Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-18
BIRTH OF FRANKLIN
SOCIETY OF SONS OF REVOLUTION
CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY.
Addresses by Gaillard Hunt and
Charles le-Long-Proceed-
ings at Business Session.

The birthday anniversary of Benjamin
rankin occurred yesterday, and in ac-
cordance with its custom of meeting on
birthday anniversaries of American pa
triots the Society of the Sons of the Revo-
luton met in a parlor at the New VIII
lard last evening. There were two fea-
lures of the entertainment, an address on
Benjamin Franklin by Gailard Hunt of the
STATE Department and a talk by Col.
Charles Chaille-Long on his journey into
the Soudan as the agent of the khedive of
Egypt and the exploration of the Uganda
kingdom.
Mr.. Hunt began his remarks with the
statement that Benjamin Franklin was a
living protest against the doctrine of race
child of his parents. Had the size of the
family stopped at sixteen. the country
would not now be celebrating his birthday
anniversaries.
"Frankln," the speaker said, though
born in Boston. did not belong to that city
nor to Philadelphia, where he resided so
long but to the entire United States. A
distinguished foreigner described him once
as the father of the Yankees, and he was
practically the father of the Yankee ma
ton, for it was his great mind that first
conceived the idea of great American ma
ton. He was man who could move men
by a peculiar genius of his own, and every
school boy knows almost by heart the great
part played by him in the forming of our
Constitution His powers of reasoning were
both convincing and simple. His epigrams
are famous in the world of letters. ne
could write them in diction that sank into
the hearts of men. He also had a peculiar
fondness for epitaphs. Probably no man
in those trying years at the close of the
revolutionary war contributed more logic
and good sense to the cause of American
liberty.
THE scheme of a great American union
was forever uppermost in his mind, and at
tl,af ..r sfnU p,afi ION ar 10
the man of the hour 1t was a critical time
in the history of the young colonies which
had thrown off the British yoke. Sectional
interests were almost wrought to a separa-
ton into a number of confederacies, repre-
senting various sections of the original
states. 1t was when this notable body of
representative leaders and patriots was
on the verge of disarmament, and thereby
Multiplying all for which the colonists had
fought so long. when Franklin, with that
calmness and dispassonate manner of ap-
peal. addressed his countrymen. He was
no orator. but there was a logic and a
unique personality in his style that reached
the heart. All the world knows of that ia
nous speech -lt-was an appeal that is the
legacy of great mind. He was not man
who made his religion conspicuous, nor
was he Indifferent to the needs of Provi
Dental guidance in the affairs of daily life.
His address will live in the hearts of men
as striking characteristic of not only
Franklin, but of all those associated with
him in the holy cause of American liberty.
Character Of the Man.
I'm this you read the character of the
man. His moral suasion prevailed and that
for which his heart and sou! had so de-
voutly wished was realized. Today we hold
dear the heritage of Franklin and his COM
patriots.
Coupled with Franklin's name and patri-
otto services is the recollection of his ia
nous epitaph of Bradshaw, famous in Eng
1iSl, ictn ,rin fba oil in1
Those familiar with history remember the
stirring events prior to the restoration. In
that famous epitaph is the short crisp sem
tence which later became the famous her
aldc motto of a great American statesman
and President. Rebellion to tyrants is ODE
dience to Cod Those words have rung
down the corridors of time and become i'm
mortal a living epigram.'
At the close of his remarks. which We're
delivered eXtempore and in a pleasing con-
versational tone. Mr.. Hunt was voted the
thanks of the society.
Col. Charles Chaille-Long was introduced
as a man who has many titles and hon
ors that it was difficult to enumerate them
all. He began his career in the civil war.
when, a captain, he served with marked
distinction. Later he went abroad and his
next experience was as an officer and con-
fidential attache of the khedives court in
Egypt. Accompanied by but handful of
men, he penetrated the wilderness of saw
agery and finally negotiated the treaty
which linked that domain with Egypt The
speaker recounted his reception by the bar
barian king and told of many amusing in
cidents, of the superstitions and credulities
of that race. Not the least important of his
descriptions. was that Of his discovery of
the source of the Blue Me and the tragic
experiences of Gen. Chinese" Gordon and
the fall of Khartoum.
A resolution thanking the speaker was
adopted.
During the business session of the society
appropriate mention was made of the death
during the present month of DIR. Edward
Oliver Belt. who was for two terms mem
Der of the board of managers, and Mr.
Joseph Kay McCammon.
Upon adjournment a pleasant hour was
spent In social conversation during which
a collation. was served