Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-14
Enthusiastic Meeting at
Metrop Titan M. E. Church.
BISHOP McCABE'S TALK
FOR BENEFIT OF THE SOLDIERS
AND SAILORS.
Senator Gallinger Was Presiding Of
ficer and Made Stirring Speech
Patriotic Bodies Present


ment for more commodious and sanitary
soldiers and sailors temporary home in
Washington at big meeting held last
night In the Metropolitan NJ E. Church.
1t is intended that the proposed home shall
supplant the present insanitary and over
crowded institution at 100 Sd street north
west
The occasion last night was lecture by
Bishop G. c. McCabe on The bright side
of life IN Libbey Prison" The story was
realistically told by the bishop. who had
himself spent weary months in the south
ern prison house. The lecture was pre-
ceded and followed by addresses setting
forth the absolute necessity for more
adequate and comfortable temporary home
in this city for the deserving wards of the
nation-its lighting men.
Prof Bischoff played a medley of
patriotic American airs on the big organ.
concluding with Rally Round the Flag
as the distinguished party that occupied
the platform filed down the aisle. This
comprised besides the lecturer Senators
Gallinger, Warner and Doiliver Chairman
Hull of the House military committee and
Representatives Bishop and Mendeh.
Church Appropriately Decorated
The interior of the church had been
beautifully and deliberately decorated with
American flags by a committee in charge
of Mrs. Ida l.. Chase. assisted by Capt
A. A. Maxim, superintendent of the tenn
porary home, and others. background for
the platform was formed of a mammoth
copy of old Glory said to be the largest
flag in the world, which had been loaned
by the superintendent OF the pension bu-
Teau. 1t is 30 by - feet in size and ex-
tended from the floor of the church nearly
to tn high vaulted ceiling above This flag
was unfurled by the American amaassa-
dor 20 France frDm no nj he oil
tower in Paris on July /. during the Paris
exposition, and while fiuttering more than
~ feet above 1t was cheered by multitudes
Another feature of the decorations wore
large paintings of the late President Will
liam Mckinley and President Roosevelt
loaned by Bell which occupied either side
Of the chancel.
The Grand Army of the Republic the
Spanish War Veterans, Army and Navy
Union and other patriotic organizations, in
their distinctive uniforms. occupied the
center or the church. With them We're
Commander a. z. Tasker of the Depart
ment of the Potomac. G. \. R; Commander
John Lewis Smith of the Department of
the District of Columbia, United Spanish
war Veterans, and Gen. j. Edwin Browne
comander-in-chief of the Army and Navy
Union. with his staff. In the audience also
were Senator Long of Kansas, Col Thomas
II. Mckee, Journal clerk of the House of
Representatives; Maj. j. II. Slime president
or the United States Historical Society:
MAJ. l.. z. Williams and seven others who
were prisoners in Libby with Bishop Me
Caee. The managers of the Temporary
Home for Soldiers and Sailors We're repre-
scented by Col. b. f. Chase, president; Col
J. Tyler Powell, vice president; Col j. Fl
bradford, chaplain, and other members OF
the board.
The great assemblage. which filed the
large auditorium and the galleries of the
historic church, was called to order by
Col b. F. Chase. who. behalf of the
BOARD OF management of the home and the
eighteen patriotic societies bod in
the movement for home, welcomed
the auditors and speakers. He also intro
duced to the audience Senator Jacob H.
GaInngef OF New Hampshire the pre-
siding officer of the evening. Senator Gal
hnger spoke of the efforts that are being
made to establish in this city temporary
home for American soldiers and sailors
which Is intended to be a credit to both
the capital city and the country. Such an
Institution, he said is needed to provide
care and comfort for the men who saved
the country and the flag.
1T IS a reproaCh to our nation" said the
senator, that our soldiers and sailors have
been compelled TO live in such a place as
the present home. l have introduced a bill
in the Senate 10 give them a home and COM
forts and the luxuries of life, which they
deserve Backed by public sentiment and
the patriotic people as il is the bill will be
passed. The American people have graft
tude for the old soldiers of the civil war
and the younger ones of the war with
Spain. There IS no danger that your deeds
Will be forgotten, you who saved the coun-
try In 1861. and you who drove the Span
iards from this part of the world in 1893
ana freed Cuba. There is no more danger
that you will be forgotten than there is
that Old Ironsides' will be used as a tar
get Tor the American navy" A whirlwind
or applause greeted this reference to the
old American Ihau-of-Var.
Bishop McCabe's Lecture.
Bishop c. c. McCabe was then introduced
by Senator GaIlinger. He said the civil
conflict was the greatest of all wars, being
far greater than the recent Russo-Japanese
war The war with Spain was small war.
but great In results. It lifted Cuba into
freedom and demonstrated that the Amert-
can boys of today are as brave and patri-
otto as were the lads of forty-five years ago
was the chaplain of the finest regiment
IN the civil war. said Bishop McCabe. 1.-The
I'D Ohio Volunteer Infantry II was a
regiment of boys, the average OF age being
twenty-five years and some OF the boys be-
ing but sixteen. During the war it lost in
Killed ana wounded 5S3 soldiers, while 200
died OF disease"
The lecturer related many happy events
AT Libby prison during the war fnterspers-
ing them with pathetic incidents of prison
ire. he paid tribute to the southern SOL
der. adding; 'At this day we are an glad
L" confess 10 HIS valor and devotion to the
cause he had espoused." He said upop his
ARRIVAL at Libby prison lie found it differ
o
luur He did not find dead and dying men
lying about on the floors On the contrary.
ne was greeted by the smiling faces of a
Joiiy lot of prisoners, who yelled Fresh
fish at him.
Speaking of how American soldiers are
made, he said the raw material takes the
oath TO protect the flag and country and
AFTER being drilled six weeks in the ''awk-
ward squad" you have soldiers that
would storm the very gates of hell"
"A storm of applause greeted Bishop
McCabe when he declared:
i do not believe in the game of foot
ball 1t does not make soldiers. | don't
care II the President and a former Presi-
dent do attend the games, l do not be-
Aeye IN the brutality of the game"
The lecturer described a Fourth of july
celebration in Libby, also the witticisms of
seven Irishmen who were confined there
and the talks that were given by forty
lawyers in prison together" In conclu-
sion he urged that Congress pass the bill
appropriating $4,000 for the proposed tenn
porary home. adding that present condi-
tions at the home on Sd street made him
heartsick.
The meeting came to a close by Bishop
McCabe singing The Battle Hymn of the
Republic" the audience joining in the cho-
rus.