Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-07

In brilliancy Of scene and prominence
OF speakers the banquet in honor of the
Constitution Grand Lodge, Independent
Order of Bnai Birth, or Sons of the
Covenant between God and Abraham at
the Arlington Hotel last night was not
able. Around the tables. beautifully
decorated with cut flowers and ferns,
were gathered, in addition to the great
leaders of the organiza ton, the President
OF the United States, the Speaker of the
House of Representative, the British am
bassador Rear Admiral Winfield Scott
Schley, District Commissioner Cuno II. Ru-
doiph Justice Stafford of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia, former
Secretary of State John ". Foster, Ter
ence V. Powderiy and others prominent
in the public and social life Of the capital
and the nation.
The elaborate adornment Of the banquet
room with American flags seemed to lend
patriotic inspiration to the scene which
made itself apparent in many of the
speeches of the evening.
There was no lack of deep interest and
enthusiasm at any time. When the
President arrived the great hall rang
with the cheers of the men. while the
women manifested their feelings in APP
p,ause and the waving of handkerchiefs.
Later on. when, in the midst OF the freSi-
dents speech. Speaker Cannon arrived
and sought to gain his place unnoticed.
the volume of applause. long continued.
might have been heard block away.
DIR. Simon POSTMASTER.
Re- DIT. Abram Simon was the toast
master, and his eloquent introduction Of
the speakers made him an ideal one. Sol
Minister'S selected orchestra played popu-
lar airs, and often the banqueters found
themselves almost unconsciously adding
their voices to some swinging chorus.
Twelve toasts were proposed that car
ried the speakers back to the days of
Israefs glory and down through the ages
to the present day and the institutions,
ideals and aspirations of Our Country
1t was after o'clock this morning when
the last speaker said the final word, and
and four hundred men and women closed
the memorable function by singing My
Country. 'Tis of Thee
One of the features of the evening was
the singing of original poems by Rabbi
Louis Stern of this city to the melodies
OF "Auld Lang Syne, The Passover
and "Han,Ikah.''
No account of the memorable gathering
would be complete which did not note the
tributes paid Simon Wolf. through whose
efforts the convention of the order was
brought to this city. and Argo Lodge, No.
4l3, the only local body of the order,
which so ably assisted Mr.. Wolf in max
ing the necessary preparations for the az
fair Sol Herzog, president of Argo
Lodge, and Julius Refs, its vice presi-
dent, were not forgotten in the express
sions Of appreciation of the hospitality
accorded the delegates.
Arrival Of President.
DIR. Simon had scarcely begun his open
ing remarks when the Presidents arrival
was announced and the entire assemble ge
arose.
President Taft was at once presented
and made an address of welcome, in
which he reminded his hearers that as
Washington had no mayor, the President
Of the United States. had. to be drawn in
to supply the deficiency on occasions OF
the kind. He said, in part:
I'VE have occasionally a little contro-
versy in Washington between those who