The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-22
Celebration of His Seventy
 eighth Birthday
PROIMENT I GUESTS PRESENT
Dinner to the Distinguished Physician Is Given Annually By His Sons. Number of Speeches Were
 Made Last Night.


 have arranged dinner of this kind in observance of the birthday of the ven erable physician and they are always the occasion for bringing together congenial body of prominent citizens of Alabama, who are the friends of the Hefin family.
 The dinner last night lasted for several hours and pumber of happy talks were made. The feature address of the even ing was that of Dr. Heflin. During the course of his remarks he was given mark ed attention by the guests present.
 Other short talks were made by Col. W. II. Denson, John B. Knox, Henry B. Gray, Judge Charles W. Ferguson, Judge C. A Senn, Dr. w. II. Blake w. NJ Drennen, Dr. Wyatt HefiIn. Judge c. A Aston, J. B. Babb Richard F. Johnston, J. Rivers Carter, Judge Samuel D. Weak ley, J. Thomas Hefin, James Weatherly, J. D, Moore N. II. Kettig, Percy Clark, E. r. Moore, Dr. NJ. H. Collins, Solon Jacobs. the Rev. F. W. Jones and others.
 In his speech Dr. Hehin, the guest of honor, said
 pr. Heflin's Speech.
 My friends, this is indeed happy 'oe- casion to me. l have reached the seventy eighth mile post on the journey of life. l have passed over many rough places and may have to pass through many more but through my share of sore trials l have had more sunshine than shadows. l have some as true friends as man ever had; friends you could rely on in season and out of season. Such friends do not go in gangs Show me strong man and l will show you man who is well sus- f-f- .l.-I,t am deeply grateful for all the blessings that have come to me. and they have been many, with charity for all and malice for none. I love my state and have in my feeble way tried to do my duty to it. and I trust my contributions in the way of eight sons and q daughter have not been in vain. The strength and glory of a state consists in her manhood of her men and the womanhood of her women. l thank you one and all for your presence tonight. May God bless you all and for all the goods things you may say.
 However deeply impressed on your mind the duty you owe to thers. I would not omit that which you owe to your Father In Heaven. In short by promiting the hap piness of all around you, you but perform what is required by Him. Human life is a checkered scene and alternate sue cession of veal and woe. In the cup of the most prosperous are mingled the wormwood and the gall. Disappointments and affliction are not sent as the final reward of our deeds.
 They arc designed to lessen our attach n4ents to things here, to render our transition from time less poignant, or more desirable an event we are inevitably t. expect and for which are daily to pre- pare. With us is much cause of gratitude. Not one of our number that was with us twelve months ago, within my knowl- edge, has fallen prey to the great enemy Of human life. But has the destroyer been without hls victims? No. He has been active elsewhere. and we have been spared. Other and worthier victims have been selected. There is not physician of my acquaintance living now anywhere that was practicing medicine when l first began.
 "There is only one preacher of my ac- quaintance living now that began preach ing when I began practicing medicine fifty-eight years ago. That is Elder John cliett. a Primitive Baptist. who lives near Roanoke Ala. He Is a man of the most active piety. The Lord Is still his Sheperd. He leadeth him beside the still waters; he shall not want. He will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 "I would say to my children be true to every trust. true to yourselves faith full in al 1.-the relations of life and above all. to have an unyielding faith in God. This is my seventy-eghth birthday. The meridian of life is past; I am growing old; gray hairs are fast covering my head Eyes that have served me well so long are beginning to grow dim. Soon. if time endures, I shall be a very old man.
 Gods Goodness.
 ''In the mean time let me confess the goodness of God to me. 1 have been bless ed in everything. At home, in public, in health and in freedom from affliction, and in dutiful children, and in a good wife. There is nothing in life fascinating an object as the faithful tender and affec- tionate wife. God will bless them Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness. Transported with the views am lost in wonder. love and praise Now, I have reached that point in life when l am beginning to live life over again in my children. If they do well, I prosper. If they do wickedly the charm of life would be gone. The last light of earth would go out and leave me in gloom and despair.
 "Let my sons be honorable, useful men. My only daughter, tender, pure and pious. Iife's gay attire will soon be surrender ed for the grave. Time with us all will soon be done The day scarcely says, that 1t Is mornings rosy dawn, l come. ere the sound. I am gone, sinks and dies in evenings quiet hush the present will soon be past; the bounding blood struck by the chill of death will creep in fun- eral motion to the heart, whose fevered pulsation can send it forth no more. Life s gay attire must be surrendered to the graves pale shroud and the freedom of earth for confinement in the tomb.
 May we have many more reunions here, then beyond the tomb
 When soon or late We reach the coast OCT Life's rough Ocean driven, may we rejoice
 No wanderer lost family in heaven ''
 The Guests.
 The following were among those present at the dinner:
 Wilson l.. Hefln, Dr. Wyatt Hefin, Dr. Howell Heflin, John T. Hefin, H. P. lief lin, Congressman J. Thomas Hefin the Rev. Walter W. Heflin. the Rev. Marvin R. Henin, Robert l.. Hefiin, J. D. Moore. B. r. Moore, w. H. Kettig, Percy Clarke. Robert C. Jelks, Judge Charles w Fergu- son, r. S. Foster. J. H. Barr, J. K. War ner. Col W. II. Denson. Wade Wood. John B. Knox. James Weatherly, Dr. NJ H. Collins. John G. Bradley, John r. Abbott. Judge Charles A. Senn. NJ. ]. Gregg, J. B. Babb. Thomas F. Parker Henry B. Gray. Dr. Conner, w. F. Leake, Solon Jacobs. Dr. w. H. Blake, pr. E. P Lacey. John shannon, Richard F. Johnston, J. D. Kirkpatrick, Peter F.. Lallande. Robert II. Pearson, W. NJ. Drennen. Ira Sandifer Thomas Bradley of Huntsville. J. Rivers Carter. Judge A. H. Aston. Chief Justice Samuel D. Weak ley, Judge Harry Toulmin. Dr. F. P. Riggs. James F. Hawkins, Dr. F. E. Ma