Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-04-14
IN JEFFERsoN's MEMORY.

Hon. William j. Bryan, Senator Geo.
F. Hoar, of Massachusetts; Governor A.
J. Montague, of Virginia, and ex-Post-
master-G General Charles Emory Smith,
of Philadelphia, were the principal
speakers at a dinner given at the Hotel
Barton, Washington, last night under
the auspices of the Thomas JEFFERSON
Memorial Association in celebration OF
the one hundred and sixtieth anniversa :
of the birth of the author of the Declara-
ton of independence. About l4O guests
were present.
A feature of the musical programme
was the playing of march by Leader
Santelmann, of the Marine Band, en-
titled 'Thomas Jefferson March. h.
B. F. Macfarland, president of the Dis
trict Commissioners, presided and Ihos.
Nelson Page was toastmaster. The din
ner was not of political character.
Senator Hoar responded to the toast
'"The Author of the Declaration OF In
dependence. -
Ex-Postmaster-G General Smith respond
ed TO 'The Louisiana Purchase. "
Mr.. Bryan, who was the last speaker
on the programme addressed himself to
,eThe Statute for Religious Freedom" :"
He concluded as follows: ITO Jefferson
the doctrine of free speech and freedom
of opinion applied to everything because
he rightly understood that no censorship
of opinion could be permitted that would
not be more dangerous to truth than to
error, for those who are conscious OF the
righteousness of their cause are not so
apt to invoke force in defense of their
opinions as those who are conscious OF
error and who, recognizing their inabil-
tv to defend their views by reason, fall
back upon coercion. In the preamble OF
the act of 1886, it is stated, first that
the propagation of religion by force is
contrary to the plan of God, the author
of our religion. Attention is called to
the fact that the Almighty, being Lord
both of the body and the mind, yet chose
not to propagate by coerclous of either.
Jefferson recognized that the Christian
religion rested upon love, and that love
is the very antithesis of violence and
brute force. 1t is we'll to remember that
the Declaration Of Independence itself
rests upon the same foundation which
supports our religion; namely, love,
and those who deny the doctrine OF
human brotherhood are not apt to
respect the creed of inalienqble rights
and natural equality embodied in the
Declaration Of Independence and the
Constitution of the United States. JEFF
ferson was the greatest statesman
known to history He believed in the
rights af people, and had a heart large
enough to lake in all human kind. He
hated tyranny, whether it manifested
itself in religious or secular affairs, and
applied his doctrines to all questions. p"
Gov. Montague, after outlining the
life of Thomas Jefferson, said ''Ihomas
Jefferson believed profoundly in educa-
ton. He has been accused Of entertain
ing strange beliefs as to religion, but
eyery evidence points to the fact that
he was not an irreligious man. Moth
ing in the history of American life is
more beautiful than his devotion to his
wife and children. We find him, 9
Young man, refusing a mission to
France because of his wife's poor health,
and in her last days he was her tender
and tireless nurse. Jefferson rendered
his State exalted service in the Virgins
constitutional convention, and after be
had written the Declaration of lndepen-
dence. he returned to the House OF
Delegates and there rendered incalcul-
able service in the cause of free politics,
a fre e press, a free people, and fret
religion. The crOwning triumph oi
Jefferson's life, however, was the Uni
versity of Virginia, which he builded
and fostered, guarding it as a father
might a child"
} The other speakers were Andrew
A. Lipscomb, "The Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Associations" President
Henry Needham, of Columbian Univer
sity. jefferson as Promoter of Gen
eral Education" and Rev. d. j. Stat
ford, Jefferson and Human Rights. "
a letter of regret was read from Ad
+ miral Dewey, who is presiden. of tn
! Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association
Prior to the banquet the board o
gov ernors met and practically decides
T Thar the proposed memorial to jefferson
TO be erected in Washington shall TAX
H. ro-no of q huildinQ