The times., 1898-12-22
HOMAGE TO ANCESTORS ANCESTORS
Congregationalists Celebrate
FOrefathers' Day.
A SPEECH FOR EXPANSION
Dinner Served by the Lndics-Greet-
ings TO the Ainylosyer Club - The
Rev. DIR. Stimson's RemnrISs-Rep-
resentative DaIzell's Topic - The
Officers and Committees.

Forefathers' Day was observed by the
Washington Congregational Club last
night. The observance included meeting
OF the club dinner at the First Congre-
gational Church and after-dfnner speeches
and exercises.
About $50 members OF the club and their
guests attended the dinner, which was
served by the Ladies Aid Society of the
First Congregational Church The ladies
OF the society, attired as Prisc.llas, acted
as mattresses and added to the pictur-
esqueness of the occasion. The hall was
decorated with American flags and flow
ers.
President Isaac Clark, of the Congresa-
tional Club. delivered an appropriate in
troductory address and extended greetings
10 the Mayfiower Club. The next speaker
was the Rev. Henry a. Stimson, d. D., OF
New York, who delivered an address on
The Abuse of the Forefaihers.''
DR.. Stimson stated that the forefathers
had been much maligned by present day
patriots, who thought that the forefathers
We're out of date and their examples did
not hold good at the present day.
''The spirit Of the forefathers is rife to-
day" said the speaker. '.and as the fore
fathers pressed on and on TO make the
Union what il is, so We should follow that
spirit and build upon their foundation
We should not only acquire and Ameri-
canize the Philippines, but We should ex-
tend our freedom to all the corners of the
earth
Representative Dalzell of Pennsylvania
was the next speaker. Mr.. Daizell spoke
on "Our Fathers Country" and stated
that Forefathers' Day had been celebra-
ted for century and should always be
celebrated.
I'VE should light anew our torches at
the altar of the forefathers The fore
fathers were not of any one sect or ma
uonality. They We're the Dutch, the Qua
kers, the Puritans. and the mighty
Scotch-lrish, and the issue of the fore
fathers is, the composite American of to-
Gay.
But history carries US back to old New
England for the foundation of our Union.
New England was the first confederacy
and the first constitution came from New
England. Let me tell you that even the
wise forefathers in New England did not
go far enough when they made that con-
stitution as pattern for the greater one
for the thirteen States. They should have
caused the senators. as well as the repre-
sentatives, TO be elected by the popular
vote OF the people, ana To-Day the machine
ridden people turn back to the Old Con-
necticut constitution with sigh.
THE New England of today is a conti-
nent, and the great light which illumines
the forefathers is their loyalty to the
rights of the individual"
The Rev. J. L. Rankin d. D., Ii. D..
president of Howard University, read a
poem on Forefathers' Day, and the church
quartet furnished music.
Mr.. Justice Brewer made a few ap-
propriate remarks and expressed his de-
votion to the forefathers of his country.
The celebration closed with the singing
of MY Country, 'Tis of Thee
The officers of the club and the COM
mittees on the celebration are as follows:
President, Rev. Isaac Clark, D. D.; vice
presidents, Mr.. Justice Brewer, Rev. NJ.
Ross Fishburn, and Dr. II. p. Higley;
secretary. G.. A. L. Merrifield: treasurer
Alfred Wood: executive committee, Prof
]. W. Chickering. A. b. Chatfield, and
Prof. Henry A. Hazen; outlook commit.
tee the Rev. B. w. Pond, w. C. Tyler
William J.. Marsh. Benjamin p Davis
and A. S. Caywood: nominating commit
tee Prof. J. l.. Ewell, ]. B. Sleman, John
ID. Morgan, J. b. Duncklee and r. p
Gage; reception committee, Prof. G. J
Cummings, William NJ. Lamborn, o. NJ
Mcpherson, p. q. ClahiD, Walter Allen
and ]. 3. Sleman jr