The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-02-23
BIRTHDAY ANNIyER-
SARY.
Worldwide Observation-Disclosures
of Potomac, q. A. X.

Worldwide observation-disclosures
Of Potomac, q. A. X.
II would seem as tho there has been
almost a worldwide commemoration of
the 102d anniversary of the birthday of
President Lincoln. From every section
of the country came notices of the en-
thusiastic and largelH-attended celebra-
tons of the anniversary of what We
have come to believe is the Nations
greatest man.
Washington was ripple of red.
white and blue for nearly week, as
the various patriotic. civic and secta-
rian organizations of the city wheeled
into line 20 do honor 10 our truly great
President. The largest gathering was
under the auspices of the Department
held in the First Congregational
Church. one of the largest audience
cham bers in the city. Long before the
exercises opened the Standing room
only" sign was taken down. and people
were turned away. The three great
speakers of the evening were Hon. j.
G. Cannon, Speaker of the House of
Representatives; the Speaker apparent,
Hon. Champ Clark, of Missouri, and
Judge w. A. Calderhead, Of Kansas.
These names of themselves were suffi-
cient to draw to the Congregational
Church the largest audience probably
that ever met there. The church had
and the Marine Band was the musical
attraction.
John McElroy, Past Senior Vice Com
mander- in Chief, was Chairman of the
general committee in arranging for the
exercises, and made a splendid opening
address. Introductory remarks were
made by DIR. Henry A. Johnson, Com
mander of the Department, who WIS
eloquent as always. Mrs. B. II. Smart
soloist of the First Congregational
Church, sang The Star Spangled Ban
ner,' Battle Hymn of the Republic"
and ''Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp
Ground The invocation was offered
by Rev. Charles F. Steck, ID. D.. pastor
Of the Lutheran Church of the Epi-
phany, and the benediction by Rev
Samuel FL. Woodrow, d. D., pastor First
Congregational Church. Lincoln's Get
tysburg Address was read by Col. John
Tweedale. The Department colors We're
presented by Color-Sergeant Hazard
Wheeler. of the Department. The pro
gram for the evening was work of
art. II bore upon the first page a re-
production of the striking new statue
by GutZon Borgum, the distinguished
sculptor, who has gained worldwide
reputation by his statues of Abraham
Lincoln. On the last page of the pro-
r.
Gus utterances, one the conclusion of
his last inaugural address, March, 4,
1865:
With malice toward none. with char
ity for all, with firmness in the right as
God gives us TO see the right, let us
strive on TO finish the work We are in:
10 bind up the Nations wounds: to
care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and for his
orphan; to do all which may achieve
and cherish a just and lasting peace
among ourselves and with all Nations"
And the other was that pledge of
the Nation to the soldiers who saved
it, and was from Lincoln's last public
utterance on April II. 1865, at the
White House. when the tumultuous
crowds brought to him their glorifica-
ton over the fall of Richmond:
We meet this evening not in sorrow,
/ but in gladness of heart.
''In the midst of this, however. File
! from whom all blessings flow must not
be forgotten. Nor must those whose
/ harder part give us the cause of re-
! joicing be overlooked; their honOrs
must not be parceled ont with others"
The speeches of the three prominent
men who addressed the enthusiastic
audience were gems each in their way.
| and were applauded to the echo.
The Addresses.
Representative Champ Clarks ad-
/ dress was unusually interesting. 1t was
judicial study of Abraham Lincoln
with reference to his environment and
comparison between him and the other
great Presidents. Mr.. Clark spoke most
appreciatively as to Lincoln's great
work for humanity and his place in
! history. He was very certain that no
other man than Lincoln could have
saved the Union, because no other
could have held the border States Lin
coin was a Kentuck:sn. He learned his