Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-25

The 81. 0EssAsaE S0CAEEXs
The Anniversary Picnic Yesterday
Something rs TO the origin, History
and Objects of tlle Order.
Yesterday the members Of st. Georges
Society, accompanied by a large number of
ladies' and gentlemen of the city took an
excursion six miles up the river and enjoy
ed most delightful picnic, the occasion be-
ing to commemorate the anniversary of this
ancient order. The good steamer Tyrone
was chartered for the purpose, making two
trips, leaving here at s and II A. M. The
post band made music for the
occasion, playing Dixie both
upon the boat leaving and
landing at the wharf. Priestley Spring is
well suited for outdoor amusements, stu
ated as it is, in most picturesque locality,
with bold cliff, beautiful grass, tall trees
and pleasant prospect up the river which
turns at a sharp angle Immediately below
the landing place. Dancing, ten-pins, ball
and swings constituted the principal fea-
lures of yesterdays picnic, though CONVEX
sation was by no means slack, Capt. Toms
jolly humor and the down-river jokes Of
Jas. Bias filling up the cracks and coming
III Ol OiluCs 4AIOs 1NCW dCJC0 ao PAAOb1
and held her nozzle quite gracefully. She
ought to have license to turn the
wheel and gaze at stars. The number at
tending the picnic was about three hun
bred, all of whom expressed themselves as
being we'll pleased with the excursion. The
St. George Benevolent Society, of this city,
was organized in 1871, and during the first
year of its organization the Society donated
OH CO00 10 oh ifa1,1 Tho
Society has thirty members, who are active
and jealous IN their duties. The officers
are John Ashford, President; James Moore
and Sam Jones, Vice Presidents;
VIM. Hearn, Treasurer, under whose
administration the Society is working har-
moniously and accomplishing much good.
Mr.. Ashford is serving his second presiden-
tial term, and is regarded as an efficient and
faithful officer by the members, who hold
him in the highest esteem. We hope to
see this Society, whose object is most COM
mendable, enjoy a prosperous career. In
England the order is not SO largely nor per-
haps as benefcially represented as in the
United States, in many cities Of which it is
not unimportant.
The origin of the Society dates tback to
the old days of England, the home and the
UublpldCC VI luC lOI Obs OOOlSO dP-
pears not only as distinguished Saint in
the Romish calendar, but as the patron
Saint of England, the festival of his birth,
April %, having begun to be observed, as
the records Of history and the lingering
strains of bards now tell, with unusual en-
thusiasm soon after the Norman conquest.
In 1874 it was made memorable by the
instit ution of the Order of the Garter, the
highest honor which, five centuries after
wards, British subject cam receive from
his sovereign or which she can bestow on
the most ilustTious of her brother poten-
tates. In far back times the standard of
ST. George was carried before the English
kings in battle, and his name was always
the slogan of the valiant knights and yeomen
who sustained the honor of their country
at Crecy, Poitiers and Agilcourt, and let US
add, mournful as it maybe, on the fatal field
of Flodden. Shakespeare tells us that Hen
ryV. led the attack on Harfeur to the bat
tie cry of "God, for Harry, England and st.
Ge0rge!" Another hero invokes the saint
in language as immortal as the name of
him "who was not for an age but for all
time," and whose memory is never forgot
ten by Englishmen on his birthday, the fes-
tival of Saint George:
"Adyance our standard set upon our foes,
Our ancient word of courage, fair st. George"
Since the Reformation, st. Georges Day
has had, to most Englishmen, few associa-
lions apart from those connected with the
ancient renown Of their country. At home
it awakens very little sentiment, but when
men have found a home On foreign shore,
and seek to cherish fond sentiment of
love and admiration for the land of their
birth, or their ancestry, they naturally
avail themselves of the festival
of him once regarded as its
patron saint. Our Irish fellow-country-
men hold in high honor the natal day of
st. Patrick; Spaniards kindle at the name,
and worship at the shrine of st. James; and
our brother Scots exhibit their peITeruidum
ingeBlHn whenever two or three can meet
on St. Andrews Day. These demonstra-
tons are not only natural, but highly cred
liable to the human heart, as they have
their source in the best and purest feeling
of our nature-the feelings which ennoble
man, and contribute to the prosperity and
glory of nations.
Scotsmen and Englishmen are no longer
separated in their sentiments of loyalty and
national pride by the Cheviot Hills and the
Tweed, and the character and object of this
society, has in this respect conciliated many
that were estranCed in feeling and whose
hearts knew not brotherly love.
While the annual festival is pleasant and
conducive of social enjoyment, yet the in
terest and enthusiasm awakened by its OBJ
servance, are Of greater moment and far
loftier worth. The festival yesterday was
under the charge of chief marshal James
Moore, to whose efforts is due much of the
pleasures of the day. The inspector had
the Tyrone well prepared with life preserv-
ers and boats, and had she accidentally dip
ped her nose or acted in any other curious
way, the facilities for escape would have
been better than usually fall to the lot of
unlucky crafts. The first run to the spring,
a distance of six miles, was made in exactly
forty minutes after the tap of the bell.