The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-17
BUSINESS MEN BANQUET
TWENTY-ITIFTH ANNUAL OF THE
 CH1MBER OF COMMERCE..

Chamber Now Numbers 500 -Toasts
 Responded to by Prominent Speakers
 Letters of Regret from General shuf-
 ter and Others.
 The twenty-flfth annual banquet of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce held last night in Harmonic hall was one of the most enjoyable affairs of the kind ever held by that old and in- fluential organization. The assemblage was one thoroughly representative of New Ravens great business interests casion an unwonted appearance and where usually are the rows of chairs, tables were set, twenty-six in number, all neatly arranged and we'll appointed by Stewart, the caterer for the occa- sion. About the banquet hall were arranged potted plants and palms and great punches of chrysanthemums, all of which added greatly to the happy ensemble of the scene. In the front parlor, opening into the banquet hall with folding doors was stationed FichtPs orchestra, which played during the prandial entertainment, rendering up-to-date airs in the high class man ner usual with that organization.
 About 200 guests were present, but notwithstanding this fact the tables were so arranged that there was no crowding. Everything possible to make the banquet success had been done by the committee which consisted of John II. Platt, Wilson H. Lee, Benja- min R. English George A. Allng, Frank A. Corbin, Michael Sonpenberg and F. c. Buckland. These gentlemen were highly complimented by the members of the Chamber for the success of their efforts in arranging one of the most enjoyable annual banquet ever held by the organization. The meru was one to delight an epicure and was exceed ingly well served reception to in- vted guests was held in the parlors of
 Harmonic club from o'clock until 6:45, at which hour an adjournment was taken to the banquet hall. Grace was said by Rev. T. T. Munger, D. D., of United church.
 At 9 o'clock President Ford rapped for order and delivered a short address
 of welcome, referring to the prosperity
 that prevailed, not only in the chamber
 of commerce, but all over the country,
 and in closing gracefully introduced the toastmaster of the evening, Colonel N. G. Osborn.
 GENERAL FORD'S ADDRESS. Members of the Chamber of Com
 merce, Friends and Invited Guests-T have the honor and pleasure of extend ing to you a most cordial wecome to this, the twenty-fifth anniversary, ban
 quet of the chamber of commerce of the city of New Haven.
 Recalling that this is the third time in
 my official capacity as president of your organization that I have had the dis tinguished honor of presiding on simi-
 lar occasions, I would be untrue to my
 impulses if I did not assure you of my high appreciation of your courtesy and the qualification it affords the present administration to announce that during these three years nearly two hundred of our most influential citizens have associated themselves with this cham Der, bringing to it influences which,
 combined and properly directed, must
 accrue to the welfare of our city, state and country.
 Some of our guests at this table, in l looking over the large and representa- tive company of business and profess sonal men that compose this company, have remarked What a grand sight to see your prominent clergymen, doc tors, lawyers professors and business men, representing so many different callings, gathered together on such an occasion perpetuating the custom es- tablished by those distinguished men whose names appear upon the page of your menu as having gathered and par ticipated in the first banquet of the chamber!"
 MEMBERSHIP REACHES 5Oo Tonight, as we pass from the silver into the golden age of our anniversaries.
 We can each for the first time congratu-
 late ourselves with pride that we are
 j J
 of one hundred and four years of hon.
 orable name and career behind us, rep
 resenting the largest and most import
 ant organization of it's character in New
 England, enjoying, in it's later years,
 increasing prosperity and influence.
 (Applause.)
 It is fitting, then, that we stop for a
 moment on occasions like this and gath
 CT inspiration from each other and from i our distinguished guests, and then with renewed efforts aim for q still larger and more responsible membership. and with our increased facilities and ability
 seek a wider field of usefulness, which will result in greater achievements in
 the future than we have acquired in the
 past.
 This year has been one of the most eventful in the history of our country. Serious questions that enter into the life of the nation and make important pages in it's history have been met and disposed of with wonderful rapidity Sectional lines have been obliterated. and English-speaking countries more firmly united.
 An army and navy have been massed and disbanded.
 Heroes have won our admiration, and statesmen have commanded our ap- proyal