THE REUNION
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16th and 17th August, 1905.
The first reunion ever held by the Ong family in the United States was held on the fair grounds at Smithfield, Ohio, August 16th and 17th, 1905, and was a grand success in every particular. More than four hundred members of the family were present, and well on to two thousand friends of the family were there to add good cheer to the occasion and extend to the Ong family a friendly greeting.
Representatives of the family were there from Oregon, California, Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Ohio.
Only those who were there can know of the joy of this meeting. It is safe to say not one of that large gathering regretted the time and trouble taken to attend. In the future there should be but few absentees of the family when reunion time rolls around.
The following is a stenographic report of the proceedings of the reunion:
OPENING SESSION
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16th August, 1905.
The meeting of the first day of the Ong reunion was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by the President, Dr. Albert R. Ong, of Martins Ferry, Ohio. The following prayer was offered by Rev. O. B. Ong of Wilson Mills, Ohio.
(Osborn B. Ong (1860-1930), one of Dr. A.R. Ong's younger brothers, was a minister in the Friends' Church in 1902, as was his wife, Mary, nee Thomasson. Osborn served as a pastor in Wilson Mills, outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and then in various places in California. Osborn and Mary both died in 1930 from injuries received from being accidentally hit by a car (driven by another clergyman) while they were crossing to a street-car in Oakland, CA. -Ed.)
(Osborn B. Ong (1860-1930), one of Dr. A.R. Ong's younger brothers, was a minister in the Friends' Church in 1902, as was his wife, Mary, nee Thomasson. Osborn served as a pastor in Wilson Mills, outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and then in various places in California. Osborn and Mary both died in 1930 from injuries received from being accidentally hit by a car (driven by another clergyman) while they were crossing to a street-car in Oakland, CA. -Ed.)
"Our dear Heavenly Father, it is with grateful hearts that we bow before Thee at this time with thanksgiving and praise for Thy care and for Thy love extended toward us. We are so glad in Thee for the privilege that we have of invoking Thy blessings upon this, the opening session of our first reunion. Oh God, we pray Thee, in Jesus' name, that, in a new sense, we may recognize the divine power over and around our lives, which has enabled us to enjoy this privilege. Dear Lord, we pray Thee that as we spend the hours of this day and evening, and the ones that shall follow, as we converse with our loved ones, and with those whom we have never seen before, and while our hearts are exultant with praise to Thee for the happy time that is ours, Thou will give us such an appreciation of Thy goodness as we have never had. Dear Father, we pray Thee that somehow there may be a re-echo in our hearts of the prayers of sainted loved ones who have gone before, that we may live such lives that we may be unbroken families around Thy throne. We pray Thee, dear Lord, that somehow those of us who have accepted this wonderful salvation, that the Christ-like nature may be so imparted to us, that as we meet the dear ones who are not already saved, that they may be persuaded to accept the same blessed Christ.
"Oh God in Heaven we pray Thee to save every unsaved relative who has had the privilege of meeting here this morning. Dear Lord Jesus, we pray Thee that Thou will preside over every exercise, and over every conversation, and that while we are having these happy hours together, we may not forget the loved ones East and West, North and South, whose hearts are directed this way, but who have not been privileged to meet with us on account of circumstances over which they had no control. Some of these loved ones are in mourning today, and God, we pray that Thou wouldst let the sunlight shine into their lives that they may be comforted.
"Now, dear Father, may these loved ones, these exercises, every feature of the program be under Thy guidance. We are so glad Thou hast saved us from a life of sin. May Thy special blessings be upon every one of us, and may we be careful to give Thee praise. Amen."
Rev. W. P. Ong was then introduced by the President and made the opening address, which follows:
(William Purviance Ong (1853-1932), one of Dr. Ong's first cousins, was also a Friends' minister whose service started in Columbus, Ohio and led his family to Pasadena, CA.)
