The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-25
NEW ENGLANDERs IN FLORIDA
Annual Banquet of the New England
Society of Florida.

Annual Banqu of the New England
Society Of Florida,
ORLANDO, FLA. Feb 24-Washington's
birthday in our city was made an unusually
lively and important one this year by tie
South Florida fair, aud the sixth annual
banquet of the New England Society of
this state, which was held at the San Juan
hotel tonight. Manager J. II. Abbott, who
comes from New Hampshire gave the So
clety a genuine New England feast, TO
which large company Of ladies and gen.
tlemen did full Justice
Then came the toasts and responses
thereto, under the direction of Hon. J. Il.
Sinclair, who made an excellent response to
the first toast, New England people"
Capt Wanton s. Webb, a Rhode Islander,
whose famous car is side tracked near the
hotel responded to FLORIDA on wheels ="
and told what New Englanders had done to
help on his enterprise. FLORIDA past and
resent" found faithful chronicler IN Hon.
j. e. Greeley of Jacksonville, who told Of
the changes in this state during his forty
years residence here. Col. Dudley W.
Adams OF Iaugerine read witty but sensl-
bic poem on the Yankee Boys" which was
heartily applauded. The las5 regular toast,
Mothers Of New England and their
daughters" was responded to by Mai. Sid
ney Herbert, who had only an hours pre-
vious notice, yet gave this grand theme his
best impromptu sentiments and eloquent
utterances.
One of the most Jealous workers of the
society is Mayor Henry S. Chubb of Win
ter Park, who is also fluent talker. and the
ladies and gentlemen we're not willing to
disperse without hearing from him, ana in
response to hearty calls he eulogized New
England and said it was his proudest boast
that he was from there.
The banquet was sandwiched between two
social receptions held in the parlors of the
hotel at which the members aud their
friends were introduced TO each other and
many new acquaintance formed Every
New England state was represented from
Maine to Connecticut, aud not few
strangers were surprised, on being intro
duced TO find that they were born in the
same county in Maine, or some other New
England state, and held in common many
delightful and sacred memories OF a child
hoods home and early associations never to
be forgotten in all their wanderings.
The annual business meeting of the So
ciety, which preceded the banquet, was
marred by the absence, at Townsville, Ga,
of President A. A. Parker of Tampa, and
Secretary G. II. Smith of Jacksonville, who
was on a train four hours behind time
Vice President J. &. Greeley of Jackson
vile presided. and Director A. q. Hanlin
VA bOLau0 dCbCO hH bSCIolhE1t eO buhb DUN
positions were ably filled. The reports of
the various officers showed the society TO be
in prosperous condition financially and
having an increased membership. The
election Of officers resulted in the choice of
gentlemen Of high character, flre social
qualities and rare executive ability, insur-
ing year Of prosperity: President, Dudley
w. Adams Of Tangerine; vice presidents, ].
G.. Sinclair OF Orlando, J. c. Greeley Of
Jacksonville. J. B. Clough OF De-
Land and C. c. Haskell of
Maitland; directors, George H. Fernald
of Sanford, E. F. Sherry Of Orlando, A. g.
Hamlin Of DeLand, Henry s. Chubb Of
Winter Park; secretary, Charles H Smith
Of Jacksonville; treasurer, Wilbur p Web
ster of Jacksonville.
Director Fernald is chairman OF the board
of directors, and to him is largely due the
success of the banquet and meeting to-
night. In the absence of the president and
secretary he became unexpectedly chief
officer. but being thorough business man
Of large experience, and an elegant and
courtly society leader, he succeeded adj
mirably in uniting his associates in prompt
action that brought order out of chaos and
made the occasion one Of rare enjoyment to
ell present.