Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-22
OLDEST INHABITANTS.
They Appropriately Observe the birthday a
the Father OF His Country.

BUSINESS MEETING FIRST AND rurx poHxal
CELEBRATION ExERcrsrs, rSorupr~a an ITO
eVrSr AND PATRIOTIC GRAFTON ny Rtv. On.
coREY-LIsF OF THE NrNs,R. vpo vxRs
PRESENT.
Age cannot wither nor custom stsle tina
perennial patriotism OF the member. Of our
o'dest Inhabitants Association. and they
turned out today in goodly number. 10 cele-
pirate the anniversary Of washine,on'. birth
day.
Ihey held two meetings in their hall 4, IN.
Corcoran building. one IN ,he ,,,o-,,,,- "a
the other in the afternoon. A, ho,h :, ,,,..s.
WIG '''0"''is sturdy members were present:
MEMBERS PRESENT.
'no Maroury, jr.. president; Allison N.ilor.
recording secretary; Dr. ]. I. Howard CORE
spending secretary; J. A. winebereer marshal,
Robert Robert Ball. treasurer; y. u. Iarner. Jno. r.
pi' u, Langley. Jos. Prather. Vim.
Boron, A. h. Raglan. W. Bradley. A r I,n,-
hard J. Niehmeyer. T. n rnrnar
+ w Brandenburg. I. r. McGuire. " NJ
Williams, j. W. Clarke. Jas. Pfling.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
AT the business meeting Of the association
held previous to the public meeting. pros,as,,
John Marbury remarked that he sas sorry tina,
the inclemency Of the weather had prevented I.
fuller attendance
He ssid that this was the one hundred and
siNty-frst anniversary of the birth Of tho fa,ber
OF our country, and this society has never failed
TO celebrate the anniversary from the time ~
Its organization He also called attention 20
the TACT that the Senate of the United States has
also recognized tine anniversary today.
Mr. Robert Ball. chairman Of the COMMITTEES
TO which WAS referred Mr.. Nineberger's rrono-
eltOn 10 luCOrnOrufa the
TO II a historical branch for the collection ~
historical manuscripts. documents dc. amer
tanning to the District of Columbia reported m
favor OF portion Of the proposition and
recommended that the name Of the association
be made The Association OF the Oldest In
hsbitants and the Historical Society of the Dis
trict of Columbia" The committee recon-
mended that the question of incorporation be
laid over for the present
On motion Of Mr.. Larner the consideration
ol ,he report was deferred until there n .
fuller attendance
Mr.. Ball reported that he had invited the
I'D veteran Firemen TO attend this meeting,
but that they had been compelled to decline
because OF previous engagement
The chair said he hoped that hereafter when
ever member is called on to give "reminiscences
IN conformity with the resolution aaopted AT
ton.
PLEASANT INCIDENT
very pleasant incident followed. being the
presentation Of a gold-headed cane 20 Mr.. T.
H. Langley in honor of his golden wedding
which was celebrated Nov. 10 last. President
Marbury made the presentation speech aud
the aged Benedict made fitting resu onse say
ing ms heart was filled with gratitude and
expressing the hope that his associates would
all live long enough to receive a similar gait.
on motion OF Mr.. Major members who make
addresses TO the association we're requested TO
ME the manuscripts with the secretary, 90 that
they can be made of record and become part of
the historical matter Of the association.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE DAY.
The business meeting was adjourned at th,.
point and the programme for the celebration OF
the day was carried out. President Marbury re-
tanning the chair. In accordance with custom
Washington's farewell address Was read, that
duty this year deyolying on Mr.. A. H. Ragan. one
OF the younger members Of the association.
Rev. Geo ii. Corey, pastor Of the Metro
politan NJ. L. Church, followed with a care
fuily prepared Grafton on the lessons of the
day and the beauty of American citizenship
In the course of his address he said that
central TO the life and glory OF the republic is the
character of its citizenship. winch Is the true
foundation OF our national greatness.
lhis Is the order OF historical develop
ment The family, the state tine law,
the man. The elements of American citizen,
ship include three factors freedom education
and religion, which elements are irreparable
there Is an Intimate connection between
despotism, ignorance and false religion
he insisted that religion is an essential
factor IN American citizenship. Trle citizen
ship must. be loyal not only to these primal
principles, but also be profoundly sympathetic
with the spirit of the nation which has a heart
as well as a brain. Equally imperative 10 it
II You would conserve the interest
of the nation and open the career OF progress
0tkelOnmant nat Won ls..l
Christian citizenship into all departments of
governmental life, OF, in other words,
1t must be projected into the wide
realms of politics and its admins
tration. IL is grave error 20 imagine that
general intelligence or a high culture is possi-
BILE without regard to morals and as Plato said
long ago you must make men pure before YOU
can make them wise.
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO pATRfors
DIR. Corey paid an eloquent tribute to alliour
patriots. OF Grant he said: Coincidence
generals who contested with him many a hard
fought field with sorrowful hearts and fearful
eyes followed him to his grave. Thus north
and south are cemented an perpetual unity As
the boys in blue and the bows in gray fling a
bridge of roses across the bloody chasm-
DIR. Corey closed his address with the follow
ing words:
To-day the lingering mists Of partisan pref
udice may hang heavy clouds upon the glory
OF ms lhine. Dut Wnen theN shall dissolve the
flow Of time, and the muse of history shall
come to make up the list of her
worthless she shall put Moses for
the Hebrew, Phocion for the Greek,
hampden for England, Lafayette for France
Washington the earliest flower of our ciyili-
cation. and opening a fresh, unstained page
she shall record the life of one who
embodied the nations highest princi-
Piles and noblest character. the bright
consummate fruitage of American institutions.
the patriot and prophet of new era the
statesman, the libsrator. the MARTYR and the
mantle illustrious Lincoln
And surely while the sacred dust of those
men sleep on our soil. liberty shall not perish
and the republic shall stand with her glory IN.
dimmed and her power unbroken.
They fsil who d.
In great cause; the block ma, s4,ak their fror.
heir heads may sOdden "a. che sun, their limbs
be strung 10 city gates and casil. wa Is
But still their Spirits ALI abroad though xearu
liapSe. and Others IL are as dark doom,
They but augment the deep of sweeping thotsbts
Nb ch overpovsr all Others and conduct
The world at asst TO freedom"
VOTE THANKs
On motion Of Mr. Boron, seconded by Mr..
Ball, vote of thsnks rendered Dr. Corey
for his eloquent address and il will be pre-
served among the archives of the association.
The next meeting will be held on the fret
Wednesday of March at I'm.