The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-05
81. GEORGES sOOIETT.
Seventh Annual Festival OF the st.
Georges BeneFOlent tsOeietys-.Toasts;
Responses, Music Rad DAneihg.

The st. Georges Benevolent Society held
their Seventh Annual Festival in Chspin's
ball last night. A large, brilliant and
very happy party assembled there at nine
O'Clock, and what with music from Leland's
Band, a magnificent supper-served Up By
that prince of caterers, Mr.. 8. W. Garrett
toss's. speeches, and dancing to sn indef :
mite extent, under the management of that
accomplished master, Mr.. L. V. Ballou, the
night wore away with an unusual degree of
social enthusiasm, hilsrity, and downright
eDjoyability on the part Of the guests.
This benevolent Society is in a very -four
ishing condition. Its active members num-
Der about one hundred and thirty-6v
Under the management of efficient Of6cess
it has not only held It's own, but increased
in numbers, means and usefulness. Unjust
be ranked high among the worthy, benevO-
lent organizations of the city.
oFFICERs.
The following gentlemen are the officers
of the Society for the ensuing year:
Presidential. Parsons.
Vice President-M B. Clark.
Treasurer-E. stair.
Recording SecretaEy-John Greenfield.
Finance Secret try-D. q. lngamills.
Charitabls Committes-Dr. B. A. Halo
we'll, Bobert LarDder, TbOmss Walton.
Auditing UOmmittee-R. Lowe, j. Instan,
8. Helsby.
THE HAIL.
We have never attended a festival of any
society where the general arrangements
were SO admirable as those which hOnored
the taste of the Committee of the St.
Georges Society. The hall was most taste
fully and beautifully decorated. Over the
stage hung in the shape of V two large
American flags with the British banner st
the apex. The posts at the corners of the
platform were ornamented with the colOrs
of both nations, while either sustained s
splendid life size portraits of Washington
and Queen Victoria. The gas fixtures
throughout the hall were made the stand
ard-bearers of both country's symbols,
presenting very brave and patriotic ap-
pesrance. The slender iron pillars reach
ing from gallery to ceiling were en+elOpod
in American flags, while the gallery was
decorated throughout its entire circuit by
heavy drspery of the blended eOlors of red,
white and blue.
A hanging basket, overrun with vines
and delicate white and red flowers, hung
from the chsndelier over tde STAGE A
magnificent wreath of evergreens and
flowers ornamented the western end of the
hall, while other decorations graced the
room.
Five tables extended from end to end Of
the hall, loaded down with miscellany of
edibles so tastefully arranged and luxurious,
that the most dainty and fastidious ePicure
must have been delighted with the inviting
and beautiful sight.
SUPPER.
About hslf-past nine o'clock the gay and
brilliant parties in the galleries be-
gan fling down the stairsways, and
sat down to the sumpiuous tables.
Full two hundred and fifty found places.
Justice having been done the viands, the
tables were partially cleared, the mass Of
the company retiring to the galleries.
PRESIDENTS REMARKS.
The President, Mr.. Parsons, soon called
the party to order, and made few pre-
liminary remarks, saying that the regular
time of celebrating the anniversary was
on the 73d of April; but that 1t had been
postponed on account Of the awful calamity
which had befallen the nation in the mur-
der of the President.
He declared that the st. Georges Society
is benevolent organization, and gave a
summary of the good work accomplished
by it duringthe past years
The amount of money expended for the
relief of English poor, is $685. number of
persons relieved, sixty-nine plumber who
have received medical advice and nj medicine,
eight. Nine railroad passes have been
for destitute EDglishmen. Three
persons have received Christian burial
has been obtained for fifteen
persons.
The President remarked that, although
this exhibit was on the whole crsditable to
the Society, they could do more if English
men would join the Society and co operate
wit them. And he cordially invited all
Englishmen in the city and neighborhood
to unite with them at once.
After congratulatiDg the company on the
fact that the speeches were to be very
short, he announced the first regular toast
ToAsTs AND RESPONSES.
1. 81. George, our Patron Saint-The day
and all who honor it.
Rev. J.H. Rylance responded in 8 very ap-
prOpriate, though extemporaneous, speech.
He said that St. George, our Patron Saint,
s understood by all present, they being
smilisr with all the history, traditions
md fables concerning him. The day we
is not St. Georges. He had hoped
hat when the change of day had been de-
'ided upon, it would fall upon the Queens
birthday. Cheers The change was highly
roper. The Society was bound by every
OnsiderstiOn to show publicly that it shared
eeply the common sentiment of grief, of
he American people.
He pronounced q high, eloquent and |
ruthful eulogy on the character Of Abrs-
lam Lincoln, naming him a saint, if saint |
lesns purity, seParateness from common
len. He was an eminent political saint,
nd had done much by his high and truth
IL bearing, to wipe away the stain of poll
cal life and action and bring back the
ays of Washington. He lived to demon
rate that the masses of the American peo-
le can appreciate, love and honor simple
brightness Of character.
He declared that nowhere will the com
ION people grieve more deeply over the
III of our beloved leader than the masses
l England. This awful crime will be no
here held in deeper abhorrence and de-
station than there. Whatever of bad
Iood and ill-Will msy have been engen-
cred between the two countries in years
ast, will be wiped away by this calamity,
hich will knit together the masses of the
70 nations more closely than ever before.
The speaker then alluded to the objects
the Society, and insisted that every
D nglishman is in duty bound to belong to
10 organization.
He took his seat amid loud and prolonged
leering.
A fine quartette party, consisting of the
isses Adams and Messrs, Chubb and
yckstader, sang with admirable taste and