New-York tribune., 1901-12-24
PRAISE FOR PILGRIMS.
NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY OBJ
SERVES FOREFATHERS DAY.
SPEECHES MADE BY SETH LOW. GOV.
ERNoR MLEAN AND OTHERS.

I'd
ERNoR MLEAN AND OTHERS.
-.s influence Of New-England in New-York
a, -he nation ard in the world again pro-
o,s,r,ed illustrated and celebrated last night at
che waldorf-Astoria. The New-England So
r,sfv in the city of New-York held its ninety
sixth annual dinner. and more than five hundred
of it's members and guests sat il the large ball
-,orn eating. drinking. making merry and lis
-suing 20 the wisdom, eloQuence and wit of the
s,eakers who were chosen TO supply the years
o,o1a Of oratory from this famous source.
The New-Engiand dinner has been recognized
for many years among the most important
annual gatherings Of the kind in this city. and
many great men have found it the occasion for
many memorable addresses. The gathering of
last night was worthy of rank with those which
have made Forefathers Night a time to be
5eoked forward 10 through the year. The COM
pauy which sat at the presidents table was one
of 10 small distinction. The president of the
society. William E Dodge. occupied the chair.
and OF his right were President William H. P.
Faunoe, OF Brown University; Lieutenant Cen
eral Nelson a. Miles. J. Pierpont Morgan. Henry
z Rowland, Sir Percy Sanderson. William But
1e- Duncan. Justice James 4. O'Gorman Stuy-
vesant Fish. Thomas L. James, Rear Admiral
Albert S. Barker, Walter s Logan. James Nc
Keen John H. Starin and Barr Ferree. On the
presidents left were Governor George P Nc
Lean. OF Connecticut; Seth Low the Rev DR.
David H Greer, the Rev. DR.. George C Lorimer.
Daniel F Appleton. Stewart I. woodford ex-
Judge Horace Russell, Colgate Hoyt. Frederic
J de Puysrer William W. Goodrich. Judge Ed
ward T Bartlett. Thomas H Bartindale and
Augustus Van wyck.
The tables and the hall itself made a brilliant
display. The walls were lavishly covered with
American flags, with one large British flag bal
zncing the largest Of the American at each
ED. and behind the presidents table were the
shields o. tbs United States. the newfoundland
States and Of the society The tables had uanv
floral decorations and lights BY the time the
speaking began the boxes were well filled with
woman, and il from the boxes, indeed that
the ballroom, viewed as a whole. presented the
most beautiful appearance
THE SOUVENIR MENU.
TIE souvenir menu which was distributed was
Of rather notable design On its front page was
reproduction OF the marble panel The Land
ing Of the Pilgrims by Victor A Ciani. pre-
seuted by President Dodge to Columbia Uni
versity. On another page was curious bit of
reproduction in coI0rs, being a copy Of the menu
Of the dinner given in Plymouth on the ami
versary Of the landing CT the Pilgrims, just a
=
The almost inevitable topic at the New-Eng-
land dinner is small beginnings and vast results
Indeed, = the Pilgrim Fathers could have fore
seen not only the growth Of the country which
they were founding. but what their descendants
IN these later years would say about them-if
sayings can be said TO be foreseen-they would
have needed all their steadfastness to retain the
humility and simplicity Of demeanor for which
they are 50 celebrated. And now. more than
ever before this subject forces itself upon the
thoughts Of those who gather Forefathers'
Night and upon the utterances Of the speakers.
DT. Faunce, who came from Plymouth and now
represents Rhode Island as the president OF
Brown University, dwelt OF the labor which was
yet before the Of the Pilgrims to bear their
spirit through the new possessions to the South
and through the West TO the East; Stewart I.
Woodford spoke of the services Of son Of New
England, Joseph H. Choate. in behalf Of the new
treaty which permits the descendants Of the
Pilgrims 10 unite the oceans and enable the
Anglo-Saxon race TO rule the world. Governor
Mclean took the more facetous view Of modern
advancement, when he said that there was
good deal Of difference between a New-England
dinner and dinner Of the New-England So
cIery Indeed, the bill Of fare would probably
have been shock 10 the aUsterity Of the Pill
grlms. assuming that they could have made
head OF tail Of il al all But with all the senti-
Hent which can be lavished on those noble
pioneers. there was probably not soul in the
room who did not agree with Governor Mclean
when ne fearlessly confessed that he liked the
new ways better than the old ones. From the
po-nt OF view Of the diner who finds entertain
ment mora comforting addition TO his cigar
than edihcation, Governor McLeans speech was
ooubtless the brightest Of the evening Mr..
Low followed him, and contributed numerous
good stories TO the joy OF the occasion. besides
telling something OF the recent election The
Rev Dr. Greer, General Miles. Admiral Barker
and Sir Percy Sanderson, president Of st.
Georges Society. were also listened to with
interest.
IN opening the oratorical portion Of the exer-
cses President Dodge said:
PRESIDENT DoDGE's SPEECH.