Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-15
ORGANIZED FIFTY YEARS
Golden Anniversary Of Journeymen Book
binders Society Duly Celebrated.
Banquet at Metropolitan Hotel At
tended by More Than Two Hundred
Guests - sOcfety's Founder.

The fiftieth anniversary of the institution
of the Journeymen Bookbinders' Society of
| this city was celebrated last night by a
banquet at the Metropolitan Hotel. The
members of this organization are for the
most part employed in the government
printing office and it's branches, and in the
bureau of engraving and printing. The
organization was founded February II,
1850, by Mr.. Columbus Denham, who had
for his associates but eighteen gentlemen.
Only three of the original members, Messrs.
Georges R. P. Britt, Joseph A. Decide and
Mr.. Denham, are now living. These, how
ever, though men of advanced years, are
still actively engaged in the trade.
The banquet last night was attended by
upward of 200 members, and was presided
over by Mr.. James A. Rutherford as toast
master. Owing to the temporary indispo-
sition of Mr.. Denham he was unable to at
tend, and Mr.. William H. Kelly responded
to toast on his behalf. Mr.. Kelly re-
counted many of the benefits which had
accrued to the membership by reason of
the activity of the society, and dwelt upon
the point that If such an organization
could be made from such a small begin
ming, 1t was fair to assume that much
more might be done in the future with an
organization comprising as it does, about
$50 members drawn from all parts of the
country.
Toasts were also responded to by DR..
Daniel McFarlan, for forty years treasurer
of the society; Mr.. j. A. B. Espey, twenty
five years its financial secretary and now
its treasurer; Mr.. James L. Feeney, presi-
dent of the society; Mr.. H. Clay Espey,
foreman of the government bindery, and
Messrs. P. ]. Byrne and F. F. Bogia as
sistant foreman in the same institution.
Mr.. Sam Adams told funny stories and a
number of local musicians rendered several
pleasing selections.
The committee in charge of the banquet
consisted of Mr.. Wells c. Harrell. chair
man; James A. Rutherford, William H.
Kelly, r. 7. Anderson, Gustav Bauer,
Frank Lanman, VIM. Z. Gallagher and
Jacob Faye.
James L. Feeney, president; John T. Nc
Causland, vice president: James A. Stock
man, recording secretary: Robert D. Bar
rett, financial secretary, and ]. A. B. Espey,
treasurer.
The founder of this organization, Mr.. Co.
lumbus Denham, was born in this city
March 4, 1919, the same day that the ia
nous warship Columbus was launched, and
he was named Columbus. though he has
outlived the vessel many years.
He attended school until he was fourteen
years of age and then entered the estab-
lishment Of his brother to learn the art of
binding books. Mr.. Denham afterward Sc
cured position with the late Jacob Gideon,
for whom he was apprentice, journeyman
and foreman, remaining in his employ
Twenty-Five years. In 1868 he left Mr..
Gideon to accept a position as superintend-
ent for Messrs. Arnold & Berrett, and later
occupied similar position with Mr.. Robert
Farnham.
After the war closed Mr.. Denham entered
the government bindery as one of the SUI
perintendents. He separated from the ser
vice several times, but has been employed
there some twenty-five years. He is now
nearly eighty-one years of age, yet attends
to his daily duties at the Union building
branch bindery with much more regularity
than many men not half his age.
Mr. Denham has been an active member
of the society he founded for fifty years,
record seldom attained by any one.