Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-30
LOCAL AMEN CORNER CLUB.
It Has Passed Away Owing to Death
of It's Members

1.-THE recent notable dinner in New York
given in honor Of Senator Plat as presi-
dent Of the Amen Corner Club of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel" said a well-known Wash
ington correspondent, reminds me of a
local gathering of similar name and pur-
pose, which, until recently, met nightly for
years in corner of the Arlington Hotel.
"Our own Amen Corner Club was in ex-
lstence fully as long as the informal or
ganization over which the senior senator
from New York presides when he is at
home, but. while the Fifth Avenue Club
f1ourishes with such virile youthfulness as
to give dinners and otherwise enjoy itself
In such reckless ebullition of frolcky vigor,
the Arlington Amen Corner Club has pass
ed regretfully out of existence by reason of
the death, one by one. of it's leading MEM
bers.
Former Mayor Berret, who lived around
the corner on l street for nearly quarter
of century in big brown stone man
Sion was the acknowledged president Of
the club, sometimes denominated by the ir-
reverent and frivolous as the Liars Club
and he tacitly accepted the honor. He was
a giant in frame, measuring several inches
over six feet in height, weighing in proper
ton, was as kind and gentle as woman,
and respected and beloved by all who cir
cled around his chair. For over twenty
years. with scarcely break while he was
in Washington, Col Berret would enter the
office of the hotel at o'clock. take his
seat within the sacred circle of old GRO
Mes and the business of the evening of
discussing and settling all questions of the
hour, including political, social, diplomatic
philanthropic, medical, state, local. finance
geographical, archaeological, historic, naval,
theological and all conceivable questions,
theories and ideas would begin, and the
discussion would proceed sometimes grave
1y and often heatedly on the part Of the
younger members. During political cam
pa1gns the arguments would wax very
warm, as in political faith the members
or the club were about evenly divided and
during the two free silver campaigns there
were warm times in the corner, as sew
eral Of the democrats Topped to the gold
standard, and made it interesting for the
silver men.
There were many young men who were
irregular attendants at the meeting Of the
club who now look back with mingled re-
greet and pleasure at these meetings, and
with sorrow that another old and respect
ed feature of Washington life has passed.
The little circle of earnest gentlemen in
the Amen Corner were pointed out to visit
ors and guests as objects of interest, and
were looked upon by strangers with CORE
spending respect as the history of the club
was recounted to them. The regular men,
bers, including Colonel Berret, DR.. Mar
mion and others: now dead, were always
IN their seats rain or shine, snow or sleet.
punctually before the hour of g. and when
the hands of the clock pointed to their par
tcular time to go home they would rise
ana say. doOd night, gentlemen, and leave
the others to settle the question of the
evening under discussion.
but now, unhappily all of the old men,
bers have passed beyond the great divide,
and the club is only a matter of pleasant
memory. l venture to say, however, that
while 1t was not numerically as strong
as the congregation presided over by Sena-
tor Plat, 1t discussed and settled as
many public questions during it's quarter
of a century of life and as often saved the
nation as the faithful cotere in the lobby
of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. There were no
dues or fees attached to the membership of
the Washington club, and the initiation
ceremonies consisted of an informal intro
duction on the part of the introducing mem
Der; chairs were drawn aside, room made
for the newcomer, and the discussion pro-
ceeded without interruption"