The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
HEFLINS HAVE \
 LARGE GATHERING Banquet in Honor of the Ven
 erabIe pr. HeRin MANY FEulclToUS TALKS Delightful Gathering at the Hotel Hill man Last Nieht-TeIesram From
 Senator Morgan-lnterest-
 ing "Reminiscences.
 
MANY FEllclToUS TALKS

The annual celebration oi tue ifSii"s In honor of the 77th birthday of Dr. w. L. Henin the venerable and beloved sire of the distinguished house of Hefiin, was held in the private dining hall or the Hotel Hillman last night.
 The seven sons of Dr. Hefiin and number of representative citizens from every walk of life assembled to do rhonor to the worthy father of an illustrus family. From to 12 o'clock wit and elo- quence sparkled at the festive board.
 The sons of Dr. Hefin, to-Yit: Son. gressman J. Thomas Hefin of Lafayette; John T. He1in anu Robert l.. Hefiin of Roanoke; Dr. Wyatt Hefiln, Dr. Howell Hehin and Solicitor II. P. Hehln of Blr mingham; the Rev. Walter He1in of Rockford, in Coosa county, and the Rev. Marvin Hehin of Sheffield.
 During the evening the following tele- gram was read from Senator John T. Morgan to Congressman Hefiin:
 Washington. D. C., March 21, 19O5 Hon. J. Thomas Hehln, Birmingham, Ala:
 l am much disappointed that I cannot attend banquet to your father Offer him this: Honor and happiness to each successive head of the Heflin family JOHN T. MORGAN.
 The Orators.
 Those who made speeches at the ban quet were: Congressman Sydney J. Bowie, Col. W. H. Denson, Judge Samuel E. Greene, Judge Charles W. Ferguson, Robert J. Lowe B. NJ. Allen, Congress- man Hefin, J. D. Moore. Charles G. Brown, John c. Pugh, J. Rivers Carter, Dr. Wyatt Heflin, Dr. Af II. Collins, Ed ward c. Winston, Dr. w. II. Blake. J. B. Aird, Judge J. C. Carmichael, z. T. Ru- dulph Solon Jacobs, the Rev Marvin Hefiin. Richard F. Johnston, Augustus II. Benners, w. H. Kettig, Horace Hood, sr, of Montgomery; Eli P. Smith and B. F. Moore.
 The speech of the venerable Dr. Hefiin was the feature of the celebration. It made a happy impression. The words of the doctor, the oldest physician In Ala bama from point of service to the people of East Alabama, were listened to with profound interest by those who had gath cred to commemorate the day of his birth. Dr. Heflin sat at the head of the table, and when he rose to speak he was greeted with an outbrust of applause that lasted for several minutes.
 Dr. Hefin said:
 pr. HefIin Speaks.
 My father, Wyatt Hehin, moved to | Alabama in December, 1Ss6 I was eight years old, and have since that time lived in Radolph county.
 There were eleven children born to my father, and exactly the same number born to me, all living save two little girls, who died in infancy My wife the mother of these nine children. died when Marvin, the youngest child. was only two years old, and only those who have reared large families, under similar circumstances. know the ups and downs that I have ex- perienced. have practiced medicine fifty seven years. 1 have attended the rich and the poor and whether day time or night time, l never refused to attend any parent poor prospects to pay Some of the happy moments of my life have come to me when minlstering to suffering, needy people. who wore the look of sim cere gratitude and remembered me in their prayers.
 Life Is Short.
 T have travelled a long way and yet how short 1t seems Many of the friends O. my youth and young manhood have lcng since passed over the river. I am | 7i years old tonight have many things to be thankful for, and l am brought under renewed obligations to my maker for the enjoyment of this occasion have made 1t a rule if 1 had anything 1 good to say of man to say 1t while he lived. Give me the roses of your es- teem while l am living. They will not help me when I am dead.
 Tried to Serve FelIow-Man.
 "I have tried to be of some value to my | day and generation, and 1 trust that have done some good in the world have given eight sons and daughter i to my state-all are doing fairly we'll and it is my earnes. prayer that each and all of them strive constantly to make the world better and brighter than they 1 found 1t. l would tell them, and you, my friends, that through the days of | good fortune and the nights of adver- sity, the only pleasure worthy of man is that sanctioned by the God of our being
 "In conclusion let me say, as Shakes poare said long ago: Love all-trust a | few--do wrong to none'"
 Among the guests present in addition to those who made speeches were: Dr. Edward Casey. Robert C.. Jelks. John c Bradley. E. R. Norman, H. S. Hall Joseph T. Collins. Frank Foster. Dr. Flu gene Northington, Jack Stallings, Ed ward Collins, Jones Abbott. Wade Wood