The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-04
The lawmakers Banquet.


We venture to say that the most elegantly
planned and successfully carried out ban
anet ever given in Staunton was that held
on Wednesday night of last week by the
Hav makers. secret order numbering some
two hundred, and including many of our
most prominent citizens. The order has
been in existence here several years, and so
rapid has been its increase that the regular
fees and limitations have been sufficient to
leave considerable surplus in its treasury
each year. Last winter this surplus was
distributed among the poor OF Staunton, aud
this year the members devoted it to ban
quet. The order for the supper was under
taken by Mr.. Crowle, of the Virginia Hotel.
and Julius Scheffer given carte blanche as
caterer.
At nine O'Clock the Haymakers, headed
by the Stonewall Band, paraded around the
square and astonished the unintiated by
| their numbers. In double file, and under
the leadership of the Grand Mogul, W. Fl.
LYNN, with C. L. Cooke and S. NJ. Woodward
as assistants, the column marched, extending
the entire length of the square and part OF
another. Upon reaching the hotel, where
number of invited gnests had already as
sembled, they filed into the large dining
room and took their seats without the slight
est confusion. In five minutes every man
had sumptuous supper before him, with
the privilege of ordering anything that his
appetite could suggest. The bill of fare was
zoo extensive to give in full, and we need
only say that from the oysters and coffee to
the most dainty delicacy, the supper was
abundant and delicious. In the way OF bev-
cages, however, there was limit. for not
drop of ntoxicants of any kind was per
mitted.
| After supper, W. II. H. Lynn, Esq, as
| the chief officer of the order, with an ease
and dignity. born of much experience and
| a peculiar talent for the role, announced the
regular sentiments Of the evening. and in
troduced those who had been selected to re-
spond.
The sentiments were as follows
1.-THE city of Staunton, multum IN parOo.
! Honor to her officials, that peace reigns
| within her borders" Appropriately re-
sponded to by Mayor w. l.. Balthis.
ssOur State Institutions. Charity their
ruling sentiment. May they ever be con-
Quoted for the best interests of the at
flcted." Responded to by DR.. A. M. Faun-
tleroy, President of the Board of Visitors OF
the Western Lunatic Asylum, 10 speech OF
peculiar fitness aud eloquence.
s.Our Sister Secret Orders,-may Faith,
Hope and Charity be their guiding stars
through the dark to duty, where unbounded
Friendship and Love and eternal Truth, for
ever prevail" Response by Mr.. j. Howard
Wayt, Master of the Staunton Lodge OF
Masons, gentleman we'll qualified to do
justice to the theme.
sOur Citizen Soldery. Our woman's
pride in peace our women's guard in war
Appropriately responded to by Capt. W. L.
Bumgardner and Mr.. Lewis NJ. Bumgard-
ner.
"Our Fire Department. Ever ready to
sacrifice self for the good of Others" Re-
sponded to in splendid speech by NJ. f.
White, ESQ, who had been selected as the
orator by both branches of the Fire Depart
ment. 1t was as fine specimen of wit, ell
oquence ard sentiment as we have ever
heard.
s.Our Stonewall Band-whose strains
charm us in peace as they cheered us in war;
Handsomely responded to by the leader OF
the Band, Prof. A. J. Turner.
s.Our Scholastic workshops that mould
the minds. Let the workmen be skilled and
the patterns true.'' The responses to this
sentiment by Messrs. Chas. Grattan, H. l..
Hoover and S. II. Coleman, were humor-
Gus, well-timed and to the point.
1.-The Press-The Tongue of the Present,
may it give no uncertain ground, but praise
virtue and lash vice wherever found" Re-
sponses by A. S. Mauzy, L. G. Morton and
j. Yost.
The banquet proper closed with an ertem-
pore sentiment, offered by Or. Fauntleroy,
as follows s'Haymaking is universally re-
garded big thing and accomplished only
during sunshine, but it remained for the
honorable order of Haymakers to demon
strate that it could be handsomely done
either by moon or gas light" Though I'M
expectedly called upons Grand Sultan Lynn
was equal to the occasion, and responded in
one of the best and happiest speeches of the
evening.
After the regular toasts a vote OF thanks
was given to Mr.. Crowle, and also to the
Stonewall Band, which from time to time
discoursed its best music.
The entire affair was one OF the most or
} derby. finely conducted and creditable that
could we'll be imagined, and the Order
should congratulate itself on the COM
plete success Of their first entertainment.