New-York tribune., 1912-02-10
NEW HONOR FOR cHOATE
New York Genealogical Society
Makes Him a Member.
TALKS OF WORLD PEACE
Ambassador Reid and General
Stewart L. Woodford Speak
-. at Special Meeting.

,o-rnsr Ambassador to the Court of st.
rsuos's. said he found encouragement TO
,ooL forward 10 many more years of activ-
,,v and usefulness-though he has only re-
Gently celebrated his eightieth birthday
and that it made him feel confident he
rould live to realize his 'one darling amH-
,ion" to he the oldest living graduate OF
Harvard University. The Genealogical So
cioty held special meeting yesterday af-
ternoon at its building, No 226 West 5Sth
street. in honor Of Mr.. Chcate and his at
tafnment Of eighty years of life. There
was not room in the society'S hall TO aC-
eommodate half the members ana guests
who wished 10 hear the former ambassador
speak on Abraham Lincoln and General
Grant" and at tho same time wish him
we'll in his old age.
Whitelaw Reid. tho present Ambassador
10 the Court Of 81. James's attended as a
special guest of the society and paid a trih-
ute TO his predecessor The other speakers
we're General Stewart L. Woodford, former
Minister TO Spain. and General James
Grant Wilson. a former president Of the
society Clarence Winthrop Roweu, presi-
dent of the society, read a letter of regret
from Andrew Carnegie who is confined 10
his house by a severe cold.
President Bowen introduced Mr.. Choate
rs a gentleman who recently celebrated
his eighteth anniversary" Mr.. Choate
said:
see by the card that this interesting
efshtieth birthday AS far as my expert
ence eoes. when a man gets TO he eighty
he feels as though he had been born again.
and that he is beginning TO reap in the
ri@ non n n
life Just ended, and my great reward is to
have this signal honor paid to me by this
Genealogical and Biographical Society, for
which am most deeply grateful And ine
penalty. I am told. is that / am to say
something about Lincoln ard Grant. Now.
10 say anything new about Lincoln or
Grant is an absolute impOssiblity. The
worlds literature is full Of the story of
both of them. and IL so happened that |
had very little personal knowledge OF
either of them by actual contact, never
having been in the habit of running after
Presidents.
Lincoln and Grant for Peace.
Referring briefly to the lasting deeds and
heroic qualities OF both men. Mr.. Choate
said that instead of saying so much about
Lincoln and Grant he thought it would be
more fitting TO wonder and conjecture what
they would say and what position they
would take on the great, burning questions
tndt now so Cypress TIE near VI NiiC
American people" He said:
think We can easily imagine on that
first great question. that great and mo-
,nAntous question of peace which is the
great industry. ne stable industry of the
PEOPLE of the United States, on which all
other interests depend. can We doupt n9T
moment how Lincoln and Grant would
stand? They were both intense lovers or
peace Notwithstanding il fell 10 their duty
10 carry on one Of the most horrible and
NwHa.V -
Now. on that subject there arc great
many forms IN which IL presents itSeIt
every day. and IL IS for peace, not only be
tween this LatiOn and all the other natlohS,
hut for peace among all the nations o.
the world. one with the other. that our
great President at Washington now i.
making the best possible effort. ] cannot
believe but Grant and Lincoln. II. they
were here. would hold MP his hands ana
90 all they could 70 support him in the
effort he is making to promote the peace
Then there is another question closely
tearing upon that. which. II seems TO me.
would enlist their svmpatltes. J mean
this threatening question growing out OF
this almost anarchal condition OF aHalrs
existing IN China. -. -. 4,
fanl now as have always felt, that II
the Two great English speaking nations
stand together and act together, the peace
~ TIE world is almost assured
Well there are other great questions
now on our CARPET on which think we can
look for advice 10 the lives and 20 the
continents of these two men whom We
love so much to honor and 10 glorfy. '
speak again not only Of the preservation
~ peace and the ratification OF those
Ulnding treaties. hut Of the preservation
n the Constitution Of the United states;
There were never any two men who had
more absolute faith in the perfection cf
the Constitution Of the United States and
us certainty TO promote the welfare OF ne
people Of the United States If carefully
ggarded-the Constitution with AL oi lis
safeguards.
Ambassadors Tribute to Choate.
Ambassador Reid spoke after Mr.. Choate
had finished and said he was reluctant to
hrcak the charm under which the graceful
tributes 10 Lincoln and Grant by the former
ambassador had left the audience. lie said:
The president and officers of this society
insist. however. that some one shall say,
in their behalf, and iu behalf Of this audi
cn"e. how glad We ali are that Mr.. Choatc
j. eighty years of age. Well. for one am
Not glad at all / heartily wish he were
S'il young as he was on the day when
We nrst met--over forty years agO--vith
all the high record of the last forty years
N live over again for our enjoyment .AF
bettcrment. and for the service Of 80 mauy
good causes
But we cannot turn back the wheels Of
time; We can only re eioice TO see that they
pass over him so lightly, and leave so few
traces. IT sucn man must grow old
and, IN spite Of our pretty phrases about
being only so many years young, / am
g afraid that even to the strongest the
:, weight Of eighty years may sometimes
seem burdensCme-if he must grow old We
are all delighted 10 see him do il so grace
-fully, in such good health and spirits. In
such good humor with the world. with such
readiness 10 lend still his fluent and per
suasiye rhetoric 10 all that is best in the
community.
nf late years ! have heard most Of Nj
hoate in another role-as my "hOnored
predecessor There is sort Of London
'raoiuon about the honored predecessors
Of the American Ambassador. They don't
seem 10 have IL concerning other Cmbas-
Sles-though, no doubt, there were great
ambassadors in London before America
when he takes the post. Is reminded OF
the great line To which he is privileged Ia
succeed; and. In time. provided they do
hot think TOO badly Of him, they com"
tome day. IN an outburst of cSuberant
tulogy, TO tell him that he is really not al
together unworthy TO continue the line IT
IS duil week i'm London in which ] am
n"' thus reminded Of the latest OF my
q week there is no other American about
%hom J shall be asked so many questions
with only two exceptions. Those two are
tns President and the ex-President.
: These inquiries will come more particu-
lsrly from the eminent lights in the pro-
fesson In which Mr. Choate held so high
a place, and where he shed such distin-
guished lustre: there will be that sterling
friends OF ours. the old Chief Justice ot
England-he will be one of the first the
other will be the old Chancellor: another
VII be that late Lord Chancellor Lord
halsbUry, nearly ninety years old. and sun
active IN the ring, and there TO stay appar-
enuy. and with two big things on his hands
AZ this moment, either OF which would pe
"nf7clent TO crush man of his years. ne
= engaged In holding up the House or
Lords against itself. and also engaged IN
holding II up against it's enemies. Ana, on
me other hand he is undertaking to e@nle @