(William Purviance Ong (1853-1932), one of Dr. Ong's first cousins, was also a Friends' minister whose service started in Columbus, Ohio and led his family to Pasadena, CA.)
"In the good providence of God we are privileged to gather here on these grounds, and in this historic village on this most eventful occasion, which has been the dream, the thought, the desire and purpose of many who are here present, but our most sanguine expressions are transformed this morning into a glorious reality, and that which was conceived with uncertainty, looms up before us at this hour a conscious fact.
"We come up to this native soil and home of our illustrious ancestors, after these years of separation and toil, representing states, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and, as we look into your faces we greet you in glad anticipation of the joy and pleasure in reserve for all.
"In the history of our people, this reunion will have the notoriety of being the first gathering of this character, and will stand out in the annals of our race as an event of more than ordinary interest and we trust may prove an inspiration to future generations to come up from the four quarters of the earth on like beneficial and pleasant occasions.
"We are all conversant with the fact that the farm industry in its rugged, rocky and pioneer form, claimed the principal attention of our honored forefathers. However, in latter years some have diverged from the well beaten path and highway of assiduous toil and prosperity. The professor, with the air of superior wisdom and knowledge, the M.D. with his pill box, blue pills for pale people and pale pills for blue people, and the hawkeyed attorney with his law book under his arm, all having left the farm to enter other avenues and thoroughfares of life, and the innocent and unsuspecting public are either philosophized by the professor, physicked by the physician, or fooled by the attorney.
"But, ladies and gentlemen, we must hasten on. In behalf of the assembled relatives and friends, I wish to congratulate and thank your executive board, and thank God for the very appropriate quotation that appears on the first page of our program. 'After God there is nothing, O my friend, so sweet as a friend.'
"Had the coiling serpent of infidelity access to the thoughts and hearts of our departed loved ones, I dare say these inspired words would never have adorned this memorable program. And as the history of this reunion shall go down to our children, and to the generations that may follow, I pray God that this great truth, as if thrown on a canvas in letters of light, shall make its indelible impress on memory's tablet. Yea, more, shall we not hope that the heart life shall be Heavenward moved by the thought that we on this occasion recognize God first, giving to the Divine dispenser of all timely and eternal joys his rightful place in the royal palace of thought, in social as well as in religious life.
"Again, 'from our of the mist of years there rushes a host of memories.' Memories fragrant with the dews and aroma of early childhood and youth; memories of the old homestead on the hillside, or in the valley by the brook, where the faithful ox and old water mill contributed their part to the necessity of home and community; memories sacred of parental sacrifice and love, the ceaseless untiring toil, the burdens they bore, the trials and hardships endured, the life of self denial, which have made it possible for this gathering in 1905.
"Intervening years have not dimmed the vivid coloring with which memory has adorned those by-gone scenes of fond and sad recollections, memories of home life touch every fibre of the soul, and strike every chord of the human heart as with Angelic fingers. Nothing but death can break the spell. That home where first we heard the sainted mother pray and read the old tear stained Bible she loved so well. Those busy hands, and tired weary bodies are resting now. But mother and father still live and are reaping the reward of the faithful in the Paradise of God, where the music of Angelic choirs fill all Heaven, their eternal home beyond the stars. While they cannot be present with us today, there is an approaching reunion beyond the mountain peaks and clouds and earthly storms. Thank God they will be present then. Shall you, shall I?"
"We come up to this native soil and home of our illustrious ancestors, after these years of separation and toil, representing states, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and, as we look into your faces we greet you in glad anticipation of the joy and pleasure in reserve for all.
"In the history of our people, this reunion will have the notoriety of being the first gathering of this character, and will stand out in the annals of our race as an event of more than ordinary interest and we trust may prove an inspiration to future generations to come up from the four quarters of the earth on like beneficial and pleasant occasions.
