Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-23
CHERRY-TREE DAY.
Celebrations Of More or Less Note
Throughout the Country.
DIR. LArFERTY IN NEW YORK.
He Speaks on "southern Character
fstfcs" mt the Banquct of the South
ern Society ana Lauds the Virtues
Of His Native Section.


usual I'm this city. In the early hours
there was n sharp. biting wind, making
outdoor exercise extremely unpopular.
The city bore holiday appearance In the
display OF flags and bunting. Travel on
the elevated and surface roads was small,
the streets downtown were nearly de-
serted, and very little business went on.
The display of flags and bunting seem'
ed greater than on any previous WASH
ington's Birthday. They hung from poles
thrust from the windows, and In every d.
rection the eye rested on a multitude oil
red stripes and blue fields waving in the
breeze.
Old Glory waved glorlously on the wa
ter. Ships Of all kinds showed from one
to three flags. Ferry-boats, steamboats,,
steamships. tugs. lighters, and scows-all
few the emblem. Along the river front
the display was general and In effect
beautiful.
"OLD GLORY"
At sunrise this morning Christopher
Forbes, great-grandson Of Sergeant Van
Arsdale. of Revolutionary fame. raised
"Old Glory at Battery Park, as he has
al
sisted by the Anderson Zouaves, OF the
Sixty-second Regiment. New York Vol
unteers. Enthusiasm prevailed while the
flag was being raised, and cheer after
cheer was given for the father OF our
country and "Old Glory by those who
were present.
Social and military functions without
number were held during the day. a
dinner was given at the Colonial CIuO'
Seventy-second street and the Boulevard
at o'clock In the evening. Among the
speakers were Mayor Strong, General Hc'
race Porter. and the Rev. G.. L. Stro>
bridge.
SOUTHERN SOCIETY.
The Southern Society of New York held
its ninth annual banquet at Sherry's to-
night. Among the men invited 10 ad-
dress the society were William Everett
Of Massachusetts,; John Kendrick Bangs
and James G. Carter.
The Rev. John J. Lafferty, editor OF the
Christian Advocate, Richmond. Va, re-
sponded to the toast southern Charac~
toristics" In his address DIR. Lafferty
claimed that the southern people werS
distinguished for their respect for reli-
gion. An infidel was unknown. The pops
ular notion OF such nondescript was
creature too coWardy TO stand up TO
the challenge Of his deeds. He wanted
to insult God and then dodge, not willing
TO tote fair. The southerner prided HIM
self on his orthodoxy. He was the cham
piOn of religion. A Nirgnian, who "cuss>
ed" often on the court green, finding no
preaching in the Capitol where he was
accredited as representative OF the
United States delivered a sermon every
Sunday for the benefit of Americans resi-
dent or in port Old Jack Randolph
paused In the midst OF an eloquent dis
course to damn a negro auditor. much
moved under the exposition. for stealing
his wool when | was in Russia"
The Doctor related the incident OF two
old politicians of Lexington. One was
denouncing the other for a suspicion of
agnosticism and. turning to DR.. Lafferty,
clnched the anathema by saying. How
the devil could those fishermen have In
vented the story. as that old infdel pre-
tends TO believer
THE THOMASITES.
He said that there was a minor section
called the "Thomasites" In Virginia be-
fore the war, who held that the soul like
air. foated off and was dissipated. \
powerful polemic in a debate in Flu
wanna smashed the airy creed. He
gave the story dn illustrating this con-
|, tesO of the smelling bottle" for DIR.
Thomas affirmed the Greek word for soul
meant something volatile. like the salts
in a lady's "smelling-bOttle." The orthodox
Achilles let fly. What shall it profit a
man II he gain the whole world and lose
his smelling -bottle?' etc.
The Doctor affirmed that the church
holding 10 immersion. with the exception
Of a few shrkers In the cities. would
break the ice for the rite; and the genuine
disciples laughed al the inflrmity that
boiled Jordan" in the baptistrles.
COURTESY To CLERGYMEN.
In the South the utmost courtesy was
shown the clergy. a fellow by oath or
unscemly behavior in the presence OF
preachers. showing sign Of a purpose to
annoy a minister, would have rough usage
from the bystanders. The utmost re-
spect was demanded for ladies In public
ana private life. In conveyances or on
the street, rudeness or attempt to thrust
aside a woman would bring down on the
offender general indignation.
POLITICAL TRAINING.
No people since the public debates in
Athens were ever so widely and thoroughly
instructed on questions of national
policy. Once a month at the old county
courts the people heard trained men dis
cuss every issue arising between parties.
| The citizens were students. They listened
| the most admirable and effectual school
| for patriots ever evoked. During the
| war the plainest men could expound the
questions submitted to the arbitrament OF
| arms.
The South illustrated the highest
| reaches O. manhood. 1t was not a mat.
| ter Of who should hold the mouth OF
| the Mississippi or great ports on the
| Atlantic seaboard or lose patron for
r1 1ngF, Al aV,A
| hazard its life. liberty. property upon q
| metaphysical definition or abstract inter
| pretaton. On a wire-door principle they
| fought a world in arms. Coarse natures
| would have traded
SOUTH AT THE TOP.
| He reasoned that the South had reach.
| ed the top of manly and moral develop
| ment, else Providence would not have
| Put II in the furnace. Suffering was the
| test The outcry of terror when Lee
| threatened the North from Pennsylvania
| proved that people were unripe. They
| would have disgraced the crucble
| Moses surrendering a crown showed fit
| ness 10 salute Jehovah on Sinai. The
| South consumed two centuries of wealth
| and It's iirst-born yet rose IN two decade.
10 political powder. AS its bitterest fot
predicts, Bishop Newman. it has a com
| mission Ito march across the Ohio tC
| save ordered liberty"
| DIR. Lafferty. in virile words, cham
| pioned the virtues OF his native land
| happy in story. eloquent In classic imagery
and buttressed with historic data.
| SONS OF THE REVOLUTION.
| The Society Of the Sons OF Revolution
| held services at the Brick Presby
| terian church at Fifth avenue and Thir
| tieth street, and gave dinner at Delmoni-
| cos. at which more than 200 members and
| guests were present. The hall was deco
| rated with flags. 4 souvenir for eacl
| guest was the tiny box in which ices wer'
| served. On each was a bunch of cherries
| and a hatchet. The menu-card bears ;
| medallion Of Washington and view o
| the house at Mt. Vernon done In ice.
| The Eighth Battalion (the old Washing
! ton Grays) n. G. s.. ~. Y, held fits nine
| teenth annual reunion at the Armory
| Park avenue and Fourteenth street. at S:3
| A. NJ. The battalion was reviewed b.
] General Fitzgerald. Reunions, dinners
| and other functions were on every hand