New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-10
IN HONOR OLA GREAT POET.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE GOETHE SOCIETY
LARGE GATHERING TO CELEBRATE THE
FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ORGANIZATION.

The annual meeting and dinner Of the Goethe Society
were held last evening at re Hotel Brunswick. AZ
the business meeting, which took place in the pafios
Of the hotel A. NJ Palmer was elected president of tho
society for the coming year Dr. A. Ruppaner, nso
vice president; Charles r. Miller, second vicepresi-
dent Harrison Grey Fiske, secretary oscar 1ennl
treasurer; T. Lemcke. corresponding secretary D. b.
Emerson, j. b. Wheeler. George II. Gibson, Fredsfick
kuehne and Ingcrson Lockwood councillors Ihe ~
ports Of the officers presented which snow
the society to be in a hourishins condition. Ooohei
and Mrs Robert G. Ingersoll admitted to active
membership and George Parsons Lathrop was elected
honorary member. Resolutions complimentary to
| Parke Goodwin. the retiring president, were unanl-
mousy adopted.
At the dinner Mr.. Palmer, the newly elected pres'-
dent, occupied the chair At his right sat Mrs Palmer
and Colonel and Mrs. Ingersol; at his left, Will
lam Winter Among the others at the tables were
Mr.. and Mrs. Willard c. Fske, Marshall Mallory, Mrs.
| J. c. Croly Jennie june, ex-Judge Dillon, Miss
| Dillon, DR.. A. Ruppaner, oscar Yenn Mrs. Frank
Leslie, Miss Nette Hooper !. b. Emerson, Ing'rson
| Lockwood Mr.. and Miss Zolllkofer a. Robertson
Miss Carrie Middcbrook Mr.. and Mrs. Albert smith,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles a. Clapp, Mr.. and Mrs. Gil
man H. Tucker, Mrs. C. NJ. Valentine Mr.. and Mrs.
James f. Sutton Mr.. and Mrs. j. D. Wheeler Mr. and
Mrs. F. Lemcke. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles r. Miller
Miss VI. Louise Thomas. A. b. Poet, Miss Aiken,
G. J. Peet, Dr. Mann, DR.. stimson, Mr.. and Mrs.
Clark Bell, Judge A. L. Palmer, of NewBruns WICK
y. j.; J. W. Ederhen. Isaac Bailey A NJ Blgby'
Mrs. James Barrow, Mr.. and Mrs. George Parsons
LahOp
After the chairman had made a few happy remarks
by way OF Introduction, he called upon Dr. A. Rup-
paner the first president OF the society," 10 respond TO
the toast Our Society and the Great Name II Bears
DIR. Ruppaner recalled many pleasant rec0hccuohs
Of the first years OF the socieys existence ana the
connection with it of number of prominent men,
including William Cullen Bryant He spoke OF the
pleasure which he experienced when in Frankfort last
summer, in wishing the room where Goethe was porn
and in seeing the stage upon which the poet used
to work his puppets when rehearsng his dramas 10
II the parts fitted we'll together.
1.-THE Happiness of Literary Communion was the
next toast and Colonel IngersOll responded His
remarks. which particularly well received Dy
his audience were mainly application of his own
saying that happiness is the only possible good ana
all that tends to the happiness Of man Is rgh' anu
Is Of value" Gun. -
in graceful and pleasing manner saying that men
had demanded that women should cultivate those
virtues for which men cared least.
William Winter was the next speaker anu r.
sponded in a scholarly way 20 the toast mo foct
Mission He spoke IN part as follows:
The time through which are passing is a Pagan
tme-uitfu Of material results almost entirely sterile
In spiritual advancement 1t may, perhaps, end IN
glorious fruon: let hope that 1t Will, and let US
labor that # may; hut, in the meanwhile It's fret and
fever It's Wild and whrlng tumut Of chaotic force and
its s,rlden vulgarlty make It hard to bear In this
period and this capital. accordingly the prosperous
existence such association the Goethe Society Is
suspicious and cheering sign 1t means that the
service OF the intellect and the soul IS not
forgotten and has not yet been abandoned
The Goethe Society not organized for that
great educational purpose OF the American College that
yorte Of the fostering American PIess-the knock
ing and kicking OF ball association bears the name
Of one OF the greatest Intellectual that ever lived
the grandcst type literature Of the man who is self
made because by the process Of education he has re-
moved all exces, and repaired ali deficiency In himself
til the structure OF his being has become symmetrical
ana perfect who did not believe that
here necessarily wisdom in the multitude who had no
faith in government by the many and who did not thhA
that progress consists In GROWING the apex Of the
social pyramid with the basis Of the mob lie was the
anostle Of the intellect and the soul and your society.
following pathway is consecraed 10 the service OF
the Ideal Of which his ilusrious name IS the ample and
splendid symbol with deep and grateful satisfaction
accordingly and the time with humble solicitude
in the presence Of such a distinguished company that
enieavor to respond the sentiment in my honor 50
gracefully announced by President and so gFacousy
| received by you.
/, Is but little however that can say; nothing, I
tear that will be deemed adequate to the theme or to the
hour In the second OF Goethes supreme and I'm
perd tragedy there Is moment when Faust and his dis
cpe standing upon the mountain-side look down upon
the vide AMI blooming yaeyts peaceful cottages nestled
In the bright green glistenng foliage, and the whole
sweet twilight scene sumberng the and gold Of
delicious moment so full at once OF beauty
and Of sadness the and weary thinker uters his
deep aspiration he might be permitted forever and
forever n follow the in his settng"the Day before
NE and the Night behnland thus always to behold the
world as now bathed this supernal light OF loneliness
and clothed in this celestial garment Of peace The mood
&. repre- sentative mood. We have all felt IT, We are
an conscious Of something ourselves which IS higher
and nobler than what reveal We are all conscious
that there Is something the possibilities OF human eX
stence better and grander than the life We lead Every
day we live the pressure OF material civilization becomes
harder and harder. Every day live the burden Of
care grows heavier tide Of sensualy rises higher
mood Of reckless evy more needless and more
bitter and the glow and ardor OF the spirit droop and
wane.
"For each day brings It's petty dust.
our soon choked souls to MI,