The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
THE PURITAN'S IDEALS
EXPLOITED AT THE NEW ENGLAND
SOCIETY's DINNER.
FOrefathers' Day Commentaries
Noble G. Butler and Others Re-
spond to the Toasts.

The New England Society Of this city
celebrated Forefathers' day by holding it's
annual banquet and reception last evening
at the Denison. The guests were more than
a hundred in number. and the occasion YVES
made a very enjoyable one. Though all
present trace their ancestry back to the
days of Miles Standish and Priscilla, yet
there was an absence of the puritanic stern
ness of garb and manner, and everywhere
was the gayety of color and the lightsome-
ness of spirit. Nor was the banquet board
of unpretentious character, but rather
SYMPTOMS in its appointments. Every table
was garlanded with roses and carnations,
with candelabra and small mountains of
fruit. The menu, according to the best
epicurean standard, was most excellent and
he was poor diner who could not after
doing it justice repeat with a good con-
science the line on the souvenir card which
read, "Serenely full-fate cannot harm me;
l have dined to-day"
Following the banquet came the toasts.
many of them, and none tedious. Music
was furnished by the "TriIeon' Orchestra
in the early part of the evening and the
Philharmonic Club during the latter part.
Under the dictatorship of Mr.. Edward Nell
the twenty members of the latter club rem
dered long list of patriotic New England
songs and hymns, which contributed much
to the inspiration of the evening
The guests of honor of the evening were
Admiral and Mrs. Brown Among those
who were present We're the following: Geo.
f. Adams, John a. Barnard, Albert A.
Barnes. Henry L. Beveridge, George 4.
Carleton. VIM. H. Clapp, John Coburn,
Charles e. Coffin, Rev. E. d. Curtis, Walter
s. Day, Ward H. Dean, Rev. Frederic E.
Dewhurst, VIM. H. Dye, Allen M. Fletcher,
Ephraim Fuller, George A. Day. Sarah B.
Gilbert, Irving S. Gordon, Dr. Frederick c.
Heath, VIM. H. Hobbs. Henry A. Huston of
Lafayette, Rev. Nathaniel A. Hyde, e. B.
Hutchinson. Mary c. Ingram, Benjamin c.
Kelsey, Clearance A. Kenyon, Bement Ly-
man, Merrill Moores, Albert b. McGregory,
Benjamin B. Peck, DR.. Orange S. Runnels,
VIM. r. N Sylvester, President James H.
Smart of Lafayette, Joseph A. Stutsman,
Atwater j. Treat, Charles S. Tucker, Han
nibal s. Tucker, Louise B. Twiname, Mai
Almon i. Varney Bishop John Hazen
White, James M. Winters. Charles r. Will
liams.
The reception previous to the banquet
was held in the parlors of the hotel from
6 o'clock until 1880. Major and Mrs. Var
ney, Mr.. and Mrs. B. B. Peck, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bement Lyman, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
r. Coffin and Mr.. and Mrs. II. S. Tucker
received the guests. This pleasant social
function being over the guests repaired to
the beautiful dining room, where, after Rt
Rev. John Hazen White had delivered the
invocation, the discussion of the menu be-
gan.
1t was $3.50 o'clock before the toastmak-
ing began and midnight before it closed
Preceding the opening address by Rev. N.
A. Hyde, the president of the society, the
following officers were elected for the en-
suing year: President, Nathaniel A. Hyde;
first vice president, William r. N Silves-
ter; second vice president, Bement Lyman;
secretary, Benjamin B. Peck; treasurer, AL
bert A. Barnes. Benjamin c. KELSEY and
Charles w. Moores were elected directors
for three years.
REV. MR.. HYDE'S INTRODUCTORY.
DR.. Hyde acted as POSTMASTER and spoke,
in part, as follows
AS the years go by and the Nation pro-
crosses our thoughts go back to those primi-
tive settlements where the germs of our in
Sututions were planted, where the national
life began. Those old towns become more
and more halloWed ground. AS the halo of
antiquity gathers over them we go back to
them assour sacred pilgrim shrines With
thrilling interest we revisit the scenes of the
tragedies and the conflicts of the early days.
InoSe old homesteadS of colonial and rev.
dictionary times TEEN with the traditions
of the courage, the patriotism the plain
living and high thinking of the generations
gone. Their simple social life, its dignity
and grace, their manly sports, the coy,
artless love-making of the Puritan young
man and maiden-all these things are to-day
the fascinating subject of historic and liter
airy study. They are the rich mine in which
modern flction delyeS and finds its best ma
terlal. 1t is not too much to expect that
shall q
great American novel which we have been
waiting for so long.
old New England towns is reproduced in
realistic story those stern Puritans gradu-
ally undergo a transformation. They be-
come men and women with like passions
with ourselves. Their outward fashion looks
antique. but the heart underneath throbs
with the loves and longings, the joys and
the play of humor breaking through the re-
preston of rigid Puritan rules They were
faults of their times, but they were men in
advance of their times They had found
some new truths which were to be the seed
Western continent. New light broke upon
their vision and they led the way, Opening
new paths In human progress. The social
and civic structure built up in those old
towns IS still a bright beacon light enlight-
ening the Nation.
THE question with us. their descendants
IS not will we copy the customs of the
fathers? 1t is not will we echo their for
muldrieS. The question is rather will we do
as well in our generation as they did in
theirs? Will We lead the van of progress.
keeping as loyal to truth and conscience in
our day as they did?
If Matthew Arnold idea is a sound one
that the salvation of the Nation depends on
the remnant, and not on the masses, then
the motive for the maintenance of this So
ciety and other similar societies is serious
one. OF course, We are included in the rem
nant. The type of social and political life
we stand for is precious legacy received
from our Puritan ancestry and we cannot
magnify it too much. It's underlying prin-
ciples have so far leavened the massl and
held the Nations development to the ideals
of its founders. The voice OF the day we
celebrate says to the sons and daughters of
New England: Be true to your heritage;
live and fight, If need be- for the domination
OF the old ideals which have nodded Amer
lean character and Institutions
Il am here reminded that since our last
reunion four of our most esteemed mem
bers have followed others into the beyond.
This is the first opportunity we have had
to express our appreciation of the rare
graceS of mind and heart and the valuable
public services of Theodore l.. Sewal We
soreiy miss the presence of Thomas NJ.
Bassett, one of the founders of this society
and one of its most active supporters We
also record our high appreciation of the
sterling qualities of Samuel A. Haines. And
with the whole community we pay our trib-
ute of respect TO the Christian character.
the upright, useful life of DR.. Henry Day.
But it is not my purpose to protract these
Introductory remarks. We have a feast of
good things prepared for us by the pro-
gramme committee, and l must not keep you
waiting. / am happy to say we are honored
with the presence of the chief magistrate of
Indiana. He is something of New England
Puritan himself in character, II not by de-
I take Measure in Introducing