Evening star., 1902-01-24
Venerable Members of the Fraternity
Hosts at the Ebbitt.
LIEUFENANFGENERAL MILES PRESENT
Senator Gallinger Makes Eloquent
Appeal for lsthmian Canal.
NSCHLEY'S NAME CHEERED


ganization. Around the prettiIy decorated
tables in the big dining hall were gray
haired Masons who have been prominent in
the fraternity for the last decade. Member
ship in the veteran association is only
granted to those who have been entered
apprentices for period of twenty-one years
or more.
The dinner was marked by the presence
Of large number of distinguished men, the
utterance Of numberless patriotic senti
ments. and a general feeling of good fell
lowship.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire, in
responding to the toast, "Our Country
struck the keynote of the spirit of the Ma
sonic veterans, and his tribute to America
was constantly interrupted by bursts of en-
thusiastic applause. Senator Gallinger
turned for minute from the country 20 its
capital city, and declared that Washington
would one day be the most beautiful city
in all the world. The Masons applauded
the statesman to the echo.
Admiral SchIey Sends Regrets.
When 1t was announced that letter of
regret had been received from Admiral
Schley the company listened intently, and
when the last sentence of the communica-
tion had been read by Sir knight George
Gibson, one of the stewards of the associa-
ton, there was prolonged demonstration
by plaudits and cheers.
The patriotism of the Masons and their
guests found vent again later in the even
ing when Lieutenant General Nelson A.
Miles, commanding the United States army,
appeared in the banquet hall. General Miles
had been invited as a special guest of honor,
but on account Of prior engagements was
unable to be present until the banquet was
nearly concluded. The general was finally
compelled to make a brief speech in re-
sponse to the applause. He said he appre-
ciated the honor of meeting the veteran
MaSOnS, and regretted that 1t had been I'M
possible for him to be present with them
throughout their annual dinner.
Simon Wolf vice president of the Ma
sonic Veteran Association, acted as toast
master. He first proposed toast TO our
dead,' which was drunk in silence. Mr..
Wolf then referred to the fact that at the
dinner of the organiZa ton one year ago the
first regular toast of the evening was to
the President of the United States, VII
liam Mckinley, but an assassin's bullet
he said, had cut short life of wonderful
usefulness" Mr. Wolf paid a tribute to Mr..
Mckfnleys character, and told of how he
was generally beloved by his countrymen.
However, he declared, it would not do to
live in the past. The people must ever be
cognizant of the present, and must look to
the future. In Theodore Roosevelt, he de-
clared, the nation had a worthy successor
TO Mr.. Mckinley, and so he proposed a
toast to THE President of the United
States" The company drank the toast
standing.
Senator GalIinger Speaks.
The toast, Our Country" was then pro-
posed, and the POSTMASTER introduced Sena-
tor Jacob H. Gallinger to respond to it.
Senator Gallinger said that America pre-
sented a wonderful field for study. The
growth OF the country had been stupendous.
There was nothing ever like it in the world
before He declared he had recently looked
over some statistics that represented in
striking and indisputable fashion the in
comparable record of American progress.
He gave a few instances showing the per-
Centage of wealth. manufactures and pro-
duction Of food stuffs in America compared
with other parts of the world.
The most striking figures quoted by the
senator were to the effect that America
spends on education nearly 30 per cent of
the amount expended for that purpose In
the entire world.
LAS long as these conditions continue
especially the expenditure of such large
sums on the education Of the people. no
one need fear for the future of the coun-
try" He said: The pessimist was always
abroad in the land, and forevermore pre-
dieting evil. II was predicted that the
United States could not possess colonies nor
govern them. But We have got the colo
nies," declared Senator Gallnger, land We
are going to keep them. We are going to
give the people of our insuar possessions
a government that will lift them from their
past state and make them an enlightened
U lS
but a foretaste of what We who are here
tonight will live to see 1t, not alone the
greatest republic IN the world. but the
greatest military and naval power we'll
Isthmian Canal Assured.
we are going to build up our army and
navy. We are going to lay a Pacific cable
We are going to build an isthmian canal
I care not whether It shall be a Nicara-
guam or a Panama canal. The temper of
the people demands that this waterway 10
connect the Atlantic and Pacific shall be
built, and II Will be built by American cap
ital. by American labor, and be truly
American in every way. This capital city.
beautiful as 1t is today, Will he made the
most beautiful capital of the world. The
American people are rich and patriotic
They are interested in their capital city
and VIII be glad to contribute their share
toward beautifying it.
Other Toaxts.
The toast The Grand Lodge of the Dis
trict' was responded to by Mr. George III.
Walker, the deputy grand master, the
grand master being detained by H.
ness in his family. Harry Standiford,
grand high priest responded to the
toast The Grand Royal Arch Chap
ter" Others who spoke briefly late in the
evening were Representative Jacob H.
Bromwell of Ohio. Senator Clarence D.
Clark of Wyoming, Senator George L. We'll
Gngton Of Maryland, George c. Rankin of
Illinois, Samuel Parker Of Hawaii and
George Gibson. grand commander OF
Knights Templar. During the evening
songs were rendered by Mr.. c. W. Hancock
and Mr.. j. Henry Kaiser.
Some of the Guests.
Some OF those present were: Lieut.. Gen.
Nelson A. Miles. Representative Jacob H.
Bromwen OF Ohio, Senator Clarence d.
Clark OF Wyoming. Senator Joseph Simon
OF Oregon, Senator Jacob II. Gallnger of
New Hampshire. Senator George L. We'll
hngton of Maryland George II. Walker,
deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge:
George Gibson. right eminent commander
knights Templar; Harry Standiford most
excellent grand high priest; Arvine w.
johnson. grand secretary; Frank Hosford.
Col George c. Rankin. Henry E. Trtpp.
Charles W. Bland, Wilmer W. Wetzel. Geo.
b. Wetzel. H. c. Espey. Samuel Hart War
ner Stutler. j. ]. Appick, Alexander Good
speed, w. L. Burch. James F. Oyster, Sam
uel E. Aler. Thomas W. Jameson. C. F.
Bennett. William H. Saks jr, A. GUIDE.
Motley Anderson. Col. Sam. Parker, Chas
Allen, Job w. Angus, Robert Armour Har-
ris l.. Atchison. Joseph B. Bennett, William
Gibson, William Howard Gibson Louis
Goldsmith William H. Griffin. William
Hahn, Charles W. Hancock. John j. Har-
rover Abraham Hart, William Helmus
William G. Henderson, Warren T., Hin5s