St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-23

WORDS WORTH
Brilliant Function by Mime
sofa Society Sons Of the
Revolution
GIVEN AT THE ABERDEEN
And Attended by Many Prom
inent Citizens and Ora ,
tors.
IN HONOR OF WASHINGTON
First in War, First in Peace,
First in the Hearts of His
Countrymen.

his country than did the Sons of the
Revolution at the Aberdeen hotel
last night Wit, words and worth
surrounded the banquet tables. 1t
was one of those invigorating, in
spring occasions that arouses the
spirit of patriotism in every bosom
and intensifies the generation which
all feel for the man whose memory
will ever be cherished by the coun-
try he freed.
1t was not a large gathering in
respect of numbers, but it's signif1-
canoe was not the less effective. 1t
represented the spirit Of every gen.
uine American none the less.
The Sons of the Revolution is an
order that admits to it's member
ship only those who are lineally,
not collaterally descended from
men who fought in the Revo-
luton. It's roster in any one city is
therefore not extensive, comprising
in st. Paul a trifie less than seventy
members. Only three members were
absent last night, and they were not
in the city. Among these was Bishop
Whipple, who is spending the winter
in Florida.
The banquet was served in a cosy
dining hall, which was tastefully draped
with the stars and stripes and the
colors of the Minnesota society, and
further ornamented with ported plants.
It began at $3.50 promptly, and shortly
after 10 o'clock President Charles p.
Noyes delivered the welcoming adj
dress. Mr.. Noyes briefly recapitulated
the history of the order, explained the
requirements for membership, and
called attention to the fact that the
society in other states had initiated
the Minnesota society in Offering prizes
to high schools for the best essays on
"THE SPIRIT OF '76."
George Squires read a Letter from
Bishop Whipple regretting his inabil-
ity to be present, and uttering eloquent
words of encouragement to the society
Then Bishop Gilbert arose and re-
sponded to the first toast: "The-
Nameless Revolutionary Heroes"
It was an eloquent, inpassioned ap-
peal in behalf of those who fought
bled and died for their country, but
whose names died with them. 81 am"
said the bishop, "abundantly satisfied.
that the nameless heroes of the Revo-
lutionary war are the men who made
the heroes with names. The nameless
heroes were the outcome of the work
ings for centuries of the spirit of lib
spirit of liberty was not united It
was found in opposing forces. The
men under Charles l. were just
as loyal to England as We're
those under Cromwell. But when
across the seas came the MayfioWer,
with those men came the spirit of lio-
erty. They caught the echo of the
freedom of the wilderness. These
nameless heroes were, afte- all, the
voice of the centuries. But the spirit
is not nameless. 1t is the spirit that
leads US on, and will assert itself in
spit, of all political ambitions. and
+ eep US free"
Bishop Gilbert made a humorous al
fusion to the peeuliarities of our an
cestors. He admitted that they were
narrow in their views, and
might not be agreeable people to live
with now A trait of their characters
appeared in the Christian names they
bestowed upon their children, and they
frequently had many, for they were
not afraid of raising large families in
those days GaughterO For instance,
the children of one family were named
Concurrence, Submit, Mindwell and
Faith Yet they were the kind OF peo-
pie to lay the foundation of
THE COUNTRY'S Drawn.
George N. Baxter, of Faribault, re-
sponded to the toast, washington, the
Immortal" "But for Washington,
said Mr.. Baxter, 1.-The War of the Revo-
luton would have failed, or, if it had
succeeded, the union of the states
would have failed of accomplishment.
In all the stormy period, Washington
shone as the patriot, hero and states
man. He it was who won for himself
the affection and honor of the world.
In paving to him this tribute, we do
not disparage the brave warriors and
statesmen who helped to form this
great government. Washington's mar
tial character, craftsmanship and per-
sonal heroism wrought out upon this
conspicuous theater what had been
working upon the minds of men through
all the ages that had preceded him. It
is not possible now to do more than by
Ioyal and filial veneration Of their
characters to seek to impress the les
sons Washington and his coadjutors
have taught US. Speaking of him who
was first in war and first in peace, we
shall be derelict at this time, and de-
serve the opprobrium of the world II
we do not preserve his memory in fit
ting manner.
Nothing can be said today that will
add to George Washington's immor-
tally. Words are tame, and the toast
to which I have attempted to respond
should be drunk in silence"
'"The Inspiration of Patriotism,
was the theme of the next speaker,
Rev. Y. Peyton Morgan. Mr.. Morgan's
address was as witty as it was patri-
otic. He said:
ST was never more embarrassed in
my life. for I had no idea that my
bishop would be here. There are Pc
is to blow Another is to infuse
IDEAS Then the inspiration of patrf-
otism means to infuse ideas of
LOVE OF COUNTRY.
ct have tried to become member of
your society, but every attempt cost
me S.. So I gave it up. Uaughter.)
Yet I do not feel altogether out of
place for I might have been if my an
cestors had not been too previous Or
too late. 1t is mistake to think that
patriotism consists solely in the roar
of cannon and rattle of musketry
Those who stayed at home and titled
the ground were patriots. Go back in
history to those days when George
Washington laid down his sword and
went back to Mount Vernon. He was
just as much a patriot when he be-
came a farmer. He loved nature. L
maintain that the mantle of patriotism
rests upon Washburn today when he
seeks to open the waterway between
Duluth and Liverpool. Not simply
does patriotism consist in the protec-