The Washington times., 1912-05-06
LARGE THRONG PAYS
TRIBUTE TO MEMORY
4 OF MAI. A. v. BUTT
president Taft, Husky of
Voice, Eulogizes His Aide
and Loyal Friend.

All that his friends in life can do to
, honor and revere the memory of Major
: Archibald w. Butt has been done.
| Tribute has been paid in form of ad-
dresses, of verses, of floral Offering, and
by their presence yesterday afternoon in
the New National Theater 1000 persons
showed their esteem for the soldier who
died when the Titanic sank. Many more
wousd have been present If there had
been room for them.
President Taft's voice was husky with
emotion as he spoke, and there was the
CLINT OF tears in his eyes as he recount
ed the beauties of his friends character.
Senator Hoke Smith spoke with the ut
The voices of the other speakers fall
tered sometimes as they talked.
Two hundred members of Temple
serHice M u%asr Was be9 s1s st n
the Ebbitt House and marched, two
abreast, to the theater and then to the
stage. Here they took seats behind
the row Of speakers. Between the Ma
sons and the speakers hung high in the
air a great portrait of Major Butt,
framed with flowers and Masonic en-
walls were covered with hundreds Of
American flags and shields, and flowers
had been set out in the little space not
utilized for flags. In one of the boXes
!
and sister-in-law of Major Butt. In the
other boxes and in orchestra, balcony:
and gallery seats was distinguished
audience. A large delegation of army
officers was present, members OF the
Cabinet, including Secretaries Meyer
and Wilson,; the Georgia Congressional
delegation. headed by Senator Bacon.
and many other members of the House
and Senate. In the orchestra pit the
Marine Band Orchestra played three
numbers as the audience entered the
theater; The service began when IN, Rt. r.
tngton, offered prayer.
Presidents Tribute.
President Taft's address was the last
as stated on the program, but the sec
ond in actual delivery. He said some
Of the things he has said before about
Major Butt. President Taft never spoke
more earnestly than in publicly eulogiz-
ing his friend yesterday.
II cannot enter a box at the thea
ter, cannot turn around in my rooms
at the White House. l cannot go
anywhere in Wasshington," said the
see his smiling face and and to ;, hear his
President Is rather isolated and those
who are appointed to live with him
come much. closer to him than they
would in filling a similar function for
other persons. The consequence is
that the bond between an aide and a
President Is very close. 1t tables
an aide to read the President, I sup
pose; and it certainly enables the
President to read the aide.
"Archie Butts character was single;
II was simple: It was straightforward
a clear sense of humor and it light
ened his life and the lives of those
about him. but be was single minded
he was loyal; he never had any doubt
a fuh ha
was not for him a troubled problem:
He was a soldier. and was appointed
to serve under another, and to that
siiesf sitys.f ne Fe"oere0 '"e '0"p'0'sS' 10y
Trait of Self-Abnegation.
"I very much doubt If I have ever
known a mani have several wom-
en-who had as much self bne egation,
and as much of ability to put himself
in the place Of another, and to suf-
fer and enjoy with that other, as
Archie Butt"
Senator Hoke Smith. the first speaker
of the program told of Major Butt S
distinguished ancestry on both sides
and Of his remarkable affection for his
episodes in the life of Major Butt as a
Washington newspaper man. praising
and proving his accuracy. as well as
his enterprise and ND initiative u et,,,son ro,a
the dry record of Major Butts military
career as set forth m the War Depart
ment files. and then went on to say
that the bald record could not always
include the facts as to loyalty and eff
cheney which can be learned otherwise.
Carter B. Keene, grand master of
Temple Lodge, who presided at the
meeting. spoke of Major Butt as a
Master Mason, saying:
He was an active and earnest men,
ber. He loved the traditions and the
teachings of the order. The charitable
precepts of the fraternity appealed most
to him, and he often expressed the hope
they would be realized. And I believe
that his hope will be Visualized by the
Master Masons of this great land OF
ours in a Masonic memorial home at
the Nations Capital which shall be
hallowed by the name of Archibald w.
Butt
The memorial service came to an end
with the singing Of Nearer. My God, TO
Thee" A Masonic choir sang several
hymns during the program.
ADDIVAT nc DADAI