The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-29

doors of all the railroads of which the
late Samuel Spencer was president was
taken down yesterday. the thirty days of
mourning having ended.
When Mr. Spencer was killed on
Thanksgiving morning in railroad
wreck instructions were issued on the
Southern railway the Alabama Great
Southern railroad, the Georgia, Southern
and Florida, the Cincinnati, New Orleans
and Texas Pacific and the Mobile and
Mayor George B. Ward Forney john
ston of Birmingham, who became an A.
T. o. at the University of Alabama
welcomed the congress on behalf of the
Birmingham Alumni association. The adj
dress of Mr.. Johnston, while being short
was thoroughly choice and select, and his
welcome was one which brought forth
cheer of thanks. Professor Jervey of the
University of the South, Sewanee, re-
sponded in a speech full of wit and elo-
quence. He referred in glowing terms to
the hospitality of the city, and its citi-
zens. His speech brought forth laughter
and applause He termed the noise char
acteristic of Birmingham. not being out
of the reverberation of its echo of well
come, a remark which well pleased the
members Of the local association, and the
numerous visitors who were present.
Features of Session.
The open session was presided over by
Worthy Grand Chief Lyons, and seated
on the stage with him were the founder
of the fraternity DR.. Glazebrook, who Is
also chairman of the high council, and
Hugh Martin, who is one of the most ac-
tive A. T. Os in Birmingham.
One of the distinct features of the aft
ernoon was tho presentation TO G. d.
Ellsworth of Washington, worthy grand
keeper of the exchequer, with jeweled
fraternity badge. Mr.. Ellsworth has been
a member of the fraternity since 1876,
and during the time of his membership
has held nearly every office of rank. lie
has always been one of the most interested
workers for the good of the fraternity.
Iae speech of presentation was made by
j. C. Carmichael of the Birmingham
Alumni association. Mr.. Ellsworth re-
sponded in appropriate speech.
The Grafton.
The original congress poem was de-
livered by A. w. Hartzell of Allentown,
Pa. The poem was entitled: Truth, Vir-
tue and Love" and IL was shown that
the greatest of the three was love. The
poem was a thing of beauty, and elected
warm applause.
The congress grafton was delivered by
Robert Bingham of Louisville. 1t was
entitled 1.-THE Army of a Dream" The
grafton treated of the evils which are
assailing the American republic, the love
of money, the corruption of politics, the
foreign possessions of the United States,
and the negro problem 1.-The Army of a
Dream was considered an army of good
men, men of character, which was a
splendid effort of an eloquent young
Kentucky lawyer, and after its conclu-
sion, and after the body had sung MY
Country, Ills of Thee" the orator was
warmly congratulated.
The speech In part follows;
Upon this theme the poet militant OF
the greatest of all world empires has
exercised his unrlvaled genius in dein-
eating a plan by which the youth of
Great Britain could be SO trained for
war as to give to the British empire such
an army as would make 1t safe from
attack from any source. While our own
need for an efficient army and navy
Is so evident as to be automatic, there
is nothing incur situation, in Great
Britains. with its'world wide possessions
to render it necessary for our country to
become an armed camp. On the contrary,
the least dangerous enemy Is the for
eign enemy; the prospect of an armed
invasion would call millions of Ameri-
cans to arms to meet it, and IN the
stress of such a crisis, men forget their
bigotrfes, their craftsmanship, and the
latent patriotism existing in almost every
race of men comes surging forth, carrying
a whole people irresistibly on to the
heights of courage and self-sacrlhce.
The Dangerous Foes.
But, though America need not fear
a danger of this kind, there are power
full and dangerous foes striking uncease-
ingly at our country's peace and prog
ress, who must be conquered, If our
government shall continue, If the last
great experiment in popular government
shall not fall and fall. Whence shall
the army come to fight these battles
which lie before us?
The ancient fiction that all men are
born free and equal. evolved as 1t was,
out of the froth and flame of the French
revolution, no longer finds any credit
in the minds of thinking men; it is
merely an exploded thory, which no
longer finds credence. 1t is true that we
have partially escaped the caste sys-
tenn of the European world, but not even
that entirely. Compare yourselves. in the
light of the fortune which has come to
you, with millions of your less fortu-
nate countrymen, and you will see in