Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-22
WORLD BETTER TODAY
Compare It With a Page From
CromWeIPs Time.
MORE HONEST, MEN NOW
And Not So Much Drinking, De-
clares Rev. Dwight Hills.
FOREFATHERS' DAY GRAFTON
Eloquent Minister Delights Congre-
gational Club Members With
Praise for Great Englishman.
FOREFATHERs' DAY GRAFTON

1--WE think we live in a black age. If
we could tear chapter out Of the history
Of Oliver Cromwell's time and study it,
it would end all pessimism. There were
never so many honest railway men. SO
many honest politicians and honest judges,
never so little gambling and drinking as
at present. Out of eighty millions of
people there are not more than 100
grafters in life insurance companies, rail-
way corporations and banks. One hundred
years ago everybody got drunk once
week except my ancestors and yours.
Now you can ride for 500 mics In the
south without finding drinking places"
This was one Of the striking parts Of
the address of Rev DR.. Newell Dwight
Hills, pastor Of the Plymouth Congre-
gational Church and pulpit orator OF
national reputation, before the Congre'
gational Club at it banquet in the First
Congregational Church last evening. Time
and time again the speaker was inter-
announced as "A man who took passage
for Boston and was prevented from sail
ing by an edict of Charles l. and for an
hour and a hat he sounded the praises
of oliver Cromwell.
The occasion Of the dinner was the an
nual celebration by the Washington Con-
gregational Club of Forefathers' day.
Over 200 guests sat down to the well
laden tables and enjoyed an elaborate
menu. prepared and served by about
Church. Rev. DR.. S. II. Woodrow, pres
ident Of the club. presided and introduced
the speaker Of the evening. The invo-
cation was pronounced by Rev. Dr. NJ
Pleasant Congregational Church. During
the course of the evening w. c. Mills
sang Calm Is the Night" by Bohn, and
Sweetheart, Sigh No More" by Gerritt
Smith, with DR.. J. W. Bischoff as the
accompanist.
Cromwell and Lincoln.
During the course of his address on
Cromwell DR.. Hills frequently compared
the leader of the Ironsides to Abraham
Lincoln. Both were of humble origin,
he pointed out; both were God-chosen
leaders Of the nations in which they lived.
On one occasion, referring to Lincoln, he
said:
IF 5000 years hence in the Chinese
schools any orations of an American or
an Englishman are translated 1t will be
Abraham Lincoln's two inaugural adj
dresses and his speech at Gettsburg."
DR.. Hills also frequently applied the
lesson he drew from Cromwelfs life and
character. to modern leaders OF the ma
CromwelIs career, when an old farmer
with whom he was staying peeked
through the keyhole of Cromweirs bed
chamber and discovered the protector on
his knees spending the night in prayer
for the coming parliament, he turned to
modern conditions.
II wonder how many senator's and rep
resentatives will stand the keyhole test
next March. before the next session OF
Congress, and be found praying to God
for lf1ht IN the TARIFF he declared.
Cromwell was born on farm; he died
in England's palace" began the speaker.
He was the strongest diplomat that
ever sat on her throne: the greatest
statesman that ever directed her AFFAIRS.
Yet shortly after his death his bones
were taken from their grave and left
exposed to the breezes of three summers.
For Burgoyne the English general VINO
surrendered to the Yankees England mas
erected two statues in Westminster; but
there is no statue for the only fighter
England ever had-Oliver Cromwell.
"Englands ingratitude seems stranger
when one considers in what condition ne
found her and in what CONDITION he left
her He found her a third-ra,e country,
with no navy and no commerce. with
thousands Of her people being carried
into slavery in foreign countries, with
$4,000 persons rotting in prison, with
When he left her the prisoners had been
freed, 5000 of her people had been
brought back from slavery, woman had
found her place and the beginnings OF
democracy and opportunity laid"
The speaker continued by picturins
further the rise Of democracy, of re-
ligious liberty and Of free thinking. lie
pictured England under Charles I and
painted that monarch with black colors.
When he touched on the destruction
by Cromwell of Kenilworth Castle and
Of 400 other castles in the Kingdom ne
mentioned the fact that these acts have
been attributed to Cromwelfs lack OF
appreciation of architecture.
Cromwell laid the foundation OF Eng
lands national gallery of art" he said,
mentioning other similar acts of the pro-
tector. Cromwell loved the architecture
OF Kenilworth Castle, but he loved JO,oOO
peasants more
In closing Dr. Hills summed up the
accomplishments of the great leader who
succeeded Charles I as Englands ruler.
emphasizing particularly his establish
ment OF liberty. equality and democracy.
List of the Guests.
The guest list included Mr.. and Mrs.
John Doyle Carmody. Mr.. and Mrs. ]. II.
jennings Mr. and Mrs. ]. P. Reed. Mr..
and Mrs. B. A: Allen. Mr. and Mrs. T..
W. Woodruff, Mrs. e. L. c. Johnson, Miss
Flora l.. p. Johnson. Paul b. johnson.
Mrs. NJ. c. Ring. Mr.. and Mrs, Paul Hair
risun Dixie, Homer n. lockwood. Frank
L. Campbell Mrs. E. Hawxhurst. Miss
Ella ]. Morrison Miss Blanche Fishback.
Fred l.. Fishback. Miss N. White, Miss
A. A. Elder, Rev. Newell Dwight Hills.
DID,; Rev. $. II. Woodrow, ID: Mrs.
S. il. woodrow. Joseph V. Graft, Miss l..
X. Graft, Mrs. ]. w. Frizzel!. j. w. Friz-
cell. Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. Ross Fishburn.
Mrs. Edward B. Lands. Illinois: Mr. o.
M. Mcpherson. John l.. Elwell. Mr.. and
Mrs. S L. Faunce. Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. b.
Cushman, Miss Elizabeth Cushman. Jess
Potwin. George C. Potwin. Mr.. and Mrs.
Allan c. Clough, Mr.. and Mrs. II. w.
Blanchard, John c. Cook. S. II. Murray,