The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-02
sPEECH-MAKING BEGUN.

President Robathan, of Robert Nor
ris lodge, opened the post-prandial part
Of the programme with hearty greet
ing to his fellowmembers and a well
come to the guests. He was tumultu-
ously applauded when he suggested
Dewey Day. in the following neat
opening speech:
As president of the Robert Morris
lodge, under whose auspices this ban
quot is being held the pleasant duty
dcvolves upon me to extend to the Off
GERS and members Of that organization.
their guests and friends a most hearty
welcome. 1t is emnently fitting and
proper that the descendants of the
CNmric race should meet on this date
to pay a tribute Of honor to the MEM
oIy Of their patron saint.
The name of Saint Patrick awakens
in tho heart Of every true son Of Erin
feeling Of reverence and the 18th
day Of March is looked forward TO with
Joyful anticipation. The mere mention
of the names of st. Andrew and st.
George makec the hearts of the sons
Of Scotia and England full to over
/ flowing with enthusiasts ana pride.
With the same purpose and the same
loyalty the sons of CWalia hail the
anniversary of St. David and to give
tangible evidence of their appreciation
they assemble on the 1st day of March
to pay respect to his memory. | pre-
dict that fifty years hence the de-
Scendants Of those who are present
when the majority of us have passed
into the great unknown, whether they
( be Scotch, Irish, Welsh. Ckman OF
| Hebrew, they will meet on the first day
| of May for Cne common purpose and
/ that will be TO pay a fitting tribute ana
I homage not to saint but to Americas
hero, George Dewey, in commemOra-
tion Of his glorious victory.
II is not the duty of the president tu
, make any extended remarks and with
these few words / shall close. now
| have the pleasure of introducing to
you the tOaStmaster of this evening
| n gentleman who from the inception
Of the lodge has been instrumental IN
| bringing ii to its present high standard
and who is fully competent TO fulfill
the duties that are incumbent upon
him. l present to YOU as toastmasteT
| of the evening, Mr. John j. Davies.
TOASTMASTER TAKES CHARGE
John ]. Davies, the toastmaster, after
few timely remarks, proceeded with
| the programme of music. wit and elo-
! quence, by calling upon a Quartettt
composed of Philip II. Warren, Thomas
| Beynon, David stephens and John W
! Jones. so well did the vocalists do
/ that they We're compelled to do it over
| THE Day We Celebrate" was tht
| first toast of the evening. John NJ
! Harris was assigned to make the re,
/ spOnse.
! Mr. Harris said in part: "From time
! immemorial it has been the custom of
nations TO celebrate the anniversaries
| of their great men. The Welsh have a
number Of celebrated characters I'm
! their history hut it is in 81. David they
| find, more than any other, those Nir-
| tues so dear to the true Welsh heart
! lie appeals to everything that is good
| in our nature.
lis it not meet then, that with an
! uninterrupted past of three thousand
| years. and a language whose basis and
| essential elements, have remained UNI
changed during this time; with tradi-
| tionS full of honor and renOWn that we
should do homage to the dcyout priest
| philanthropist. statesman ana patron
whose heroic fortitudc amidst the dircs,
! hardships and his devotion and Chris-
! tian zeal in the interest ana genera
| welfare Of a people, primitive and un,
! civilized, cropping i'm the darkness, thai
! inevitably hangs like a thick cloud ovel
the race that was 50 unfortunate as tC
be without Il knowledge of the Twins
GOD; to the patron Of education in The
early history of Wales. TO the mCsscn.
ger of God tor the dissemination ol
the Christian religion; in a word tC
| cOmmCmOrata the memory Of the one
| central and imDOginC figure i'm who's,
| character was combined all the goo(
and glorious attributes in the Welsf
character to Saint David. the patroI
| saint OF Wales
In the absence Of Superintendent
George Howell, who. was to respond L
toast saints of the Past" Toastmaste
Davies read the following poem writ
ten by William Jones (Gwilym Cadlel
Of the West Side, and translated b.
Miss Oriana NJ. Williams, Of Peckvills