The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-16

ment chatting within him. longing TO give
utlerance to the eloquent words which
would flow from his lips were he now
speaking, and we all thank God that the
time is not far distant when the voice
We have SO loved TO hear will again be
heard in our banquet hall.
This club WAS organized upon the 11th
udy OF February, 1892, with a member
snip of fifty-five citizens, very few of
whom at that time had any idea that the
organization would become one of such
wealth and usefulness. but it was found
that the idea of commercial club with
somewhat elaborate social features. used
Tor the advancement of the public pur-
poses Of the organizatiO n.- appealed 10
business men generally, and those who
organized this institution have had the
qualification of seeing the club grow into
powerful and influential body repre-
sentative of the varied Industries and in
tereSts of the state, with an influence for
good extending far beyond its boundaries.
The first president of the club was our
lamented member, William a. Nelden,
president of the Nelden-Judson Drug
company. He was succeeded by Colonel
Edwin f. Holmes, whom our guests Will
be glad to know was member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and who
served most faithfully for two years.
Colonel Holmes was succeeded by Gov
ernor Heber NJ. Wells. who was followed
by w. ]. Halloran, who is just finishing
his second term as president At this
comfortable balance in the treasury and
a guaranteed fund of over $4,000 for the
erection and equipment of a new club
house. This building. which our secre-
tary says is a most beautiful creation or
the architects genius, VIII be SIX
stories high. with basement. all devoted
to club purposes. 1t will have all those
apartments usually found in purely So
cial clubs, but in addition there will be
convention and committed rooms. and
about 1000 square feet of floor space in
the basement will be devoted to a perma-
nent exhibition of the mineral, agricul-
tural and other products of the state.
The Record of Deeds.
This club was organized for service.
Deeds count. But neither my time nor
your patience would permit me 10 tell
half that the club has done. much less
the many things il has attempted to do.
But we will all agree with statement
recently made by your secretary when
he said: Tt is. however. well within the
facts to say that the full history of this
state could not be written without fire.
quent and favorable reference to the
work of this organization. Let me re-
count a few things which this club has
done for the community
Mr.. Stephens here related some of the
more notable achievements of the Com
mercial club.
II have made reference to some of the
things which the Commercial club has
done" continued the speaker, but, Mr..
IOdStnaSleT anu LtllOW-IleInpeTS, nOln-
ing which this club has done in the past
will begin to compare in its benefit to
our city and state with the work which
it will do this coming year in the welcom-
ing and caring for the veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic. l do not
speak merely of the material benefit our
city and state will receive, which will be
very great; an enormous sum of money
will be spent here and many thousands
of people will learn the truth about Utah
and her resources, but undoubtedly the
greatest and most lasting benefit will be
the object lesson of patriotism Colonel
Sterrett last Friday evening told of this
vanishing army, now numbering 100000
men, but fading at the rate of 5000
year. We shall view them with the rev.
erence that filled the children of the
Spartan band when they looked upon the
bloody vesture, the War-scarred shield
and helmet cleft worn by their sires at
Thermopylde. The distinguished repre-
sentatives of the Grand Army are with
us this evening They have been well
coined on behalf of the state by his eX-
cellency. the governor; they have been
welcomed on behalf of the city by his
honor, the mayor, and / am directed not
only by the promptings of my heart, but
by the voice of our committee, to bid
you most gracious and hearty welcome
on behalf of every member of this or
ganization.