The morning news., 1894-11-01
UNDER BRIGHT AUSPICES.
a Brilliant Opening Of SaTannah'S New
Commercial Club.


Guests Around the Banquet Board.
a Club Which Comprises All Comm r
cisI Interests, and the Only Limitation
for Membership Is Reputable Busi-
ness Standing.
The Commercial Club was opened under
bright auspices last night, and it has be
fore it the promise of most successful
career in the club life of Savannah.
The object for which it was organized,
and the purpose contemplated in its char
ter, make it club that Will be of impor-
tance in the commercial and social history
of Savannah. It has an object which is
two-fold in its nature-to bring together
the commercial interests in a social way.
The club itself is handsomely equipped
for the reception of its members and their
friends. The halls and rooms of the build
ing are handsomely equipped, and last
night they were decked as though in hol-
day attire. and seemed themselves to say
Welcome" to those who assembled there
to honor an occasion which will be aus
picious in the commercial life Of the city
It was about o'clock when the mem
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the club house at Bull and Gordon streets
and within a short time more than 200 were
within it's walls. The scene was one Of
brilliancy and splendor. The handsome
rooms elegantly furnished, carpeted and
pictured, were palatial in appearance,
and the house, once a residence, looked
model club The rooms, with the excep-
ton of the movable furnishings, were just
as Mr.. E. A. Well left them when he
turned the residence over to the club, and
they needed little additional adornment
for the purpose for which they were in
tended.
An elegant lunch was prepared in the
billiard room on the second floor, of which
the members and their friends were in
vited to partake. 1t was an impromptu
banquet at which the president. Maj. Ed
ward Karow, presided and he made a
toastmaster par excellence. Maj. Karow
made the address of welcome to the mem
bers of the club and the assembled guests
in sentiments which were not only most
appropriate to the occasion, but which
were echoed in the minds and hearts of all
who heard him. He said:
Gentlemen-I deeply feel the nonor
which falls upon me as president of this
club, to surrender to you tonight these
quarters for your use and your pleasure.
You have yourselves, in meeting as
sembled, authorized the purchase of this
building and your board of governors,
through its various committees, has faith
fully worked to make this club house
ready and hospitable for your reception.
Much has been done for your comfort
and convenience, yet the governors do not
claim by any means that it is perfect
much remains to be done; but under the
present circumstances and conditions of
our new organization, we feel that it
would be unwise to do more for the pres
ent: Thus leaving to the future develop
ment and prosperity of our club, its fun
share Of further improvements.
And when we now tender to
you those quarters we hope that
you will give US credit for our
endeavors to please you, and that
you viii be kind in your criticism of what
might have been done better.
This is now your home, the home of the
Commercial Club of Savannah. the
very name implies the object of
its organization, as your charter
expresses it; ITO further the
commercial interest of our city" Our
city is not an agricultural community ex-
cept to a very limited extent. 1t is strictly
commercial
Commerce is it foundation, commerce
is its life and existence, commerce is our
future; and to bring into personal con-
tact the various interests of our trade,
and thus blend together in social inter
course the various branches of our com
merce and by fostering personal friend
ship amongst our merchants to bind us
together and make us strong, and learn
one from another and teach one another,
that is the object of our club.
Commerce is not a new invention, nay
it is as old as the first fruits of our civili-
ealaf. 80
have kept pace with the developments
and inventions of the ages. Yes, we can
conscienuously say that commerce has
been, and is the godfather Of nearly all
important inventions of this world, and
that commerce is the chief factor in civih-
Zation and progress.
With the progress of the times, the de-
mands which are made upon commerce are
naturally increasing, and the aims and
ideals, for which commerce is striving
are daily getting higher and higher our
present day would not be satisfied with
the commercial achievements Of our faith
ers and those of our grandfathers appear
10 us narrow and limited in their scope
The greater advantages and facilities
of to-day require more ardent study, finer
calculation and greater power of discrimi-
nation.
The greater the exigencies, the greater
the demands, and any new phases re-
quire the immediate close and careful
adaptation of the trade to the new condI-
tions and surrounding influences.
Ambition and competition are the soul
of commerce, and strife amongst mer-
chants is as honorable as the competition
for honors and achievements in any other
walk Of life. Yet competition does not
mean envy nor narrow-minded jealousy
The various branches Of trade become
daily more interviewer and affect each
other in wide influence. Every bust
ness man realizes that the pulse beats of
one commercial interest are felt in all
the other branches.
Let us then hold and stand together in
this house let us mingle socially and af-
ter our days labors enjoy in each Others s
company an exchange OF our ideas; let
us be considerate one OF another's inter
est, realizing that our individual interest
cannot be severed from the great com
mon good Of our commercial community
Two wise fundamental rules have been
embodied by our founders in our char
ter. The one is:
THAT all political and religious dis
cussions shall be prohibited at all our
meetings"
A wise rule, which will prevent any sec
CO al tt,