Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-24
&c MaEket and lIarlns RspOrt. Iee aLh plge.
The s.. eeorge,s Festival.

The Sc. Georges Festival.
Yesterday, the anniversary Ofthe st Georges So
eiety, was bright, beautiful day-not such an one
as travellers tell US the sons of the worthy Saint en-
Joy IN England but clear bright refreshing spring
day and the Festival at the johnson last night was
fitting close to such day. Year after year have
the members of this benevolent society met their
friends at their annual banquet each year incress-
ing the numbers and the interest. The attendance
last evening was larger than ever before, and the
Festival passed of with complete success and
hearty enjoyment to ali present.
Bat whowas Saint George? That he is the
patron Saint Of England, everybody knows, but
who knows his origin and his real history Iii
said by some that he was a soldier in the army of
DiocIesion, and suffered martyrdom for rebuking
that monarch's persecution of the Christians. 1t
is more probable, however, that be was fabulous
character The legend OF est George and the
Oregon" is as follows
syleve, city Of Lydia, was infested by huge
dragon, whose foul breath acted as poison upon
the citizens, whom be craved for food, The citi-
zens made compromise with The beast, giving
him two sheep per day. This demand exhausted
the stock of sheep, and his ratlons were cut down
one half as to sheep, human victim being subsd.
suted for the other sheep. AtHength the lot fell
upon the Kings daughter, and as she was on her
Wsy to the mons er's den, st. George met her and
offered to fight the dragon. he did so, and re-
due ed him TO submission. The Kisg's daughter
then led him into the city with her grde about his
neck. st. George killed the beast on condition
that the inhabitants would all become christians.
They consented, and $1,000 men with women and
children were baptized
There is this injunction TO the English soldiers
in an old srt of war :"
/" Item that all souldiers entering into battaile,
assault, skrmish, or other faction Of armes shall
have for their common cry and word, st. George
forward. or, upon them st. George whereby the
souldier is much eOmfOrted, and the enemie dis
maed by calling to mind the ancient valour of
England. with which that name has been so often
victorious"
The company gathered at an early hour last eve
Ming until the parlors were filed with the descend
ants and admirers of Merie England" together
with many Yankees who had come to participate in
the festive occasion.
At 9 O'Clock the banqueling hail was tbrowu
open, aud the long tables surrounded with those
who eOnld appreciate the good things which GOV
, cred the boards. The hall was very tastefuIly
decorated for the OCCASION. The windows back o.
) the stage were draped with the American flag
while the Union Jack hung between them. A Hns
c full length engraving Of Queen Victoria hung il
/, the center, picture of Prince Albert being upoT
. her right and George Washington upon her left
From two large vases at the back Of the stage de-
pended miniature British and American flags
Pictures of English celebrities and scenes wert
plentifully disposed upon the walls. another pic
ture Of the Queen hanging over the entrance to th
hall Statuettes and flags were to be seen al
d about, and the whole Of the decorations were il
i good taste.
= The supper which friend Main had provide
. has never been surpassed in this city. There wa
J, enough and more than enough Of all the substau
tials and delicacies which earth, air. or sea coul
furnish or Royal roast beef and rich Englis
IF plum pudding, there was no stiOt, and stteDtiy
: walters were al bsud ready to serve the guest
d with whatever wVs desired. Main had been q
good as bis word.
The splendid supper having been dispose
4 of and the hunger Of all abundantIy satisfied tb
intellectual exercises commenced at half past tel
J The President, T. A. Walton, having called II
c audience to order, proceeded to read the reglll
q toasts, prefacing the reading with few remark
i, He thanked the Society sincerely for the hon'
Al they bad conferred upon him, by electing hi
President. He would do all in bis power to pr
q mote good feeling and efficiency in the Society,"
He congratulated them npon the recurrence Of
Georges Day, upon which so many English hant
' ard % ;r
n ries Of Old England. The Society had increase
largely during the past year. Its principal Obje
Z was charity-tO relieve the distresAes and misfo
tunes Of their less fortunate countrymen. Th,
we're not political, sectarian, or selfish SoC
ETY., and therefore there. was no reason why al
Eag.ishman should see the least objection to joi
ing them He briefly related what the charilat
committee had been doing the last year. They hl
relieved sixty-thrse families who were in want
They had also relieved twenty five cases of spec
distress, and procured situations for twenty-tW
They had another object--to commemorate t
land Of their birth on the glorious St. GeOrg,
day. Love Of country is feeling which God b
implanted in every one, and England has ev
gone forward and never backward. When s
has once shaken q shsckle from her limbs,
power could ever f < it there again.
But in the remembrance Of their native Ia
they would not forget the land Of their adoptic
Many had here found homes which had receiy
them kindly and Hospitality, and God forbid II
d be or they should weaken the feeling Of the 10
= every Euglishman ought to have for this glOriC
land of his adoption.
-, He then read the regular tOasts.
/. st. George and Merrie England--The day .
a I who honor it--"Three times three" loud
vigorous.
4. Music by The Band 4H
Rev. T. A. starkey The Chaplain, responded
He spoke Of the enthusiasm which must be Ell
tedfrom the hearts Of al who were present II u
had soul enough 70 be drawn out by the sh
click of circumstances When be saw
large sssemblage composed so largely Of Eng
men and women, his mind was disposed to dr
the strange parallel that vas apparent bstw
She present and the past. His Imagination wo
g5s sSIs hardly suffer to carry the company back to
e good knight ST. George, that devont christian
loyal knight. The war mission Of st. George
:. ibis Wesisrncontiusnt we believe 70 be closed