The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-23
PLYEOUTH ROCK.
Anniversary Celebration Of the Landing
Of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Grand Banquet of the New
England Society.
Addresses by Schuyler COlfax, John Ioihrop
Motley, Professor Hitchcock, General
Mcdowell and Others.

The New England Society celebrated last evening
al Demonco's in an appropriate manner the two
hundred and iortyeghth anniversary Of the landing
Of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock ana the
siXy-third anniversary of the organization of the
society. The banquet hall was devoid OF decoration
save an American shield EMBODIED by two national
days, over the Presidents chair Joseph II. Choate,
President OF the society," occupied the chair ana
supported on his right by
Schuyler CollaX, Vice President elect OF the United
States and on his left by John Lotlrop Motley ex-
United States Minister at the Court OF Austria:
General IRWIN Mcdowell, p. r. Whipple Of Boston;
Professor Hitchcock, Rev. Or. Bellows, Rev. Or.
Han and other gentlemen who occupied seats on the
rostrum. Just the dinner concluded and the
cloth was being removed Mrs. Colfax, Mrs. Whippe,
Mrs. Elliott G. Cowdn and other ladies entered the
hal, anu were received with enthusiastic applause.
seats were assigned to the ladies directly 'front.' OF
the speakers platform, and the fair guests remained
until the close OF tile festivities
Joseph II. Choae, the President OF she New Eng
land Society then maze the Introductory address, in
the course OF which he paid an eloquent tribute to
the memory OF the late Judge William B. BonRey
and thanked the society for the mark of they
mad conferred upon himself by re-electng him presi-
dent for the ensuing year. lie then touched briefly
termed the national rotation'' in office and hoped
that next yesr-(cries OF ''No no'D-he would be
here TO take his place alongside Hoxe and
Grinnel, on the list OF ex-presdenIs. Q.aughter.)
IN aiuding cursorily to national affairs he said he
was glad to observe that the national conscience had
been reached at last on the question OF the national
credit, and that il had been resolved by the people
that honesty was the best policy with nations as
well as individuals. Alluding to metropolitan
affairs lie evoked peals OF laughter by his naive
congratulations on the thorough daily cleansing
OF the streets, the speedy and economical
way in which the public buildings are erected.
and It's judiciary. which scorned to borrow any of
the ancient judicial Instre Of New England. In fact,
the city did not degn IN any manner TO take pattern
after the country east of the Byron river, which
marked the land OF steady habits. There was
story told of q New England farmer who had raised
two stalks Of wheat from single grain OF seed but
New York nad recently eclipsed that effort, Ia pro-
ducing In innunerable instances two votes from one
body. uaughter.l lie inclined TO the opinion that
considering the status OF politics IN New York,
u would be an admirable plan To confer the
right Of suffrage upon such persons only as were
church members In good standing. This would
two grand results the demolition OF corruption
in politics and or apathy Ia religion at one blow.
U.augher) However as Judge Brady, OF st.
Pairck's Society, would say, they had now met Tor
the 24srh time TO celebrate the anniversary OF the
landing OF the Pilgrim Fathers. tlmmense laughter.)
lie noticed among the faces around HIM
the representative 81 -; ratrck's society
no means least welcome, OF st. Georges,
who had Doubtless come to return To some
extcut the compliments which had been so iay,shly
awarded by .our Minister upon his countrymen ~
Great britain. Mr.. Ch0aie concluded by proposing
Una. WY soa now NV oc s 70 ,e @ Dust
First regular ,oast-''lne day we celebrate --mcmO-
rable US the day which civil and religious liberty
were founded on rock.''
Professor X. d. HITCHcocK u. d., responded 10 this
sentiment in an elaborate ana appropriate manner.
TIVE CuAIRMAN then announced the second regular
toast--The President OF the tinted SfateS''-whch
would be responded 10 by appropriate music
The band played "Grd on your arinor and be
marching along.r (.aughter.l
..Tne state Of New Yorkn was the next toast, ana
the CdAIRNAS announced that II would be similarly
The band performed few ..bars'' of the "star
Spanpied Banner,r which compliment was gener-
ally Recognized a. jonr fos by che D,ajtc de MT
StQae, and elicied considerable chuckng laughter.
.srhe CiIy OF New York; was the fourth regular
toast, and responded To N most delicious
manner by Judge 5oHN i. BRADY, rare vein Of
hGmor characterizing his remarks throughout, aud
eclting The most Doslerons aud continued success
"fhe Congress OF the United States--tne represent
taiives Of the people cannot fail on loreiathers'
day 10 ind here an efficient speaker was an
nounced as the fftu regular toast and sentiment,
aDud great applause, aad
Speaker OF the House Of Representatives. and Vice
President eject of The United States upon rising 10
respond WAS received with loud and protracted
o. lOli0ws:--
ME PRESIDENT AND GENTLEYES or THE NEW. Esq
LAfD SOCIETY," am grati0cd more than any feeble
words Of mine can express at the opportunity enjoy
90 night for The first time in my life OF participating
with you In the commenioraston OF u most eventiu
hay IN the history OF this great country, OF whose
citlZenship we are all 80 justly proud. | thank you
most cordially for the kind and. may gay az
lectonate manner In which you have welcomed me
a. arose to respond TO this toast The Congress OF
the Usited States " body whose deeds are written
down III history. On the aoamanine OF its eternal
wi tp FIR rpa mr. frr
II speaks for ITSELF not only 70 this coun-
try for which 1t legislaes but to the
Without yeTinrns UNI into the a" arena "e' Of
controversial questions, that, whatever criticisms
the lett IRON impatient friends or from antsgoniz-
ing anversafies, we who have formed part and par
Gel of tina, American Council, know that In That
great record IN which y written the deeds oil earth
the blessings OF those that were ready 10 perish
have been recorded ~ having been invoked upon our
arssses OF The buried states Of the future
mas be as fat bfu to duty and to prin.
c,pe an" above all s,s ' 1en rowntr os ,ea
past. Qscnewed applause.) ! stand here among
you. my friends, not one entitled 70 membership
Ia this famed society OF the Sons OF the Pilgrims -for
neither by birth nor by descent am New Eng
lander. am a member In good and regular stand
las. and whose Glorious uame Is Knickerbocscr
Appiause.) Born In this city or New York applause
Of whose grand record 10 all tha pertains 70 advance
meD In population, In wealth aud IN progress
whole country IL proud, like You, cmigratcd
TO the Vest tor Il has seemed, os our distinguished
historian, who sits me ir. Motley, observed
few evenings SINCE that American who honored our
country So proudly by representing II as true
American abroad-{renewed applause)--that the adj
yancing tide Of civilization seems ever To sweep like
that when brought the pilgrims OF the Maynower
rom the East toward the west But although With no
drop VI New England blood In my veins, stand
here willingly to bear my testimony to the worth Of
New England principles They are principles OF
which you are j,isy proud. that have cherished az
the apple OF my eye believed in with my soul and
strength and mind: principles that ! believe are
wise for this great country OF ours. and though not
In blood or In alliance New Englanler,
I have received so many kindnesscs fTOiu tue
representatives OF New England III our ma
tona councils and from the people OF New
England in Their collective capacity that l
think can almost regard myself a. New Eng
lander IL not ny adoption. certainly by election.
daughter ond appause.l But do not speak OF tho
fame OF New England ~ section. II In the years
that are past we have IN our UNCONSCIOUS love Of
home, at the place where we first saw the light OF
dag with our infant eyes, when our lungs first ilcd
with Gods AFR we started ont on this Journey OF life
toward the rrave--f we have thought IN our past