the ques- tion of the holidays as applied to teachers. He pointed out that many teachers stop work early in June so far as their regular work goes, but do special work while still drawing their salaries. His argument was that the teachers were too well paid for the amount of time they put in. A teach- er works about six hours a day nor- mally and does it for about 250 days in the year or about 1,500 hours. The ordinary man in the year works about 2,600 hours. : * * EJ The news that the work on the two- storey addition to the Swift Canadian Company's plant on Erie street is to Start at once will be welcome news in the city. The contract has been let to Pounder Brothers and about 40 or 50 men will be employed in the work. The addition consists of a two storey building with provision for a third storey and when completed it will bea very fine plant, the finest of {ts kind in Canada. 2 " * = A despatch from Ottawa yesterday announced that the C.N.R. machine shop there was to be closed and that the men employed there would be sent to Stratford and Montreal. (Continued on page 4) There are | about 100 families inyolved and if Canada's Boy Orator Speaks at Central United A crowded house greeted Canada's boy orator at Central United Church Sunday evening. One has only to hear'*this phenomenal boy speaker to know why he has attained such fame, There is an entire absence of self-con- sciousness or egotism. It is not like- ly, as it is only natural to suppose, that the profuse praise that is being showered upon this boy, will ever re- tard his advancement. Indeed the talented should be the most humble of all people, as they are the greatest debtors to the giver of all good things, The service was particularly unique because of the youthful speaker who occupied the pulpit, and the gifted young singer Alma Richards. who gave a beautiful message in song. Her solo was most expressively and artistically rendered. Miss Richards is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Richard, 142 Douglas. street. The Rev. G. Murray Chidley, of Thames Road, also took part in the service, in the absence of Rev. W. E. Donnelly, B.A., who preached Anniversary ser- vices at Mr. Chidley's church. The Rev. Chidley is a cousin of our well known townsman, W. H. Chidley, 32 Argyle street. Cable from Longines Factory The following cable from the Long- ines Factory: NB409 Cable Stimier 44 LCF Witnnauer, New York Airplane Miss Columbia first flight United States Germany with passen- ger equipped with Longines Chrono- meters and Chronographs stop Cham- berlin and Levine interviewed in Kott- bus by HeinmuHer stop Extremely sat- isfied with Longines Instrument Board Chronometers and Chronograph Straps which they call lucky watches. These watches have been sold for years by our well known local jewel- ler--Jas. Pequegnat & Son. CHARLES H. WALKER SPECIALIST IN VOICE PRODUCTION Teacher of Pianoforte, Organ and Theory Stupio--114 Water St., Stratford _ PHONE 7S _- » '4 4 Z2ALBERT ST. oN aE eet Nie grteremmeters "ene 3 a eae a entreaties : 4 'eH } | | | |