"We are all conversant with the fact that the farm industry in its rugged, rocky and pioneer form, claimed the principal attention of our honored forefathers. However, in latter years some have diverged from the well beaten path and highway of assiduous toil and prosperity. The professor, with the air of superior wisdom and knowledge, the M.D. with his pill box, blue pills for pale people and pale pills for blue people, and the hawkeyed attorney with his law book under his arm, all having left the farm to enter other avenues and thoroughfares of life, and the innocent and unsuspecting public are either philosophized by the professor, physicked by the physician, or fooled by the attorney.
"But, ladies and gentlemen, we must hasten on. In behalf of the assembled relatives and friends, I wish to congratulate and thank your executive board, and thank God for the very appropriate quotation that appears on the first page of our program. 'After God there is nothing, O my friend, so sweet as a friend.'
"Had the coiling serpent of infidelity access to the thoughts and hearts of our departed loved ones, I dare say these inspired words would never have adorned this memorable program. And as the history of this reunion shall go down to our children, and to the generations that may follow, I pray God that this great truth, as if thrown on a canvas in letters of light, shall make its indelible impress on memory's tablet. Yea, more, shall we not hope that the heart life shall be Heavenward moved by the thought that we on this occasion recognize God first, giving to the Divine dispenser of all timely and eternal joys his rightful place in the royal palace of thought, in social as well as in religious life.
"Again, 'from our of the mist of years there rushes a host of memories.' Memories fragrant with the dews and aroma of early childhood and youth; memories of the old homestead on the hillside, or in the valley by the brook, where the faithful ox and old water mill contributed their part to the necessity of home and community; memories sacred of parental sacrifice and love, the ceaseless untiring toil, the burdens they bore, the trials and hardships endured, the life of self denial, which have made it possible for this gathering in 1905.
"Intervening years have not dimmed the vivid coloring with which memory has adorned those by-gone scenes of fond and sad recollections, memories of home life touch every fibre of the soul, and strike every chord of the human heart as with Angelic fingers. Nothing but death can break the spell. That home where first we heard the sainted mother pray and read the old tear stained Bible she loved so well. Those busy hands, and tired weary bodies are resting now. But mother and father still live and are reaping the reward of the faithful in the Paradise of God, where the music of Angelic choirs fill all Heaven, their eternal home beyond the stars. While they cannot be present with us today, there is an approaching reunion beyond the mountain peaks and clouds and earthly storms. Thank God they will be present then. Shall you, shall I?"
Following Rev. W. P. Ong's address, Hon. Walter C. Ong moved that suitable resolutions on account of the death of Mrs. Addison Carr, of Salem, Ohio, be prepared, and that a committee be appointed by the chair to draft such resolutions. The motion was seconded and carried. The chair then appointed as a committee, Mr. Finley Newlin, of Richmond, Indiana; Rev. O. B. Ong, of Wilson Mills, Ohio; Mr. Joseph Ong, of Columbus, Ohio; F. K. Ong, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Prof. A. C. Ong, of Omaha, Nebraska.
The morning session then closed with the following remarks by the President:
(A profile of Dr. Ong in an earlier post can be found here.)
"Before adjourning this session I have a statement to make and a few announcements. First: I want to call your attention to the fact that we are now living at a time and in an age, when every intelligent person is supposed to know something of his family history, and while it is true that our ancestors have not left on record much from which to gather, I can assure you there are monuments enough along the way to carry us, by a careful survey, back to the original source from which every person who carried a drop of Ong blood in his veins in this country must have sprung.
"For twenty years I have given some attention to this kind of a research, and while I am sorry to say such efforts have not been crowned with as much success as I had hoped, yet we have discovered many interesting facts, so that I can assure we are of respectable parentage however far back we may go. This careful research has not led us back to crowned kings, princes and potentates, but it has led us back to men of force and character, men of moral stamina, and women of sterling force and character, and above all, ancestors who stood for right and justice, their country and their God. I would rather be a descendant of parents like these than to know there was coursing through my veins today the corrupted blood of lords and nobles. A family is great not on account of what its ancestors may have been socially and politically, but on account of what it is and what it has been in the generations of which its history may be written.
