The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-01
MET EIGHTEEN PRESIDENTS
Their Personalities Recalled by the
Rev. DIR. Bittinger.

A unique and interesting programme
filled out the long hours of vigil last
night at the Westminster Presbyterian
Church. The boys of the church have a
debating 500 ety. known as the Senate of
the Republic, and last night its members
entertained their friends by discussion
of a number of pending bills. among them
being a measure for the abolition of the
cigarette. After the deliberations of The
embryo legislative body. Rev. Dr.. Bittin-
ger delivered an interesting adress on
Presidents | Have Known"
His Introductory remarks were address,
ed particularly to the young men of the
organization pointing out to them the ro5-
sibilities before them and the oppcrtuni-
ties for reaching positions of em!nence.
Illustrating his remarks he pointed to the
humble beginnings of nearly I'll of the
Presidents. Jackson, he said, was an ap-
prentice to saddler. William Henry
Harrison was born of humble parentage
in a log cabin: Tyler was plowman, and
remained upon his fathers farm until
twenty-four years of age; Fillmore was q
dyer. Lincoln was a rail splitter, Johnson
was a tailor, and Grant was a tanner.
Continuing he admonished the young men
that their future character and condition
lay in their own hands. To succeed 1t IS
necessary to improve every passing mo-
ment, and with the blessing OF God there
is no honor to which young man may
not aspire.
OF the Presidents DIR. Bittenger said
that he had known and shaken hands with
eighteen of the twenty-four. and yet he
had voted for none. He had seen all the
Presidents from Jackson to Mckinley. In
narrating his first acquaintance with
President Jackson the speaker said that
he had been taken by his father. who then
lived in Georgetown, to the White House
on New Year Day to call upon the Presi-
dent Upon that occasion the farmers of
Dutchess County, New York. presented
the Chief Magistrate with large and
very strong cheese, which the callers were
allowed to sample. In those days the New
Year callers were treated to wine and
cake. DR.. Bittinger told of a number OF
interesting incidents in the life 3f old
Hickory and called attention to the prog-
ress and development of the country since
that day. Jackson, he said. paid the ma
tional debt, now il aggregated more than
two billions of dollars. He then spoke
of his recollections of Van Buren. and
the log cabin and hard cider campaign of
"Tippecanoe and Tyler too" In turn he
referred to the achievements of the Ad-
ministrations of Tyler, Polk. Taylor Fill
more, Pierce, Buchanan, and Lincoln, and
some of his personal recollections of each
man.
Reviewing them generally. he said
Pierce was the most devoted to religious
duty, usually attending church three times
en- Sunday and frequently once during the
week Other good churchmen were Polk,
Buchanan, and Benjamin Harrison. OF all
the Presidents two were signers of he
Declaration of Independence. and two
were signers of the Constitution, twelve
were military men, eleven had previously
been Senators. William Henry Harrison
was the oldest and Grant the youngest,
the average age was ffty-four years.
In religion one was a liberal, enc
member of Dutch Reform. one Congrega-
tionalist, one belonged to the Christian
Church. eight were Episcopalians. four
Methodists. and eight Presbyterians. OF
nativity, he said Virginia furnished seven,
Ohio FIVE Massachusetts two, New Jersey
two, North Carolina three, New York two,
and kentucky. Pennsylvania, New Hamp-
shire, and Vermont each one, eight were
reelected two served in Congress after
having been President. Johnson in the
Senate, and John Quincy Adams in the
House