Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-05-17
The First Anniversary.

occasion which packed Ravenscrofts'
Opera House Thursday evening, LIST inst.
1t was there and then st. David Society
observed the first anniversary of its or
ganiZation. Not only the auditorium
proper but standing -ro.nn only" was
occupied by friends and admirers of the
Society from town and along the Creek.
The programme, published last week
was a collection of choice numbers, en-
tertainng and delighting until the clos
ing solo and chorus, "Ien lIhW Fy
Nhudan," dissolved the musical pageant
in blaze of glory.
The Arion Band acquitted itself, as
usual, in splendid style.
DR.. Il. Griffith, president of the
Society, delivered an address felicitous
i'll expression and rich i'll humor. 1t was
fully appreciated by the representatives
of all nationalities, notably, Of course,
by Welshmen and the wives daughters
and SONS of Welshmen. Here it is:
Lodj,s oDd GcntI,nc" anal FdIorS 81 TIE ST.
U""'" Noc'fy ~ FI0Nb"jy-
You will notice on your program that an
address is to be delivered by the President of
this organization
Most all of you who know me, well know
also that am incapable of fulfilling the duty
assigned me, and those here, if any, who
know me not, will soon observe that | am
truthful in saying | cannot deliver an ora
ton. But lei me assure you that you will
not be disappointed, for we have with us to-
night those who can and will ably accom-
plSh that function.
will, however. for the few minutes time
allotted to me cndeavor to give you Il brief
history of the st. David Society of Frost
burg, its origin, its object, and its develop
mcnt during its first year, the end of which
we are here, assembled tonight to celebrate.
1t is not my ann at present to 20 away back
in the ancient history of the Welsh people
to bring forth proof and tradition to show
with very little doubt, if any, that we can
trace our lineage farther than any other race
of people. Nor will assert as some do.
that the first man who ate the apple was
Adam Jones, and the reason why he was
called Mr.. Jones was because there was no
one to call him so; and beg to contradict
that story also on the ground that no Welsh
man ever brought the human race into such
dilemma as did that man. Adam.
So will leave the antiquatcd history of
our people to my worthy friends and broth
ers who are to follow me, and who will, |
am positive interest you to the utmost, and
from the personnel of the trio of speakers you
have before you the subject may be pretty
well exhausted but it will never die.
Consequently the other member of the
quartet, which is needed by every other form
of humanity. will not be necessity felt by
the st. David Society, for if it ever he buried
at all it will have to be buried alive.
\ little more than one year ago number
of citizens of the town of FroStburg had
gathered together for Il purpose entirely
foreign in thought to establishing this on
ganization. After the meeting had dis
perScd, it was noticed that by singular
coincidence nearly all present We're either
natives of Wales or of Welsh extraction, and
with national pride in our hearts, akin to
patriotism, we decided at once to organize
socially the Welsh people, either native or Of
foreign birth of Allegany county. These
societies have existed for many years all
over the civilized world wherever Wclshmcn
are found, and have been Il source of much
rood not only to their own clan. but to the
communities i'll which they exist. Some
times they are designated THE Cambrian
Society or "Cambrio- American Society
The Cumryguddun Society The
Worries, or The St David all having the
same object in view.
SO also our friends the Scotch have The
St Andrews" and celebrate the birth of
Robert Burns and Walter Scott and terminate
with Aud Lang Syne." The English have
their st. Georges Society" the lIollandcrS
their "Holand Society" the Germans the
''Saengerfest," animated by THE Watch on
the Rhine" The Irish have their Ancient
Order of lihernianS' and never forget to be
| ont early in the morning ON the 18th of
March to do hOnorto st. Patrick, for they
are no longer hanging men and women for
| the wearing of the green The Wclshmen
| have the first day of March as st. David :
| Day. and they have also their cmbemS 81
ingenuously described in the following beau
tiful little Stanza by Mr.. Jcnkin Jones, of
| Virginia:
France has the lily,
England has the rose;
Everybody knows
Where the shamrock grows;
| Scotland has the thistle that grows upon the
hill.
But the emblem of America is the onc-dolaI
bill.
But if you are at leisure to travel for Il
week 20 to the blessed country whose en-
| blem is the lcck. 1t grows universally on
| the hills and in the dalcs. 1t is my nativ,
| countrywide lovely land of Wales. Tn,
scenes are so romantic | see them in my
dreams even the speckled trout in all IL
| Silvcry streams 1t seems that God and
nature combined tn do their best to adorI
that little country and crown it as 1.-The
| blcSt."
| Men or women who do not have ancestral
| pride enough in their hearts to assist in up
| lifting those of their own blood should &c
way back and sit down and mediate OF
their own origin, as did poor 'Topsy' il
| ''lncle Toms Cabin Every tribe AN,
nation has its own trials and troubles pleas
urps and sOrrows, heroes and martyrs, bu