"Now I propose to put these fact on record by having a book printed, embodying at least 200 pages, embracing the genealogy of the Ong family so far back as it is possible to trace it. The noble deeds and incidents of the lives of many of those that have passed to the Great Beyond. War records of those who have done service for their country, many of whom, as you are aware, went down amid din and battle, sealing their fidelity to the cause with their own life blood. This book can be issues and substantially bound at a cost of $2.00 per volume. You all understand that to issue so small a number is very expensive. I am making this announcement at this time that we may be able to learn what the wish of this large family may be. We have a record book here in which I want every person who has one drop of Ong blood in them to register. This register is in charge of Nicholas Ong. When you register I want you to mark after your name the number of volumes that you wish. Remember there will be but one opportunity , there will be but one issue, and that will be just the number that will be ordered. You are not expected to pay for this until the manuscript is ready for the press, when you will be notified, but we would like to know, and must know, whether enough of thus family is interested in this book to justify publishing it. I will promise you that we will give everybody equal showing in this history. I want your names whether you want a book or not. In this book will be a cut of the old family clock in which every descendant of this family is interested, and of which I am the happy owner. For 123 years it has been ticking away the time; five generations have passed away, and the clock today is marking the time as accurately as it could have done one hundred years ago.
"I would ask that you register today as rapidly as possible, register the entire family, this will aid us in making up the work.
"If we have any friends here who are not already provided with lodging places, please report here at the stand, or to Mrs. William Vermillion and Mrs. Charles Blackburn. Next comes dinner."
The session then adjourned until 2 p.m.
The morning session then closed with the following remarks by the President:
(A profile of Dr. Ong in an earlier post can be found here.)
"For twenty years I have given some attention to this kind of a research, and while I am sorry to say such efforts have not been crowned with as much success as I had hoped, yet we have discovered many interesting facts, so that I can assure we are of respectable parentage however far back we may go. This careful research has not led us back to crowned kings, princes and potentates, but it has led us back to men of force and character, men of moral stamina, and women of sterling force and character, and above all, ancestors who stood for right and justice, their country and their God. I would rather be a descendant of parents like these than to know there was coursing through my veins today the corrupted blood of lords and nobles. A family is great not on account of what its ancestors may have been socially and politically, but on account of what it is and what it has been in the generations of which its history may be written.
"Now I propose to put these fact on record by having a book printed, embodying at least 200 pages, embracing the genealogy of the Ong family so far back as it is possible to trace it. The noble deeds and incidents of the lives of many of those that have passed to the Great Beyond. War records of those who have done service for their country, many of whom, as you are aware, went down amid din and battle, sealing their fidelity to the cause with their own life blood. This book can be issues and substantially bound at a cost of $2.00 per volume. You all understand that to issue so small a number is very expensive. I am making this announcement at this time that we may be able to learn what the wish of this large family may be. We have a record book here in which I want every person who has one drop of Ong blood in them to register. This register is in charge of Nicholas Ong. When you register I want you to mark after your name the number of volumes that you wish. Remember there will be but one opportunity , there will be but one issue, and that will be just the number that will be ordered. You are not expected to pay for this until the manuscript is ready for the press, when you will be notified, but we would like to know, and must know, whether enough of thus family is interested in this book to justify publishing it. I will promise you that we will give everybody equal showing in this history. I want your names whether you want a book or not. In this book will be a cut of the old family clock in which every descendant of this family is interested, and of which I am the happy owner. For 123 years it has been ticking away the time; five generations have passed away, and the clock today is marking the time as accurately as it could have done one hundred years ago.
"I would ask that you register today as rapidly as possible, register the entire family, this will aid us in making up the work.
"If we have any friends here who are not already provided with lodging places, please report here at the stand, or to Mrs. William Vermillion and Mrs. Charles Blackburn. Next comes dinner."
The session then adjourned until 2 p.m.
