Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-25
The FOresters' Fair.

The FOresters' Fair.
 Opening Address by CIOvernOr Waller Reception at the Feresters' Hall-The Governors Speech at the Fafr-Open1D9 of the Festivities.
 His Excellency Governor Waller arrived in
 the city early last evening to attend the
 opening of the Foresters' grand fair. At the
 depot he was met by the reception commit
 tee of the Foresters consisting of the
 chief rangers of the several city lodges of
 the order and precedent, secretary and treas
 urer of the fair committee and invited to
 the New Haven House. At about half-past
 six o'clock grand reception took place fk
 the Foresters' hall in the Lyon building, ov.
 CT the Jeffersonian club room. Here in the
 place of honor Governor Waller received a
 large number of our prominent
 citizens. At the same time fine
 and abundant collation. was served,
 Thalheimer catering. Mayor Lewis,
 ex-Senator c. B. Bowers and Surgeon Gen.
 eral Bissell occupied the platform with Gov
 ernor Waller. Adjutant General Graves was
 in attendance, personally assisting in the cere-
 monies of the occasion. The reception com.
 mittee consisted of Colonel E. M Graves,
 Richard J. Lynham, Dr. J. J. s. Doherty,
 P. H. O'Brien, John McMahon, A. Rudall and MT. McCauley. Among the invited
 guests were Mayor Lewis, General Merwin, Judge York. General s. R. Smith, Chief Hendrick, Surgeon General Bissen, F. s.
 Andrew, Colonel N. G. Osborn, Colonel Samuel Tolles, Theodore A. Futile,
 Commissioners Stackpole and Redmond
 0oIa Tu1iu Tv1a toner Baldwin, ex-Fire Commissioner Lewis Elliot, Jsiler Stevens, Captain Phillips, Paul
 W.il, Mir. Reilly of Gallagher $ Reilly, Alderman Kennedy, Alderman Clancy. Charles W. Bradley, Wsigand Schlein, Reg istrar Wm. O'Keefe and many other we'll known citizens. At about o'clock Cover nor Waller was escorted to the grand fair of the Foresters at Peck's Opera House, the Second Regiment band furnishing fine music
 On arriving at the hall. the Governor and his party were escorted to the platform May or Lewis and Col. E. M. Graves made short addresses, and J. B. Lsndre rendered a pleasing song. Gov. Waller was then intro duced by Colonel Graves and spoke as fol- lows:
 Ladies and gentlemen: am delighted to be with you as the guest of the Foresters not that they sustain any closer relation to l the State than other like bodies of reputable | citizens, but because tho end and object of their organization is to care for one another, | to foster social fellowship, and promote | Christian charity; and also because the lodge l of the Foresters, whose hospitality am en- toying, is placed in the midst of your ttCity of Films" city to which never come with | out having reason to feel from the warmth | of my welcome, as do to night, that am | among the kindest and best of my personal l friends.
 The Foresters I learn trace their lineage back to remote feudal times and. pride them | selves on the liberty loving spirit of their his- toric ancestors. Their organization, having of men of all parties aRd creeds and already enrolls in it's membership the names of 5O,- GOO of our countrymen and has in Great Britain more than ten times that number.
 They have, am told, signs, symbols and passwords, and none but the initiated can approach their lodge in the woods. But | imagine if I can do so, without danger, that 1 these things, however much they may pro- ! yoke the curious or mystify outsiders, about l whick there may be 8 difference of opin- | ion, have really little to do with the l charm that binds them together in | fra6ernal affection. The banners, symbols !. and shibboleths of an organization, whether | in the Church or the State, are hollow and l meaningless things, unless they signify our | charity, love of our country or faith in God. | But, when founded upon either, they have 8 | benefcent effect on those who appreciate | their import and meaning.
 Our judgment of 8 society as of an individ- l ual should be governed, not by prejudice, but | knowledge. By their works ye shall know them" An association of men, whatever name it assumes, or whatever innocent se- crets or signs it indulges in, if, like the For esters, it furnishes watchers for the sick, gives aid to the indigent and administers | charity to the widow and orphan, deserves, for the good it does, the benedictions of men | and the blessing of God
 As see around me young ladies waiting, t with ready hands and willing hearts, to aid in making the fair about to be opened mo- table success can but regret that the gall lant Foresters do not admit their wives and their sisters to the rights and to the honors of their social society, for the presence of women in the lodge of this order would ad- - vance, am sure. the benevolent work to which it is dedicated. Their exclusion is not based, hope, upon the mistaken belief that women cannot keep secrets as faithfully as men; my professional experience teaches me better. Any lawyer who has over Wrestied in court with a woman will tell yon it is easier to draw out from man than woman, B secret the witness thinks ought not to be told. It is 6 tradition, you know, of the ancient and honorable order of Masonry, that a woman was once clandestinely admitted to its sanctum sanctoruM. Her picture IS af preserved and copies of it hang in nearly every lodge room. No Mason will tell you that she ever betrayed the secret she acquired, was recreant to the VOWS she took or unfsithful to the work of charity upon which she entered
 will weary your patience but one mo- ment longer If this association would full fill it's promise and mission, it must adhere to the laudable purpose of itg founders and avoid, as vipers, the social and political dema- gogues infesting every community, who are always attempting by cringing to capital by slandering character or by pandering to prejudice, to crawl into the places of respectable men. If it resists, as I hope it may, this besetting evil, it will, increasing it's numbers and en larging it's power, continue to exert a useful influence in favor of the thrifty, industrial element of which it is so largely composed.
 I commend, in conclusion, the fair now opened to the encouragement and patronage of this generous community. The funds it will supply to the treasury of the Fofesters will, am confident, be used to advance the best interest of the order, to alleviate the Siek and cheer the Respondent. l