Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-22
Honor the Memory of First
President
IN COLUMBIA THEATER
A GREAT AUDIENCE LISTENS TO
ELOQUENT ADDRESSES.
Rev. DR.. Frank M. Bristol Speaks Of
washington as Our Politi-
cal Ideal"

the Sons of the Revolution, DiStrlct Oh "
lumbia was held this morning in the Co
lumbia Theater. The society had the as
sistance of Mr.. Barry Buckley and Kew. r.
M. Bristol, DID,, as speakers; of Kew. wal
lace Radcliffe, DID,, who invoked divine
blessing and pronounced the benedictloh'
and of large section of the band OF the
United States Marine Corps. The boxes
were occupied by members Of the french
embassy the Belgian embassy. by Mr. Ed
ward Padelford and a party, and by MIS-
Charles w. Fairbanks and party.
When the curtain was raised at 1880
o'clock the bandsmen, in their full dress
uniforms of scarlet, formed striking
and picturesque background for the others
who occupied chairs on the stage, and VINO
wore dark clothing-Mr. ]. A. b. Dahigren'
the presiding officer: Mr.. Charles H. Camp
hell. chairman of the committee in charge
of the celebration; Mr.. w. p. Metcaf,
member of the committee; Rev. Dr. Rau-
cliffe, Mr.. Buckley and Rev. DR.. Bristol;
The opening number was the. the rendition Iaf
by the band of Santelmanns Thomas JET
ferson'' march, after which Mr.. Dahlgren
made a brief Introductory address, IN con-
nection with which he gave expression "
the Indebtedness of the society for INC
attendance at the celebration OF represent
tatives of the republic of France.
The presiding officer next introduced rev.
Dr. Radcliffe who. in concluding ms ap-
propriate invocation, referred 10 the na
lions that are now at war. ana prayed tldt
reace may speedily come to the whole
earth. s..
.Salome" was played by the band, after
which Mr.. Buckley, with fine erect, re-
peated the mastery Grafton that was orig
inally delivered by Major General Henry
Lee, at the request of Congress, Thursday,
December 26 1899 at the German Lutheran
Church, Philadelphia. in the course OF
which the famous expression First IN war,
first in peace and first in the hearts or MS
countrymen" was first applied to George
Immediately following Mr.. Bulkleys con-
tribution 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner was
PLAYED. the musicians and audience stand
inc The music aroused patriotism to the
degree that resulted in deafening applause
and 1t was necessary for the band 10 re-
spond with 1.-The Red, White and Blue
Rev. DR.. Bristol's Address.
At this point Rev DR.. Bristol was called
unon to deliver the address Of the day. He
selected as his topic: NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Political IDEAL
"As we approach the awful memory or
Washington the speaker began, I'VE are
embarrassed by the caution suggested IN
the words Of Abraham Lincoln: WASH
ington is the mightiest name OF earth; TO
add brightness to the sun or glory to the
Let none attempt 1t. In solemn awe pro-
nounce that name and in its naked, death
less splendor leave it shining on Yet
nothing can be more just and appropriate
than that the descendants OF the patriots
who rallied about the invncible leader OF
the colonial armies should be foremost in
their zeal to perpetuate that mighty lead
er's fame. Sons of the revolution, Who aot
all our citizens, can have a higher holfer
mission than yours of keeping the eye of
the world fixed in admiring gaze upon the
bright, consummate glory OF Washington
name? In this devotion to the memory or
the commanding genius Of the revolution
you perform service to your country and
to the cause of liberty less in proud dis
unction only to the services rendered hu-
mainly by your patriotic ancestors.
No days in the long calendar of the
year have done more to educate the rising
generations in the love of country and OF
freedom than the 4th Of July and the 22d
of February. Greater than books, than
platforms, than systems of political ethics,
has been the patriotic inspiration of these
days of holy pride and magnificent menu
cries. When the last page of our national
progress has been written and the last song
ofour glory has been sung, then and not till
then will the philosophy of history show
how much human liberty owes to that VEN
GRAFTON for a great name and great man
which calls these citizens together on this
occasion and gives the whole country up
to the celebration of this national holiday.
AS a people and nation we have much
of which to boast. Our wealthy hills, our
fertile valleys, our busy mills. our cities
rivaling the cities which have been building
for a thousand years, and our unexampled
Industrial and commercial prosperity may
well fill the world with amaZement, and
every citizen with pride. But is our ma
tons material aggrandizement her most
exalted distinction? Has not America
SOUL a character which commends her to
the admiration of all the nations of Chris
tendon? The very fact that today We
close our shops and mills and cease our bar
ter in the marts of trade to contemplate
the high and noble genius of Americanism
in a majestic character tells the world that
the foundation of our greatness is not ma
terialstic, but moral.