The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-14

Eclipse All Former FeastS.
The approaching banquet Of the New
England society of Northeastern Penn-
sylvania brings forth agreeable antici-
pations of one of Scranton's most as
sured annual events, and one that
brings together a distinguished assem-
blage OF prominent men from this Sec
tion of the State. From year to year
these feasts to perpetuate the patriotic
memory of Forefather's Day and the
landing of the Pilgrims have become
more popular. The numbers in attend
ance increased until last year ninety
one persons sat about the board at the
Hotel Terrace. Indications point that
this years gathering will number 40 or
more.
The preliminary organization OF the
society took place December 9, 1887. in
the arbitration room Of the court house.
j. l.. Post was chairman, and j. Alton
Davis secretary. h. b. Sturges, j. IL.
Torrey, George Sanderson, and Arthur
Scranton were appointed committee
on organization, with power to report d
list of officers, and fixing the quaiiiica-
tions of members" Besides those men,
toned there were present at the meet
ing: Alfred Hand, ). B. Mott, q. b..
Wright, A. c. Fuller, George Sander
son. q. w. Bushnell. w. ii. Freeman,
a. u. Gilmore, Ii. l.. Paine, Rev. o. p.
Wright, $. ID. Davis, {. l.. Hawley and
!. A. Finch.
PERMANENTLY ORGANIZED.
Four days later at the same place a
permanent organization was effected
according to the recommendations em-
bodied in the report Of the committee.
w. X. Storrs was made president, f.. N.
Willard, vice-president; J. Alton Davis,
secretary, and Arthur Scranton. treas
urer. The minutes show that all who
were present at the election and the
meeting preceding were constituted
charter members, but the minutes are
faulty in not giving the names OF those
present at the second meeting. 1t Is
shown. however. that Colonel Fl. Nj.
Boies, Major Everett Warren, and
Thomas Sprague We're the first to be
formally elected members.
Those elected members at the next
meeting, on December ~, were j. Nj.
Chittenden, DR.. w. l.. Allen, s. =. Hull,
George II. Catlin, w. j. Hand, +. T..
McGowan, Dr. l.. NJ. Gates, Rev. George
f.. Guild, l.. S. Jackson, II. l.. Hand,
T.. ]. Mcdonald, Il. -. Torrey, j. L..
Hull, c. ii. Pond, Isaac Post, and F..
B. Foote. From sources other than the
minutes IL mas Deen dSCeiluiltu tNtt
In addition to the names already mem
toned, the following were members OF
the society at the time Of the first BAN
quet, December 90, 1887, at the Wyoming
House: w. F. Smith. l.. II. Ripple, DR..
Is. II. Throop ]. II. Fisher, Charles II.
Welles. Arthur rockingham.
The second banquet was on Friday
December q, 1883. at the Westminster
Hotel. f. N. willard was then presi-
dent; w. II. Smith, vice-president; Ar
thur Scranton, treasurer, and j. Alton
Davis, secretary. Robert J. Burdette,
THE Burlington Hawkeye Man." was
to have responded to the toast. Folks
Who Ought to Have Been New Eng
landers," but sickness prevented his
attendance. Treasurer Scranton and
Secretary Dcvis continued in once for
several years, a. c. Fuller, the pres
ent treasurer, succeeding Mr.. Scranton
in 1892, and J. Harry Fisher. the pres
ent secretary, being elected in 1894.
THE ARCADE BANQUET.
In 1889 the officers of the preceding
year were elected and the banquet was
held in the rockingham Arcade on
December 20, when 1t was decided to
extend the privileges Of membership
to r,Sidents of SusCuehannt, Wayne
and Luzerne counties.
william Il. Smith became president,
and ]. a. Lansing, vice-presdent, In
1890, when the banquet was held on
Monday, December %, at the Scranton
Bicycle club house. At that banquet,
for the first time, members were allow
ed the attendance of one guest each,
and the cost of their tickets was placed
at $3.50 each. irrespective of the actual
cost per plate. which has always been
over 81. This year guest tickets will
cost S. each, and each member will be
allowed to bring as many guests as he
chooses, according to a resolution adopt
ed in 1891.
]. A. Lansing succeeded to the presi-
dency in 1891, and James II. Torrey be
came vice-presdent. In that year the
banquet was held i'm the Scranton Bcy-
Gle club house. and the privileges Of
membership were made open to resi-
dents of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susque-
hanna. Monroe, Wyoming and Wayne
counties.
Archbishop Ryan was present at the
sixth annual spread. which took place
December 22. 1892, i'm the Scranton Blcy-
Gle club house. In that year Mr.. Tor
rey became president, and W. w. Wat
son was elected vice-president.
GEN. HASTINGS A GUEST.
General ID. II. Hastings, who had not
then been elected governor, and
Galusha A. Grow were the So
c.etys guests at the seventh annual
banquet, held in 1893. at the Westmins-
ter Hotel. In that year w. w. Watson
was elected president, and c. H. Pond,
president.
At the Hotel Terrace on Friday even
ing. December, 81. 1894. the banquet was
held: c. H.. Pond was then
.ci1