The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-24
END OF THE CELEBRATION
The Saengerbund Entertails Its
Friends at a Banquet
MncfnrInnd and Ross
in Attendance - Music the Theme
of the Speechcs-Grcctings From
Many other German Societies.

The Washington saengerbund closed
the celebration of It's fiftieth anniversary
last night with a grand jubilee smoker
banquet. and "festcommers" at Saenger-
bund Hail The entire building and espe-
cially the concert hall where the celebra-
tion was held, was artsticaiIy decorated
with palms. ferns, and cut flowers, pre-
| senting a beautiful scene. The Saenger-
| bund orchestra. under direction of Henry
! Donch, discoursed music throughout the
| evening.
The first number on the programme was
an address of welcome by Frank Claudy,
President of the organization. Mr..
| Claudy said in part:
In the name of the Washington Saen-
! gerbund l extend to our honored guests
and to our members a most cordial and
/ hearty welcome. When a society whose
aims, objects. and principles are not
| founded upon or supported by any
| financial schemes or purposes. but which
exists solely by the good will. the affec-
| tion, and the friendship its members have
| for and feel toward each other. when
| such a society reaches the fiftieth year
| of its uninterrupted existence and is then
in a condition as is our Saengerbund to-
day, words are Inadequate to do justice
L
you, and. indeed. thank all our members
and friends who have helped to celebrate
| this festival
Following the address of Mr.. Claudy the
toasts, THE President of the United
States and Our Friends, Who Have
Joined the Grand Chorus Bey ond the
Gates" We're drunk standing.
William f. LutZ responded to the toast.
THE Way We Celebrate" He said in
part:
Fifty years ago few Germans banded
together for the purpose of cultivating
the songs of the Fatherland. 1t is an old
saying that when Germans meet, they
sing or quarrel. We have chosen to
sing and have been singing ever since.
Not that quarrels We're entirely excluded,
but We always adhere to the rule 'Busi-
ness before pleasure Times were not
always lovely, fifty years ago. The ma
tive born then hated the foreign born.
Bands Of rowdies infested the land and
whenever the opportunity presented itself
the foreigners, and especially the Dutch
men, We're subjected to maltreatment and
insult. So it happened that when the
singers were practicing, on many oc-
casions. stones and brickbats crashed
through the windows. compelling them
often to rehearse in back rooms. But in
spite of all obstacles the Saengerbund
grew. From a small acorn a gigantic tree
will rise. and so our society from a small
beginning grew to a membership of almost
1000
The reason for this marvellous growth
is to be found in the fact that we have
been so fortunate in always having MEM
bers who had the interest of our organ
ization at heart, and who never feared
any sacrifice, and WHO never shirked their
duties. Another reason for success is
that we excluded discussion of everything
pertaining to religion politics.
we. the old members. wish to lay these
maxirns close to the hearts of the younger
members. Never deViate from these prin-
ciples. no matter what the provocation
may be. Keep smooth the path for an
other jubilee, the one hundredth-
Commissioner Macfarland, who respond
ed to the toast. The United States of
America" was introduced in short |
speech by President Claudy. He said. in |
part:
Fifty years of songt This is worth |
celebrating Such jubilee deserves the |
District of Columbia. For we know that |
the songs must have been fine and the |
music noble or the society that sang |
them would not have lived half a century. |
Songs degenerate and decadent, or only /
trashy and triiling. perish in the singing. /
and no society could have lived long that |
sang such songs 1t means much that for |
half a century. and long before there WAS
much more of the District of Columbia
than mere geographical term, the |
Washington Saengerbund maintained the |
high ideals OF the best music with all its |
refining and ennobling Influences.
Through all the viCissitudes of that long
period. half of the life of the National |
Capital, il has persevered because ii had
sadness. soothed sorrow. and promoted |
happiness. We owe much to our Teutonic
forefathers. a passion for freedom and
the purpose and power to maiptain it
must thank them. But only less precious
Is a passion for music which has given
the world the greatest Of the tone mas
ters. the mightieSt musicians IL has ever |
known, and the hest expression of the
love OF liberty. Here in the United
States freedom lovers and music lovers
of German descent naturally unite in
such celebration as this with all the en-
of their ancestors. and all the
gratitude of Americans who enjoy a
goodly heritag ge."
Commissioner MacfaTlands 5 speech was |
heartily applauded aud was followed by |
the singing of Der Sacngerbund."
At this iuncture the president of the |
Arion Singing Society, August Schmidt
~ the name of the active members of
tnat organization, presented to President
Ciaudy an artistically executed dedica-
tory address, encased in q heavy frame
Mr.. Claudy expressed the thanks of the
Saengerbund for the token.
j. Jose. President of the ''rechniker
Y erein.' presented the Saengerbund In
the name Of his organization, with "A sol
ID silver loving cup. suitably engraved
The next toast on the programme, The
Old Fatherland.' was proposed by Mr.
Claudy. and was drunk standing. follow
ad by the singing of The Watch on the
Rhine" after which the president an
nounccd that John G. BaTtel had been
elected an honorary member of the Saen-
serbund.
Commissioner Ross was next called up-
ln to respond to the toast The City of |
part:
81 congratulate the Saengerbund with
all my heart upon their hftieth anuiyer-
5ary. | rejoice that ii has been my priyi-
ege I1f the ilrst time to look upon this
ptautlIuI nome Of your society, to feel |
ne thrill of good fellowship that nor
iades this atmosphere. The first appoint-
neht made ten years ago. when | en-
cred upon my duties as Commissioner |
was a member Of this body and he sbnw,
sd himSelf worthy of all the confidence |
opposed in him. Mr.. William f. Never
pialniy see and recognize what this So
'letN mas done in the culture of ,,t,oic |
n the raising of that magnificent dittjn., |
siit 10 hlgh standard. | hope the time |
nay not DE far of when you can build |
bernahent t home, temple for music
ina song. | wish you the success which |
'ou SO richly and rightfully deserve. -
Mr. Claudy called for three cheers for
ne commissioners of the District, which
we're given with a will
Prof. Hugo Kucrschner read an orfairaI
ON
Vice President Waldmann arose and
addressing himself to Mr. Claudv in
Ormed him that at the last meetinp Of
he Saengerbund II was unanimously DO '
'ided TO elect him honorary president of !
he organization. Mr. WaIdmgnn aI9a
presented Mr. Claudy with purse in rec
ignition of his faithful services
IN short speech Mr.. Claudy paid a I