Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-15
The Program Observed at Lafayette
Square Opera House.
ADDRESSES BY PROMINENT ORATORS
Father of His Country as States
man and Citizen.
MUSIC AND DECORATIONS

Exercises concentrating the death of
George Washington were held at the La
fayette Square Opera House last evening
under the auspices of the George Washing
ton Memorial Association. representa-
tive local audience filed the building which
was handsomely and appropriately decorat-
ed, the national colors being most tastefully
and largely used Raised seats had been
erected on The stage. and they were occu-
pied by the members of the Washington
Choral Society. Above them were hung the
stars and stripes in the form of electric
lights, beautiful waving effect being given
It when the national anthem was rendered
by the Fourth Artillery Band Prof. Anibile
Buglione. leader at the close of the exer-
cises Seated also upon the stage were a
number of prominent officials and citizens.
and with them the speakers of the evening
and several of the local clergymen.
After the band had rendered Chopin's s,
Funeral March" and the AT Rest
march. Mrs. Ellen H Richardson, the pres
ident of the association. called the assem-
blage to order and invited Bishop Satterlee
10 deliver an invocation, who responded
The Choral Society. led by Prof. Josef Kas-
par, sang Before Jehovahs Awful Throne"
after which Mrs. Richardson introduced
Mr.. John A. Kasson as the presiding officer
of the evening.
An Unpublished Letter.
Mr.. Kasson first read from an unpublished
letter of Washington of September %. 1893,
In which he said, after referring to the
death of his brother, when the summons
comes to me 1 shall obey with full grace"
Mr. Kasson also read from a letter writ
ten by Washington's secretary, in which
reference was made to the resignation and
bravery with which Washington faced
death. Well might man like Washing
ton meet death with composure. remarked
Mr. Kasson. for there was nothing in his
life which could make his end thing of
terror. His life and motives were the grand
est monuments man could have and no
cloud-piercing marble shaft was necessary,
therefore, to commemorate his work.
Churchman'S Standpoint.
Bishop Satterlee was presented to the
audience by Mr.. Kasson. and spoke of
Washington from churchman's stand
point The bishop remarked that the
words spoken of Washington half a century
or more ago to the effect that He was
first In war. first in peace, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen," are as true to-
day as they were the day they were first
uttered. His an intense love of liber-
ty. He had faith in truth, In right and in
liberty. all of which made him not only the
first President of the country but also the
first citizen of the world
Mr.. kasson. upon the conclusion of Bishop
Satterlee's remarks. read letter from Mr..
INpot, the secretary OF war, regrettiQp his
Inability TO be present.
Washinston's Will.
Mr.. A. A. Adee, assistant secretary of
state, was also unable to attend and at
Mr.. Kasson's request Prof. W. J. MCGEE
took Mr.. ADDE'S place on the program. and
read several extracts from Washington's
will. Mr.. Kasson read a letter of regret
from Mr.. Wilson. president of Washington
and Lee University. in which Mr. Wilson
referred TO benefits derived by the uniyer-
sity from bequests to it contained in Wash
ington's will
DR.. 2. b. Barringer president Of the Uni
Versity of Virginia was next Introduced
saying that while but very few people at
the close OF the revolutionary war were ac-
quainted with Washington or were able to
recognize his features, they knew his char
acter and his worth. They knew him as
the ideal man and soldier. and while his
features may in time be forgotten Wash
ington, as the ideal man, never will
Framer of ConstItution.
DIR. ]. L. NJ. Curry, former United States
minister to Spain, the next speaker. spoke
of Washington Trainer of the Consti-
tuition. Washington, he explained, early
pleaded for a constitution which would cure
the defects CT the articles of confederation
and by acclaim the constitutional conyen-
ton chose him as its presiding officer His
labors in connection with the Constitution
did not cease with the performance of the
functions of such an officer but were con-
tinued with sieepiess wisdom. The Consti-
tuition adopted by the convention Washing
tons example and influence secured its rat
ihcation, and it stands today. and will for
ever. his grandest monument.
The Halleiujah Chorus" was sung by
the CHORAL Society. after which DR.. Chas
w Dabney, president of the University of
Tennessee, was introduced speaking of
the subfimity of Washington's character
lie declared that 1t has taken a century
10 appreciate Washington he really was
the man being too great to be fully COM
pretended 100 years ago. The country had
TO grow as 1t has grown to realize what
ne was He was the first American-the
first man to conceive and plan a free gov
eminent and a world power Had his idea
OF national university been executed and
had men of such divergent views as Cal
noun and Webster, Toombs, Jefferson
Davis and Seward attended it, it is more
than probable that the civil war would
never have been fought. He was the FIRST
great expansionist, and early sought to ex-
tend the government over the western
country and bind all its peoples together
From first to last he desired and worked
that America should become a great
ton.
As an Explorer.
Prof Walcott of the geological survey
spoke of Washington as an explorer and
surveyor, and DIR. Chas. C. Swisher of CO.
lumbar University, after referring to
Washington's tolerance in religious mat
tiers. and to the intimacy between him and
Archbishop Carroll presented letter from
Cardinal Gibbons. saying: in view of the
purely non-sectarian character of the
George Washington Memorial Association.
this letter had a singular grace and fitness,
not only in its bearing upon the present,
but upon the past"
Prof. Swisher then read the letter
The iuster of his (Washington's) glory"
wrote Cardinal Gibbons. has no. been
dimmed by time. Years will pass on and
greater armies will be put in the field but
neither years nor future victories will d.
minish our admiration for the general who,
by almost superhuman effort. held together
during the winter months the remnant of
his forces and made it the nucleus of that
army which. afterward. in conjunction with
the French-our best friends-compelled the
surrender of CORVALLIS. Nor can we be-
lieve that the wisdom of his counsel is
overshadowed by more modern policies of