Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-20
MEMORY OF FOREFATHERS
REHEARSAL OF EVENTS IN COUN-
TRY's EARLY HISTORY.
Annual Banquet by Washington So
ciety of Sons of the RevOlu.
tfon-ThOse Present.

One hundred and twenty-four years after
the battle of Lexington the descendants of
the patriot warriors of revolutionary dis
tinction gathered last night at the Hotel
Normandie to speak a word of remembrance
and praise of their ancestors and to drink
a toast to the great republic, made possible
by the valorous deeds of the early Ameri-
can army. The Sons of the Revolution, So
ciety of the District of Columbia, took ad-
vantage of the significant anniversary &C.
casion to hold their annual dinner.
A delicately prepared menu of the viands
of the spring season was served, with rare
old wines interspersed. The dining hall was
beautifully set and decorated Palms skirt
ed the side walls, while vines were swung
in graceful loops from the frieze and cell
ing. Upon the north wall was hung the i'm
mense ensign of the society, marked In the
center with a figure Of the famous minute
man. The tables were fragrant with cut
flowers. A large representation of the MEM
bership of the society and number of in
vited guests of prominence were present
shortly after o'clock, when the dinner was
begun.
DR.. Walter Wyman of the marine hos
pital service. president of the society. pre-
sided and acted POSTMASTER. When the
dinner courses had been completed DIR. wy
man arose and referred briefly to the oc-
casion and also spoke of the battle of Lex
ington. His mention of the names so emf
nently associated with that great conhict
evoked the utmost enthusiasm, as did the
references constantly made during the
evening by the various speakers to the rev.
olutionary period and Its incidents.
Responses to Toasts.
Col Green Clay Goodloe, former presi-
dent of the society, was first introduced.
Col. Goodloe spoke entirely Of the affairs
of the organiza ton and highly compliment
ed the present executive, saying that the
society is at present in the very best of
condition and would surely continus it's
progress under the wise administration of
DR.. Wyman.
DIR. Wyman, in introducing the next
speaker, said that to outsiders it was often
a matter of wonderment why the society
of the Sons of the Revolution and the Sons
of the American Revolution, with kindred
requirements as to membership and identf-
cal objects, should not be united. Efforts
to secure an amalgamation of the national
societies had failed so far, he said, but he
was sure If the matters were left to the
District societies of the two organizations
they might speedily be arranged. The
most cordial relations had always existed
between the two local orders of Sons. Mr..
J. E. Grics Of the Sons of the American
Revolution was then presented amid ap-
plause. Mr.. Grice said he had always IA
vored an amalgamation had worked for 1t
in the past, and would continue to do so in
the future.
Our Country md the Press in Com
Eress.
Mr. Amos ]. Cummings, representative
from New York, was the next speaker. He
responded to the toast Our country and
the press" In opening Mr. Cummings re-
ferred to his recent visits to the battlefield
of Lexington, and also to the field in South
Carolina WHERE the battle of the Cowpens
was fought. He declared t1at the sun
hpnnete1 pf no will boir
meager means and humble aboSes, are as
patriotic and as fervid in the love of their
country as ara the wealthy, extravagant
ladies of New England, noted for their
annual functions of splendor. The men,
too, OF South Carolina, he declared, pos
sessed the same spirit. Mr.. Cummings paid
tribute to the part played by South Caro-
lima and its people in the revolution. Re-
ferring to the press, he drew picture of
what the newspapers of today might do
with such stirring news was in evidence
in the days of Washington. Looking over
some old papers, he had learned that the
attack on Quebec had received in the Hart
ford Courant notice to the extent of a
little more than eight lines Today he
said, there would be full-page pictures of
the event, and let ceteras without num-
Der. A comparison Mr. Cummings re-
marked, between the newspapers of this
period and those of the revolutionary days
would result decidedly in favor of the lat
Ter. Tor they stated facts and then stopped.
Mr. Cummings took occasion to say That
he believed In giving the mother country.
England. all the honor that was due her.
but 1t was too much for him when at an
American dinner the first toast should be
drunk to her royal majesty Queen Victoria
and the second to his majesty William
Mckinley" He wondered what would
have happened at the time II George III
had been toasted before George Washing
ton and George " before Andrew Jack
son.
The Fighting Parsons.
Rev. DR. Frank II. Bigelow spoke Of the
fighting parsons most Interestingly and
entertainingly. He was followed by Mr..
W. o. Smith and Rev. DR.. ]. H. Elliott
Among those present were Surgeon Cen
eral Wyman, Representative Amos Cum
mings. Rev. Frank H. Bigelow, Thomas
Gerry Townsend. George Henderson, Thos
Blasden' Thomas Blagden, 1r., E. Oliver
Belt, {. II. Sinclair, William o. Smith, VIII
liam N Armstrong, Fred E. Wood ward
William McWiison Wilson G. Reed G.
G Kniffin. Col. Green Clay Goodloe, Rev
Dr.. John Fl. Elliott, Lewis P Clephane,
George F. Green, f. E. Grce j. H Hay
den, Henry L. Thomas, John Ball Osborne,
DR.; H. l.. Z. Johnson, William Frye White
]. Burr johnson, J. r. McCortney, DR.. s.
b. Muncaster, r. w. Buckley, NJ B. Hatch,
x J. Hampton, Barry Buckley, w. s.
Knox and William H. Bayly.