New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE DINNER AND THE SPEECHES.


dinners and that Of last evening no less memorable
in this respect than those which have prccededit The
guests table the upper end Of the room was presided
over Oy William Borden, the President OF the society,"
and mis- either hand sat George William Curtis, e1-
Gov Morgan Mayor wickham. Dr. George B. Loring OF
Salem, Mass; Mark Twain, the Rev. DR.. John Cotton
Smith. Joseph H. ChOate Edward Everett Hale Of Bos
ton Elliot c. Cdwdin Prof sanborn Of Dartmouth Col
lege NJ. Barthold the French sculptor; DistnetAt
tOrney Phelps and Assistant DstrtctAttorneys Bell ana
RUSSELL the Rev. Dr. Taylor, Commodore NICHOLSON she
Hon. William NJ. Flciss, and Hugh ]. Hastings Al
the long tables were many gentlemen wen
known to the community. among them Parke
| Goodwin Chauncey NJ. Depew. and Austin Abbott,
while at one side Of the banquet hall beamed the beneVo
lent countenance OF Martin Farquhar Tupper his sad
that the England residents OF Newlo ork are, as
rule good vers. IL is certain that there was an uhusua
proportion last evening OF fair round bellies Win iaI
capon lined" The chase elegance of the dining han,
the baskets OF rich flowers which adorned the tables ana
the long lines Of cheerful faces made the occasion con-
spcuous among social gatherings IL any persons were
present whose business troubles or political anxietes
were uppermOst in their thoughts, their cOunehahces
well concealed their feelings The spirit which animated
the $50 gentlemen Of the society seemed to be that OF the
| General in "Bracebiidge Hail." who, setting down
glass Of rich Bergundy and casting his eyes over the
sGures ample board exclaimed, "They tell OF want ana
| suffering; see nothing OF it,
The duner which began at $50 o'clock enliyened
| by music from band playing in a balcony over the
entrance to the ROOM At $50 O'Clock the long success
sion Of had been duly served and tho President
OF the society, william Borden, amid general sp-
plause to introduce the intellectual feast He said that
the presence OF eminent men a. honored guests
OF the society guarantee OF rare intellectual
| treat He would therefore intervene between the
| audience and words Of wit aud wisdom which
were to follow only for brief moment In the
opening year Of new century thoughtful men we're be-
ginning to ask what is be their cOuBtrys future III
love OF country to become tho one great and dom
nant passion throughout the land prophet would be
needed Oreie future such has never been the lot
of any people upon the face OF the earth The men Of
New England should cultivate this sentiment and incu
cate 1t among Others and so make the glorious past
| the barhnger OF a still glorious future The
New England Society almost as old as
| the nation itself; its growth had been so"
but sure. and it had grown In the
past so he hoped It would aud increase In the u
ture or the aims and objects OF the society and
the duties which devOlved upon its members In the In
terests Of charity would say nothing But before con
cludng he could forbear expressing his appreciation
of tho honor that had conferred upon him In his
election 20 the Presidency OF the society.
ADDRESS OF GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
The President read the hrs, toasf Of the evening
| " Forefathers Day" and announced George William
| Curtis who greeted with cheer after cheer. lie
| said:
GLAND SoCIETY: II was Izaak Walton IN his "Anglrr'
said thai Dr. Butter wa accustomed 70 REMARK tai
berry but doubtless He neyer did; and suppose
that SPEAK tine secret feeling OF this festive company
when ssy that doubtless there might be better place
70 be born In than swEngand bat doubtless no such
place exists. Laughter and a?plausel Aud any skeptc
sbould reply that our very PaeTSnSe mere would
10 lndicate ina douDess aiS1 SSmEs%ahu s % ~ ~
good place 20 leave as to stay ln should iey 70 ~
Inat on the contrary, our pTesence - but an added
gTy ISa a. devout mis- onary spirit OF the Willingness in
which consents 70 share, with Others tle
,iesni grdc the globe with The strength OF
NewEngland character and the purity Of New-EDgland
TrIncinIr Eycu the kuckerbockcrs MI. President in
whose ftItey aud splendid city we are at THIS moment
asselnbed-and assembled because II Is our hone-rnen
anu spendor OF their city h duo 10 tt enter rise ana the
ndasty oi YanEse 16"ss %HI ugte SIR they grace oHf
| feast with thIr prosencr; they WI enhyep II. nun
tnere Tl.T is one flower snose perfume rlls con:
Two centuries and half With eyerDcre sing and deep
ening bssutyd flower which blooms at this moment on
hearts from tBe cold regions OF the North TO the warm
golden gate OF tine South Seattle HOVER of nowers the
As Wsr II" SIR noding that flower in my hand at this
moment say tnat the day We celebrate commentaries
he inr%ducon upon this continent VI the master prn
cule Of lis civilization. do not forget that We are
nation Of many natlonaes DO no. forget that There
are rutemen at this board who wear the flower OF other
NATIONS close upon their hearts remember the forget
watch upon the Rhine watch also on the Mississippi and
| the laKes. Immense applanseI recaiL-how could
|
| TOO. Sir the lly-tOo often the tgerllly-of
France ana the thistle OF scotland. l recall
Inc ape W. Sn are in america and here higher than tue
sbnnrock or the thistle, higher than the daisy The
rose gher than the highest blooms the perennial May
~ is me English peang race nodded the
destiny of continual and IL Is the Puritan influence
Ibat rs the strongest influence which has acted ON IT,
am surely 10 assert that the men who have eI
| erted that nhuonce have always been men whose
Irrnndiccs their hardness. their narrOwness - all
ihis know CHARLES stuart could bow Dlandl aud
could dance gracefully than John Milton but sir
we e,nIte the cause beyond tie Not often Is the
gracious spirit of Christianity measured by ,Is iIs
| force the creative power OF the Pilgrim prn-
We are not TO ooh az ~ "hI & Ge ~ re oser M @ m e @ S S
| 1lI this continent from sea TO sea. The MaJfower
| tuTy and half the religious restriction Of the
| PufiIans had grown into absolute religious
ia limits John Carver OF the Mayfower had ripened
into Lincoln Of the Illinois prairie Great APP
pnriiah principlei Do you ask whether good
| Tor to-day as for yesterdays whether II Is
o gSod he ot situation Of this aour think VS. need neither
dou6t fear Puritan principle In Its essence is
religious liberty and political equality; Inc
AleSS Sev sood for ery always asserted 6ert un
Ssr %ai'" law s' and never separated it from Law.
Join Robinson. IN in the m letter ~ that .,,.S he
MlS" saiS these words that might we'll Sir, 6e written
IN gold around the that future banqueng hall
Ia which you have alluded You know that the image
of the Lords dguty and authority which the magistrate
bt Areth is honorable IN how mean person sOes
Tnis is the Puritan principle. Those men stooa % ioa
liberty but for liberty under the law. TneY knew lDo
will OF the people, tney mad tossed long on wnlIy sea
They knew that viii OF the people alone Is but gale
smiling rudderess and sailless ship, ana hurting t
Wr,cked upon the But the Will OF ne peo-
nls subsct 10 law, Ia the same gale filing and trimming
Inc canvas ship that minds the heIm and bearing IL
| oyer the abyss OF ocean safely ~ port
Now them gentlemen, In tins country tho Puritan pr
cnle in its development has advanced 10 this pOin-lhat
that