New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
HONORING ST. NICHOLAS.
sEMI-CENTENNIAL OF THE SOCIETY.
DINNER AT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DY DR.. vER-
MILYE, MR. DEPEw AND OTHERS.

Inc u. Nicholas Society ceebratedits semi
centennial last evening by large dinner at Delmonicos
NJ "hich were present many OF the original
ooi' Vi the organization Covers were laid
lor over two-hundred persons and the large
pan room was filled to overfowing. The
ou negroes who dressed in the gorgeous syblue livery
OF tno society always form prominent feature OF the
ot' N'choas dinners, were there IN all their glory.
toward the close OF the dinner the old rooster OF the
Stadt huys was carried into the hall amid cheers and
eh descendants OF the Knckerbockers made desperate
h'''P' 10 smoke the longstemmed Dutch pipes which
Ihu pech provided for tho occasion Cornelius Wander
D president Of the society, presided and occupied the
seat OF honor at the raised table. On his right
sat Chauncey NJ Depew, and on his left the
he'' Dr' Vermilye. The others who sat at the
table were b. II. Field, W. II. Johnson, A. j.
Co'heal j. II. Planten. ConsulGcnera OF the
Ne'herlahds j. A. King A. II. MacdonOugh and Mr..
Shder' president OF tho Hoboken ST. Nicholas Society
Among those who sat at the other table G. Nor
""o'' Jr' hTst vice-president Of the society; j.
NILS second vee-president; J. W. Beck
man. third vicc-president; stuyvesant Fish.
iour'h Nice-mesident Edward schc, treasurer
l. A. schcrmernon, secretary; Kilian VAN
rensselaer, John B. Pine, Alfred Van santvoord.
e. an ahtvoord, Edward +. DE Lancey, Hamilton I.
earaor Cearr; A. Finest yanderpoel f. T. Taller + T.
A. Jaeobn.% % Gseors Georse WMusuyStns sroGm " Lyman
Hoe.cn. @. H. sr'ieGelin. Fdsar de- Tcysicr' tl.'
Frederick de reyscr, General stewart Van ylct. " j.
Van Ar'dae Richmond Talbot. Walter RUTHERFORD. Geo.
". Van Dorp and d. Van Nosirand. 1t vas late in
the evening before the president donne his cooked hat
tue Da"ge OI his office. and To make the opening
address lie rohcarsed briefly the history Of the oun
daon OF he society and reported favoraby upon its
present coldltlon His remark that the membership
tll' caused sensation, and many of the diners seemed
20 e"ner INA iha persona! reflection was intended In
iton flsh. the first secretary OF the society, who sub
mittcd itS constitution nifty years ago was able
"a
rom the gee club. after which S-uyvesant Fish read
ctter Of regret from his father. Mr.. Wander
hlt then Introduced the Rev Dr. Vcrmiye, the senior
chaplain o the society, "whO, said the president "has
been member for or four years. chaplain for forty
years and celebrates with us tonight his
birthday Or Vcrmilyes address fun OF pleasant
"reminiscences Of former officers and members
gf,.,o Of the society He, spoke Of Washington
ipyre TT@S and nH r ,o aororna his Inability % r. % to make ro
president OF the association, aud paid graceful tribute
To the Row Dr. Noah Hunt schcnck. his predecessor
II. Bogar and John C. Mills read n letter from Uriah
Welsh The former proprietor OF the 81 Nicholas Hotel
who gave 10 the club the old gded weathercock which
so long adorned his hotel The cock displayed in
prominent position in the dinnghall At this point loud
cries for DcIcw" began To be heard.
Chauhcey NJ Depew was introduced by the president
10 respond to the toast Od NewYork He traced he
island they bought from the Indians for 90 guders.
Dutch trade "a that epoch had already enccled the
TO extend It this side OF the Atlantic, but the
Sanc time they carried with them their common schools
aud their religious liberty. with the first Dutch GOV
crnor o Sew York came dominic and "a school teacher.
Here the ianatical spirit OF New ngland never took
root. Here were kndlrd nTcs To burn witches and II
asserted boy the Dutchsministcr. that the appear
ancc Of one Pers0u affecting another Is Insufficient proof
OF witch. Hero also the Quhkcrs. fleeing nom the
persecution 10 which thcy were subjected by the Puri
thn-. found refuge aud welcome. Applause Then
the English conquered NcwIOrK IN 1854. There were
900 Inhabitants. but there three public schools,
one Latin school, aud tscnty private schools. The
English paid ittle attention 10 education. and II re-
maned IN the hands Dutch until years after
the Revolutionary War. 10 upon this broad and
iberal basis that the settlement of Nr"Iork by the
Dutch conducted. and the seed of their principles
subsequently, bore mutt Here forty years before the
Declaration ~ independence the trial OF John Zenger
established the freedom, oi the press. Eleven years
before the Battle Of Lexington the Legislature Of New
York protested against the stamp Act. Ahen the
British bad Cft New York John Jay and Alexander
Hamilton began the publication ~ The FedSrGiia which
laid the foundation Of tho Constitution. Here Washing
ton n1ugurat'd. and the Government which began
with this ceremony was lmprcgnated with the spirit of
the old Dutch settlers. when William Of Orange heard
al his coronation the reading o the Charters OF England
be with his hand hl, sword will maintain
20 should We, review tine legacy OF the noble
traditions left by ancestors, sOlcmnly swear,
: We will mai ntBln.'" tAppiausc.
Mr. BepcV- speech receive with the greatest en-
thusiR~n and A. H. MacdOnough moved that the thanks
tho society rendered tho speakers Of the evening
IN motion was seconded by Judge A r. Lawrence, and
was carried unanimously