The morning times., 1896-01-17
AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Members Of the Mystic Z. F. B.
Meet and Renew Acquaintance.
They Organized Under Jesse Grant
and Many Are Now Distinguished
Men of the World.

Members OF a unique organization held
| quarter OF century reunion at the Ebbitt
House. last night.
| They dinned, made speeches, were merry
and adjourned for another year with the
/ outside world still ignorant as to the
| meaning OF the mystic initials o the society,
tile n +. X. Stiil there was no mystery
/ about the fello wship of the society as the
| members gathered ior the reunion. The
| handsbakes and greetings were OF the
| hearticst kind. 80
why, Bill, old Toy, haven't seeR-y
since l ran across you iii Nice" said one
| handsome Wasbingtonian as he slapped the
back OF a naval officer.
Il have Just hurried from Boston to be
with tie boys" said another man in the
dress OF a clergyman. b.
| Blair Lee, VINO has been president of the
mysterious society for twenty-five years,
presided at the banquet last night and he
saw that the custom of iDfornality con-
tiDued- Even the dress OF the members was
not the conventional broadcioth, although
most OF them wore evening suits. And
while there was an abundance OF wit and
eioqueIce there were no Set toasts to spoil
the appetites OF the divers.
On Christmas Day or 1871, the society
was organized in the little clubhouse on
the White House Grounds, by Jesse Grant
Paris, Baine C. Dent, a nephew OF Mrs.
Grant, and now retired officer of the
Navy, Waltef II. Chew, at present an
officer of the State Department., Frank
Bellies, who died secretary OF Harvard
University, and DR.. Henry n. Cuts, now
or Dkookline, Mass.
Ali were about twelve years old then,
and they met on Saturday afternoons for
debate and mutual improvement. All
the great national questions of that day
had been discussed by the juvenile states
men under the shadow of the Executive
Mansion.
The membership continued to increase,
and the X. F. K. Society held its meetings.
oD the White House Grounds until the end
or Grants second administration, when
1t took rooms in building on F street,
near Pennsylvania avenue.
AS the men grew to manhood, they scat
tered throughout the country and the
organization ceased its regular meetings.
Twelve years ago 1t was decided to hold
a reunion each year. Thirty members
gathered at the festive board last night.
The members are scattered in all parts
OF the country and some are beyond the
sea. The society ceased to elect members
when the list reached seventy-five, SO that
the rally last night was good one.
Dr. Cults, Albion X. Paris, and Walter
II. Chew, Of the original six, were there,
and SO were Con gresham Hugh K. Bel
KNAPP, Capt. W. E. Almy, of the Fifth
Cavalry; Leonard c. Chew, Lieut.. James
Walker Benet, U. $. A., stationed at the
Bethlehem Steel Works; Capt. Gonzales,
S. V. Bingham, L. S. a: Tbom n Wood
U. S. NJ. C.; State Senator Charles Page
Bryan, OF Chiea go;. District Att orney
Robert .. Harris, East Bridge water; and
Joseph c. Hardie, Arthur ID. Kerr, A nthony
c, Addison, Frank E. Smith, j. Blake Ken
dali, j. F. Paret, DIR. william H Fox,
William b. LIE Due, Benjamin Miller, Fred
lex c. Van Welt, DR.. Middleton, F. Cuth-
bert Lewis j. Manro, Rev. w. Taylor
Snyder, Henry c. Towers. and Frank B.
Crosthwaite, all OF Washington.
President Lee made happy speech OF
welcome, and numerous kilograms and
letters of regret from absent members
were read. They We're from Joseph Upton
OF Delaware, o., Lucius NJ. Cuitien, now
a lawyer in Denver. Pierre l.. Stevens
OF Montgomery county. Md, Mark b Kerr,
a civil engineer in California, DR.. Frank
NJ. Neswith, of the New York Hospital,
Bushrod w Taylor, or Louisville, Capt
Frank E. Hoffs, now at Watervliet arsenal
IN. Y, Lieut.. John p. Finley, at Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas. Willis Paris of
Los Angeles, Cal, Rev. Charles Morris
Addison of Fitehburg. Mass, and Hubbard
Smith, Secretary of the American embassy,
at Paris.
Speeches were made by Capt. AImy,
District Attorney Harris, Congressman
Belknap, DR.. Cults, Joseph c. Hardie,
Mr.. Bayan. Henry E. Davis, Rev. Mr..
Snyder, Mr. Towers, and before the end
OF the jolly gathering, almost all the
members had been compelled to crate In
q delightfully."- informal manner
Blair Lee. as president. and A. X.
Paris, another quarter of century office !
holder, as secretary, were reelected with
last years board OF governors. The Old !
songs were sung, new stories told, and !
the reunion ended in highly success
full manner.