The Washington times., 1895-02-13
LOYAL LEGION CELEBRATES

Thirteenth Annual Eanquet-EIoquent
Speeches by Distinguished Orators.
LineoIn's birthday was flttingly celebrated
last evening by an organization largely com
posed of the veterans of his vast Army and
Navy of 1s61-'65. that was marshaled for the
perpetuation of the Union and the preserva-
ton the Star and Stripes.
The spacious main dining hall of the
Arlington Hotel resounded from o'clock
until with the echoes of patriotic song and
story. by 500 guests. at the thirteenth annual
banquet of Washington Commandery of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Admiral
Francis NJ. Ramsay, the commander. was at
the mead of the board.
The decorations of both hall and tables
were handsome and complete, with "Old
Glory predo minating. and rare flowers
serving as artistic trimmings.
Among the guests were men of high Da-
| tlOnal prominence as statesmen, as men OF let
tiers, and wieders of the sword, and the pro-
| ceedings, from preface to finis, were in keep
! ing with the surroundings and the high
character of the assemblage
! The guests were assembled at $50 p. m in
| the banquet hall, whence. preceded by the
commandery officials and the distinguished
| guests of the throng, they marched through
the intersecting parlors and corridors to the
main dining hall, where the banquet was
served, the smaller hall being Inadequate for
the accommodation of the many in attend
| ance
The oratory began at 80 O'Clock, the set
| toasts being but lew, but the interspersions
of poetry, anecdote, and song, which were
not least among the attractions, protracted
the exercises until a late hour.
| The DreSidinO off ppnOuDpad the tOaStS
which were responded to in the following
order: "Our country" Senator Joseph L.
Hawley: THE day we celebrate, Hon.
George L. Wellington, NJ. c.. of Maryland;
1.-The thirteenth anniversary of the institution
of District commandery,' Senator Charles f.
| Henderson; "The patriotism OF peace, Prof.
0rson V. TowsIey, and, in addition, tribute
was paid to the Deceased companions.
The patriotic eloquence of the speakers
elected round after round of applause, and
mention of the names of the heroes, living
and dead, whose deeds of valor. and of tine
departed statesmen. whose patriotic acts
have become part OF the country's history,
was received with corresponding enthusiasm.
The banquet. as before stated, having
fallen upon Lincoln's birthday. and is but a
few days from that other birthday whom all
Americans love to commemorate. that OF the
first President and this gave Congressman
Wellington the opportunity to refer to both,
ton as the father and Lincoln as the saviour
of our common country.
The commandery has for its present corps
of officers the following: Commander, Ad-
miral Ramsey; senior vice commander, Gen.
0hauncey McKeever. u. S. A.; junior
vice commander, Gen. Cecil NJ. Clay;
recorder, Major William P. Huxford,
Q. s. A.; registrar, Passed As
sistant Engineer Marcus S. Hopkins; chan
cellor, Capt Crosby P Miller; chaplain,
James H. Bradford; the council, Gen. Jo-
seph Dickinson, Capt James NJ. Snyder,
Capt. Horace Noble, Capt. Howard L.. Prince,
Col. Anthony Heger, all of whom we're pres
1 ent. In addition. there were among the guests
Senator John Sherman. Gen. Daniel E.
Sickles, Maj. J. W. Powell, John Benjamin.
of New York, Maj. f. w. Coleman, Adit. Gen.
George D. Ruggles, U. S. A., John A. Logan,
jr.. J. S. Tichener. Gen. G. FL. Smith, U. s. A.,
retired, Col. George L. Andrews, q. S. A..
retired; T. S. Tredick, of Portsmouth. N. Fl.
Capt f. A. MeNair, United States Marine
Corps; Col. E. s. Larned .. S. A., retired