The record-union., 1897-12-31
SONS OF ST. GEORGE.
A Large Attendance at Their Eng
lish Christmas niuner.

A very seaSonable reunion was held
last evening at the Foresters' Hall in
this city. The members of Jubilee
Lodge, No. 421, Sons of St George, with
their families, to the number of 200,
partook of roast beef and plum pud-
ding, supplemented by every delicacy
of the season.
The banquet hall was most tastefully
decorated. The guests filed in at s
o'clock and Dr. Banks invoked the di-
vine blessing, after which full justice
was done to the ample repast set before
them. Great credit is due to Messrs.
Wicks, Rivett, Bradley, Pulford and
Weber of the Banquet Committee for
the admirable arrangements and splen-
did menu served on this occasion. At
ter thoroughly discussing the good
things for the veal of the body cor
porate, the guests adjourned to the
upper lodge room, where a splendid
programme of vocal and instrumental
music was rendered, and fully appre-
ciated by the auditors.
The principals, Mr. and Mrs. Long
bottom, Mr.. Richards, Mr.. Dunn, Jr.,
Miss Pue, Miss Lottie Shepstone, Mr..
Newman, Mrs. Littleton and last but
notleast, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Neale, each
contributed a selection. Miss Baldwin
gave a splendid exhibition with Indian
clubs and proved herself a proficient
athlete. D. Darcy Powers gave a
most interesting address, which was
received with close attention. He spoke
on the reason why body Of American
citizens should unite to form distinct
ly English order. Leaving on one side
the social value of that institution as
evinced by the crowd of happy faces
around him, there is a higher and no.
bier reason why those of AnglO-SaXon
blood should stand together. This
country was founded by Englishmen.
English bravery conquered the original
possessors. English endurance made 1t
habitable. English justice laid the
foundation Of its laws. and when in vi
olation of those laws a despotic King
sought its OPPRESSION, it was English
blood that gave it freedom, for it was
the States Of purest English blood that
made the greatest stand, and those Of
mixed blood that sought to compromise.
Call the roll of the illustrious dead of
this country, and do not their names
bespeak their English blood? The pick
losophers and poets came by birth or
decent from that little island that for
over thousand years has been the cit
adel of individual liberty, and is even
now the most democratic nation on
earth, where the vox populi has the
quickest response and the scales of JUS
tice are least weighted against the
poor, and which, whatever be its indi-
vidual destiny, is and must remain the
greatest mother of nations the human
race has produced. So far as this coun-
try is concerned, a transition is occur
ring, the final outcome of which cannot
be foretold at the present moment.
Thirty-eight per cent. of the population
Of the United States is foreign born, or
the children of foreign born parents.
They are ever increasing, but the popu-
lation Of England is ever decreasing, and
is likely to decrease. We must look
forward a century hence to a differ
ent population from that which has
built up this country and made it great.
Along with the change of population
other changes are taking place, and
pauperism and crime are Increasing.
This country is very rapidly approach
ing the ordeal that shall test its very
foundations, and as these foundations
were laid by men of English blood, they
must be sustained. For this reason
they should stand together not merely
for pleasure, but for duty. Only by
nourishing the virtues that have made
our race the dominant factor in huma n
civilization, only by remembering the
history Of our forefathers, who fought
oppression at the price of wealth and
same sacrifices, can we do our duty in
this country and to those who succeed
us to it's shores. To this end, said he,
you should cherish with pride your
blood, your traditions, and your affiIia-
tons with the country you left, and be-
lieving that dominance of the English
race is the best dominance, he asked the
audience to rise and sing Rule Brit
annia.
The Order of Sons Of st. George is
composed Of American citizens of Eng
lish birth or their descendants. They
make quite a feature Of their social
gatherings.
M. H. Dunn and his officers deserve
the best thanks Of the English born
community for their efforts in making
Jubilee Lodge, Sons of ST. George, an
established fact
One of the main objects Of the order
is to induce Englishmen in the United
States to become good American citi-
zens.