The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-23

brought to close one Of the mos. stub
bornly fought battles for presidential
honors which this society ever ezpe-
, rienced.
The president geneTal-elect frs. Fair
banks, has The good wishes Of the major
ity. and confidence in her ability is
expressed by her most bitter antagonist.
As the contest by Mrs Mclean was be-
ing waged on the principle that ability
should carry of the prize. and as Mrs.
Mclean herself gracefully Acknowledged
Mrs. Fairbanks eminent fitness for the
office. it appears that the society has made
no mistake in the selection of its leader
Washington's Birthday was celebrated
last night by the d. A. r.. with patriotic
addresses, music, and general enthusiasm.
Many of the delegates, alternates. and Wis
itors made their appearance in beautiful
reception gowns. Anatmosphere of patriot
ism pervaded The house and imbued its
occupants. 4 section Of the Marine Band
contributed its share to make the occasion
the success it deserved to be The Star
Spangled Banner" was played the audi
ence arising and remaining standing intil
the band mad finished one stanza OF The
national anthem.
bE- bFi~toiN RctFcSN.
= Mrs. Manning then stepped TO The front
and introduced the Rev. Dr. Bristol. pas
tor of the Metropolitan N. E. Church In
presenting the Rev. Mr. Bristol, Mrs.
Manning said:
Il take great pleasure in presenting TO
you the Rev. Dr. Bristol who has kindly
consented 10 address you this evening"
The audience heartily applauded Dr.
Bristol as he advanced toward the front
of the stage. He spoke on Washington, on
his noble character, his pure life, his
strong individuality. and all-pOwerful in
fiUence On the life Of this nation. The
speaker said England. Germany. and
France stood divided IN their opinion IN re-
CARDS 10 the merits of their great men. but
regarding the merits OF Washington. his
achievements. his virtuous life. and his
greatness, all Americans stand as unit in
their opinion. Continuing, Dr.. Bristol said.
in part:
IF Browning is correct in his phil
osophy of history. hen. a people is but
the attempt Of many to rise to the com
pleter life of one. That one, then. be
comes the national ideal the Confucius
the Buddha, the Washington of his peo-
pie.
THE national history then becomes an
aspiraii ion and an emulation out of
which come its songs and philosophers
culture, and its character
How poor should we be as a nation
without the treasure of that name which
has become the synonym of personal
honor, civic virtue, national patriotism,
and Anglo-Saxon Amerieanism, Solcn
made it once a glory to be a Greek; Cato
made it once a glory to be a Roman;
Washington has made it forever a glory
TO be an American. II is not the mate
rial Of n
hottest pride in the hearts of a patriotic
citizen. Let the beauty of the country
transcend all praise or parallel; let her
resources in wealthy hills and fertile
valleys ensure universal prosperity and
ease, still in the common heart of pa
trictism unsatisfed until it may boast Of
that higher glory which emanates from
the characters and lives of great men
and sheds a moral and intellectual splen-
dor on the rights and privileges of citizen
ship. Higher than your mountains.
broader than your praifies, richer than
your golden mines. brighter than your
overerching skies must be the names in
your country's annals which stand for
the great ideas, virtues purposes. aspira-
lions, and achievements which have shaped
the institutions Of freedom and fixed the
high mission and destiny Of the nation.
The Father of His Country.
We'll may the countries of the world
envy us our felicity as we speak the name
of Washington. There is not another ma
tion on the earth today that possesses a
name at once so great and of such uni
yersal honor among it's people as the
name of Washington among our American
citizens. Not nation can speak name
that will command such universal rever-
ence among all people. Italy can name ,
Aazziai. Garibaldi. Cavour, euu yie.zT
Emmanuel, bat ererr lame when men
TONED Nil excite no less i'll will than ad-
miration- France pronounces the names
of Gambetta, Lafayette, Napoleon, but
there is no universal response of enthu-
siasm from among the people. Germany
calls the names OF Luther. Frederick the
Great, Goethe, Bismarck. but while some
speak their praises others frown and NUT
ter disapproval.
"old England speaks of Cromwell. Sid
ney. Marlborough, Wellington, but on the
glory of their names even Englishmen
are divided in their sentiments. Not so
is II with the name of Washington in
America.
There Is no division of sentiment. For
the laughing sehoolboy and the aged sire
for ignorant and for learned, poor and
rich, alike. of all parties. all cretds. the
name of Washington in America has a
t-thrilling charm and fascination.
Therein il becomes a name unique in his
tory for its national and Matchmaking
potency. for its unifying influence. Once |
more Americans are learning their an
nual lesson OF reverence for a great char |
acter. Throughout the land, in school (
house and college. in banquet hall, in !
Jnlpit and in press. the illustrious name. /
Washington has greeted our eyes and /
ears and hearts with a new Inspiration {
Of national pride, fresh baptism of pa
triotism.
1t must be true that biography is the 1
philosophy OF history. Hence, in every
lace in all this extensive portrait gallery
of the past we read philosophy. the Phi
losophy OF an epoch in the development
Of civilization. That great man is the in
carnation Of an idea, principle stgug-
Cling for sovereignty. for enforcement /
in the common heart and that great man I
carries that idea OF principle through the
barriers and up TO dominion ia the worlds
conviction and in the laws OF nations (
How significant it is that you cannot look
into the past without meeting the gaze
Of mighty minds. All battles revolutions.
reformations. are hidden behind the broad
brows of great thinkers, and all history
becomes brain history and heart history /
the history OF ideas, convictions, and plir-
poses"
Rev DR.. Bristol during the delivery OF
his address. was frequently interrupted by
applause, and when he had finished ire
CRY uEhnknuEA