The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-20
BANQUET LAST EVENING.

An Enjoyable Ending OF the business OF
the Day.
Boston, September 19.-The days SEES.
sion was enjoyably closed by exercises In
a social way, the banquet complimentary
to the sovereign grand lodge members
and their ladies. by the grand lodge OF
Massachusetts,, at Music hall, being the
distinguished event.
At the tables about 600 persons sat and
as the wives of Odd Fellows were there
in evening gowns, the scene was quite
brilliant and animated. On the platform
sat the officers of the soverein and grand
lodge and their wives, they being the
chief guests. The banquet proper was
preceded by a concert programme by
the Salem Cadet band and the invoca-
ton by Grand Chaplain Rev. ). w.
Venable of Hopkinville, KY, and was
directly followed by speech making.
The chairman of the banquet commit
tee, E. BENTLEY Young, P. q. H., extend
ed the welcome to the visiting. Odd Eel
lows and their friends and ins SO doing,
introduced the toastmaster, Hon. Alfred
S. Pinerton Of Worcester. deputy grand
sire of the sovereign grand lodge.
MIR. Pinkerton received grand oya-
ton and his remarks were frequently ap-
plauded, especially when he referred to
Past Grand Sire Nickerson OF Phlladei-
phia, who was grand sire during the OWL
war. He spoke particularly of the his.
torical connections of the Bay State and
of the reunions of the South and North
during the recent war, and when Massa-
chusetts men have fought shoulder TO
shoulder with boys from the southland
under the leadership of Lee and Wheeler.
He welcomed again in behalf OF Massa-
ohusetts, the visiting members and friends
Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge. junior Unit.
ed States senator. from ID Massachusetts,, was
introduced to respond to the toast, The
President of the United States"
Senator Lodge said: 1.-THE feeling up
permost in all our hearts just now,
think, is one of profound gratitude to the
brave men who ty land and sea have
fought the battles of the country and
carried the flag to shining and unbroken
victories. To them we all turn with deep
and heartfelt thankfulness. But II our
first thought is of the sailor and soldiers,
close behind the thought OF their COM
mander in chief and the heavy burden
that has rested upon him. From the
ranks of American citizenship, we take
a president, lift him to one of the lofty
pinnacles of human greatness, and at the
end of four or eight years return MIN
quietly to private life. During his tenure
of Office he is clothed with vast powers,
greater than those exercised by many
monarchs. With the vast power goes
equal5responsibility Alllnen see the gilt.
ter of the great price, too many forget
what it entails upon its possessor.
"Our theory is that when President
is elected, we all, no matter how we vot-
ed, accept him as our President and the
representative of the nation. When the
ha rooripan npnnIa without
regard to party, rallied to the President
of the United States, with no division OF
any sort 18th 80, 10
accorded to a chief magistrate to say that
he has proved worthy Of such trust at
such time.
"The people and their representatives
make and declare war, but the President
alone carries it out. 1t is fearful re-
sponsibility. In his hands rest the honor
and safety of the country and the lives
of her soldiers and Its sailors. Victories
by sea and land reflect glory upon his
administration, but he knows that fail
ure or defeat or mismanagement must
ultimately recoil upon him alone even
when he has done his best and is no wise
to blame.
"And then, when peace comes again,
he stands alone. Congress declares war,
but the President makes the peace which
must be submitted to the Senate and the
people Consider for the moment the
gravity Of that task. The honor of the
country, its welfare, its future ana all
stake He must consider the wish of the
American people and Our relations with
other nations. He must look into the
future; above all he must take sure that
the cause of humanity is advanced and
that the freedom we Rave given to 9th
ers by our arms is not lost and betrayed.
Such are the grave questions with whicn
our President is now dealing. He has
led us through triumphant war OF I'M
broken victory. He is now leading us
back to peace. He has shown in all these
trying months patience, tact, wisdom.
craftsmanship in high degree. We may
trust to him and to his commissioners to
make a peace which will relieve millions
of fellow beings from oppression, be con-
sonant with justice and at the same
time, satisfy the righteous wishes ana ~
asuirations of the American people by
making fruitful to them the victories
won by theirsarmy and navy. We have
passed through brief storm of war
which will affect the future history OF
the world which hasglifted up the Unit
ed States to high renown in the eyes OF
all the nations. We are proud, very proud,
Of our soldiers and sailors, prouder than
ever of our dear old flag, which we now
glorious names of old Manila, Santiago
and Porto Rico. With hearts full Of pride e
ana gratitude we wish all health ana
prosperity to our honorcd leader in these
great events. to the commander in
chief, to the President of the United
States, to William Mckinley.
Hon. Hosea III. Knowlton, attorney
general, responded to the toast, me
Commonwealth of Massachusetts" IN
behalf of Gov. Roger Wolcott. Mr..
Knowlton at length told of the charities
of the Commonwealth rs exemplified
and typifed by the recent visit OF the gov
ernor in the dedication of a monument at
Antietam, commemorative of the yalor
Of her sons who sdied for her Be years
ago. He said that the fame of Massa-
chusetts was world wide Her great
commerce and Industries are but results
Of her great charity. In speaking for
Massachusetts, regard for her sons, he
said the commonwealth has never forgot
ten and never will forget those who bled
and died in her service or those who
lived and are under her protection,
whether 1t was at Antietam they fought