Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-23
JUBILEE FEAST HERE
BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF vIR-
GINA GIVE A BANQUET.
FINE DINNER And GOOD SPEECHES.
Toasts Responded to by Messrs.
WO0n, Royal, Lewis, and Cowardin.
Mr. Cameron Prcsides, and DIR.
HoCe Offers the Invocation.

| Who never 10 nlmsci1 mas salu,
This is my own, my native land"
| Certainly there lives not an English
man, no matter where his lines be cast,
| who did not on yesterday give his
thoughts to his native land. where was
celebrated the most unique event in the
history of this world. Never before has
a sovereign celebrated the sixtieth an
niversary of her ascendancy to the
throne, and all eyes in the civilized world
were turned upon Victoria, England's
"bonny Queen" who celebrated her dia-
mond jubilee.
Within the borders of this Common
wealth lives many loyal subjects Of her
Imperial Majesty, and though they were
unable to visit London and participate
in the jubilee celebration. they deter
mined that the day should not pass
unnoticed by them. The subjects of the
Queen in this State have banded them
selves together under the corporate
title of the British Association OF Vir-
| ginia, and the members Of the associa-
| ton, with a number of invited guests,
assembled last evening at the Jefferson,
where an elegant Diamond Jubilee Din
| ner" was partaken of. The dinner was
| served in the middle apartment of the
main dining hall, which had been artis-
| tically draped with the British and
| American flags. and these seemed to
! lend inspiration to the speakers of the
| evening, and TO create even more en-
thusiasm in the breasts Of those present.
Covers were laid for forty, and every
seat was flied when Mr. Alexander
Cameron, president of the association,
raped the assemblage to order, and in
troduced Rev. DR.. NJ. d. Hoge, who Of
| fered the following blessing:
Almighty God, in Thy good providence,
! gathered here on this commemoration-
day. in sympathy and unison with re-
| joicing millions of kindred race. who
| celebrate the longest and most beneficent
reign known in human history, we in
woke Thy gracious presence and benedic-
| tion and give Thee thanks for this au-
| spicous hour
God save the Queen, and may il please
| Thee 10 prolong her gentle reign until
| the time when she shall exchange an
| earthly for the heavenly crown. Extend.
| we beseech Thee. the blessing of con-
| stitutonal government throughout the
| world; may civil and religious freedom
be universally established and. finally,
|
and peace and glory, through the merits
| and mediation of Thy Son. our Saviour.
| to whom with Thee. o Father. and the
| Holy Ghost, we will ascribe all honor and
| alteration. evermore. Amen.
| THE PRESIDENTS GREETING.
The dinner was then served. and, after
the dishes had all been cleared away and
cigars produced. Mr.. Cameron arose and
said:
| ~ oil ior ~ ln yft
sociation, our fellow -countrymen, ana
| honored guests, we welcome you on this
| memorable event. TO do honor to the
diamond jubilee Of the most distinguished
monarch. and the best woman of the
present age. Indeed. | might say no pre-
| Vious ruling sovereign achieved such
benefits Tor humanity as our gracious
| Queen.
~ have pleasure in announcing to you
| that our talented fellow-countryman
| Captain Woon. who Is one OF our most
useful members, will propose a toast 10
| the Queen and the Empress OF India"
| Captain Woon made a most entertain
ing and highly patriotic address, in
which he paid glorious tribute TO Eng
| lands ruler. When he concluded all
stood and drank the toast in silence.
after which "God Save our Queen" was
sung i'm a spirited manner by the entire
| gathering.
/
President of the United States" and Mr..
Cameron called upon Judge L. L. Lewis
to respond TO this, saying by way Of
| introduction:
| perhaps you are all aware that It 1t
a universal custom at all dinners as,
| sumng national character first to toast
the ruler of the country in which we live.
| Following this custom, ours should be
first 10 toast our President. Same time,
| f.1I b.a lla Mt rx nf no 10.
] of this progressive country
"The land of the free.
| And the home of the brave
| will agree with us. that every privilege
| should be accorded 10 the womanly vr.
tues Of our magnificent Queen"
JUDGE LEWIS'S RESPONSE.
Judge Lewis spoke of the pleasure IL
| afforded him to be a participant in any
| celebration in honor of England's glori-
| Gus Queen, referred TO the unqueness
of the celebration in London yesterday,
and paid a glowing tribute to Victoria.
| Delving into history, he showed that
her reign had been the most glorious, as
well as the most unprecedented. and he
asserted that never under the rulership
F, of any king or queen had Englands in
| terests been so well advanced. He re-
| ferred TO the love which Americans bear
| to EngIand's Sovereign, and asserted
that a vast majority Of the natives Of
| this country were descended from Eng
| lish ancestry.
Drifting down to the toast assigned
him, Judge Lewis referred to the great
ness of the presidency Of these United
States. and touched upon the fact that
IL once was filed by the immortal Wash
ington, concluding with the expression
81 hat ha Ia chot
Is now filled by n man who Is not mere
ly a partisan, but whose highest ambi-
tion is 10 serve the best interests of the
whole country.
When Judge Lewis concluded. toast
was drunk. standing. to the President.
MR. ROYALL ON VIRGINIA.
virginia" was the next toast on the
list, and the sentiment. which was greet
ed with applause, was responded to by
Mr. William l.. Royal. Mr.. Royal was
warmly applauded when ne arosey and
after earnestly expressing his gladness
at being able TO speak word for old
Virginia, paid a glowing tribute to the
worthy sons OF the ancient Common
wealth Passing on, the speaker told OF
the indissoluble bonds which unite Eng
land and Virginia. II was born" said
the speaker ''in Fauquier county in
Virginia. You may have been born I'm
York, but you are no more English
than am I; my ancestors were just as
English as were yours"
Mr. Royal spoke Of the Englshman's
reverence for law. and cited a remark
able instance thereof He told OF the
great powers of the Queen and COM
pared her manner OF exercising those
powers with the Car of Russia, who
trampled his subjects under foot, while
the Queen at all time considered hers.