St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-12-11
The Fat Mems Banquet.
The Heavy weights of New England Rem
devious again at Hale'S Tavern for
their Annual Gathering.


Hale's Tavern at Wells River presented
the appearance of political convention
Friday evening when 100 members o
the New England Fat Mems Club gath
cred for the game banquet. 1t was tn,
largest attended annual meeting ever
held and full of good fellowship. At the
business meeting 33 new members were
admitted, making the total membership
864. The heaviest weight among the
new members was c. W. Vittum of Lake
port who scores 375. President David
Wilkie, the organizer of the club, retired
and was given hearty vote of thanks.
Greetings were also extended to the only
other president the club ever had, A. S.
Bacon of Boston who was kept away be-
cause of i'll health. These officers were
then elected: ]. E. Robinson, Concord,
N. H., pres; George B. Allen, Burlington,
R. W. Pillsbury, Derry, N. H.; Arthur
H. Moulton, Portland, Me-; c. w. Bar
nard, Boston; Henry Metcalf, Arnolds
Mills, r. L.; William T. Flanders, Bran
ford, Conn.,, vice pres; Harry E. Parker,
Bradford, Sec. Jerome F. Hale, Wells
River, treas.
| At $50 Landlord Hale announced the
banquet, the music from Hodges Orches-
ira started up, and the dining room and
parlors quickly filled with members who
eagerly disposed of 10 course banquet
of which this was the menu:
Oyster Cocktail
Cream of Chicken
Boiled whitefsh, Hollandaise sauce :
Radishes Parisenne Potatoes
Steamed Wild Turkey, Oyster Sauce
Moose Steak, Cider Jelly
Drowned Potatoes Early June Peas
Fat Mems Ice
Game Chicken Patties
Vegetable Salad
Strawberry Ice Cream
Assorted Cake
Apples Grapes Oranges
Roquefort and American Cheese
Coffee Cigars
After the banquet President Robinson
raped to order and presented Rev. j.
Alphonso Belanger as toastmaster.
The latter kept the audience in good
humor and presented as fine list of
speakers as the club has ever heard. J.
E. Ripley of Burlington opened with
poem on Fellowship which is given in
full below. H. N. Conn of Boston fol-
lowed with lot of good stories, in re-
spending to the toast the "Old Bay
State" Arthur F. Stone spoke briefly |
on the significance of friendship and B.
F. McHugh of Ftchburg, Mass, fol-
lowed with couple of excellent stories
Rev. DR.. c. E. Morse of Bradford made |
particularly happy address and A. c.
Manson OF Boston spoke upon some of
the marvels of the twentieth century,
the Mauretania, wireless telegraphy, the
airships and the like. Hon. Frank |
Plumley of Mortified was the last
speaker and spoke eloquently upon Yer
mont and her splendid citizens All of
the speakers spiced their remarks with |
some excellent stories. Mr.. Ripley's
poem here follows:
Another year has winged it's flight"
This-i the fourth anniversary day,
Since this society first saw the light
And went forth in this Fellowship Way
1t is the same "Hale's Tavern" Hostess and
Host,
Only enlarged and now nearly to perfection;
And we can truly say without a boast
The N. E. Fat Mems Club has gone in this
direction.
Fellowship is still our mystic word,
Uplifting to each worthy brother;
The kindest meaning ever heard
Peace on earth, good will to one another
And the ladies that are with us.
would not omit
To speak of their graces
And wisdom and wit.
For Circassia's daughters.
So young and so fair
With the ladies here present
will poorly compare.
They stand forth as Heralds
OF mercyand truth,
AS guards to the erring
And guides to the youth
Working hard for the world.
And humanity's cause;
UNFOLDING right living
The State and its laws
And wherever their fortunes
In life shall be cast,
am sure they are willing
To labor and love to the last
Let us remember each gathering is our
Fathers gracious gift
he only sends us toll and care
lust to provide for home with business thrift,
The better to enjoy lifes pleasures every.
where.
For we are all pilgrims here
Iourneying DER lifes mountain crest
TO an Eternal City over there,
Where we shall lay 1ife's burdens down and
rest.
Until then, Fellowship shall overcome every
earthly strife
It is Gods promise and the history of the
world;
There is now no place for malice in our bust
ness life
Where this Banner of brotherhood has been
unfurled.
And Fellowship is nations gentle dove
That dark strife has found without
warning;
Returning It brings messages of peace and
love
In the brightness of the morning
So Israel's ancient King in fellowship with
the man of Tyre
With Book of Law. Mamma Pot and Aaro,,s
5uilded Temple, with holy zeal and fire.
| o perpetuate the worship of the living God. ;
Alfred, the first Saxon King. forever great
and good .
NTH only banner, spear and cane,
rirst taught the early Briton, Brotherhood
then drove out the barbarous Dane, q
rom lexington to Valley Forge our .
Fathers struggled yet Er
With Numbers few and arms of little worth q
men came the Fellowship of Washington !
and Lafayette [
md Yorktown's face and our nations birth e
gain in eighteen twelve Great Britain as of t
old, 90 u f
'ainly sought to destroy our nation fair. !,
'ut Fellowship OF North and South had NOT !,
yet grown cold, e
yer land and sea was victory to our starry o
banner there :,