Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-23
wAsurNGToN's MEMORY CHERISH
ED by AMERICAN MECHANICS.
DIR. Il. X. XHARTON'S FINE ADDRESS,
The baltimore Minister Speaks of
Order--Daughters out In Fun
Force-HundredsT Turned Away.


Washington last evening in most hitting
manner.
The members OF the two organizations
together with hundreds Of their friends
assembled at Grace-Street Baptist TaDer-
nacle and listened to an eloquent and stir
ring address delivered by Rev. DR.. II. M
Wharton, of Baltimore. a Junior himself
In addition to DR.. WhartoDs address a
diversified programme of entertainment
was rendered by local talent, and the va
rious numbers were vigorously applauded.
RAIN DID NOT DETER THEM.
It is the annual custom Of the Juniors
to celebrate Washington's Birthday, and
the arrangements for last nights enter
tainment were made some time ago. IL
was thought that the heavy rain Of yes
terday would interfere with the gathering
and keep some at home, but the patriotism
Of those who intended attending eclipsed
even the most sanguine expectations,
and the crowd who applied for admission
at the roomy Tabernacle was so great as
to overflow the building. and several nun
dred people-men, women, and childreh-
were turned away from the doors.
All the councils Of Richmond and Man
chester attended the meeting. together
with their friends and the families OF the
individual members. and though all VINO
gained admission to the building were
more or less crowded, they enjoyed thenl-
selves to the fullest extent.
MANY TOOK PART.
The address by DR.. Wharton was, OF
course. the event of the evening, put 'he
beauty and pleasure of the exercises were
contributed to by Rev. II. j. Taylor; a
quartette. composed of Mrs. c. 4. Brengle'
Miss Effie Cofer Mr. Haddon S. watkins
and Mr. Henry Burnett Jr.; Miss Bessie
Powelli the East-End Quartette; Rev. Il.
f. Beadles; a quartette composed OF
Messrs. j. l.. Pearman, Roy Ford, John
Bingle, and Charles Neal; professor j. H.
Mitchell, and Rev. DIR. William Il. Hatch-
err. -,
Owing TO the immensely Of the crowd,
some DELAY was occasioned in starting the
exercises, and II was $50 o'clock when
hush pervaded the gathering and Mr.. j.
3. Burroughs, master Of ceremonies, an
nounced in a few fitting words that the
would begin.
The ouartette consisting of Mrs. Brin-
Gle. Miss Cofer, Mr.. Watkins, ana MY.
Burnett. then sang the voluntary, accom-
panied on the plano by Miss Bessie POW
ell. my Country, tbs Of Thee" was sung
by the entire audience standing, and with
a fervor and volume that gave token or
their great patriotism.
When the last notes died away, Rev.
L. w. Guyer, Past State Councillor OF
the Mechanics, offered prayer. Rev. 7. j.
Taylor then read a Scriptural lesson, after
which the East-End Quartette was sche-
duled to sing, but being detained else
where, Mr.. Haddon S. Watkins was sub
stituted for them, and very sweetly sang,
1.-THE Holy City"
The principles and objects of the Juniors
were read by Rev. r. F. Bead!es. When
he concluded the East-End Quartette.
having arrived, sang a railroad song, de-
scriptive of the journey through life, from
infancy to the grave.
At its conclusion. Rev. Mr.. Guyer an
nounced that a free-will offering would be
taken for Grace-Street church, and while
the baskets were being passed around
Miss Powell played "a Confession" The
collection was sklfully engineered by Mr..
Guyer, and a goodly sum was realized,
for which DR.. Hatcher expressed his
thanks.
DIR. WHARTON'S ADDRESS.
DR.. Hatcher then presented DR.. Whar-
ton, who was received with a spontaneous
outburst of applause He spoke on the
objects, principles and prospects of the
order, and began with an expression Of his
love for Virginia. He said that il was
in this State, at the foot OF the Blue Ridge
mountains, that he discovered America,
and said that at his mothers knee, in
Culpeper county, he first learned patriot
ism. He referred incidentally TO his war
record, and said that when at Appomat-
fox he realized that he was defeated, he
acknowledged his allegiance to America
and to the Star-Spangled Banner. He
spoke glowingly of the order of Me-
chanics, and then paid tribute TO wash
ington. 1t was not for him, he said, TO
descant on the virtues of that great Vir-
ginian, but he felt constrained 10 dwell
on the principles that he laid down.
DIR. Wharton spoke Of the distressing
conditions which confront US. Said he.
1.-THE greatest want of this country is
men. We have plenty of bipeds with
coats and pants on. but they aren't men.
We need men Of character and principle.
There are men in some of the highest
stations of life without principle.
1--WE need men Of courage" continued
the speaker. I'VE need men who can
stand and confront the ills that we now
have upon us" He told how the battle
field tried mems souls, but he said that
in these days it took more courage TO
stand for the right than to face bullets.
NO BRAINS IN CONGRESS.
1--WE need brains" he said. ave need
men in our Congress who have something
to think with. We have plenty Of Doodle
and bullion there, but very little brains.
1t isn't brains that get man to Con-
gress nowadays. 1t is the man who can
buy his way there or manipulate the
election machinery.
eve need men Of heart. blessed is the
man whose softening heart feels an
others pain In these distressing times
we need men Of heart, but, moreover, we
need men Of hand"
Dr. Wharton spoke Of the great benefit
a mans wife was to him. and said with
great earnestness: II tell you, friends.
that a man who has true, good loving
wife. has fortune, indeed" The speaker
then touched on the principles of the
order, and at the outset denied that the
order was opposed to Roman Catholicism
as a denomination. Said he the order is
non-sectarian, and is not opposed TO any
denomination, but is opposed to any in
reference by the Church with the State
The preacher took each principle of the
order separately. and enlarged on them
explaining them fully and comprehen-
sively. The Juniors opposition to the
immigration OF pauper labor was at
length set FORTH and the orders advocacy
of a strict observance of the Sabbath
was touched upon. The orders belief In
the public-school system, and its loyalty
to the school-houses was held up as one
of its greatest principles. Benevolence
was another OF the principles elaborated
upon, and when all had been set FORTH
Mr. Wharton said: NOW, l have stated
our case, file your exceptions thereto
and argue your case. il you can"
TRIBUTE TO THE WOMEN.
In conclusion, the preacher paid a
glowing compliment TO the Daughters OF
Liberty. He spoke of the women as
necessary aids to men. and said that he