Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-05-14

SobLoNcis3i ire Has tcau me 10 1p-
pear before all kinds of audiences
for the NEST part-for personal gain
anil achievement. But no such con-
straining or enslaying influences
brings me TO appear before you to-
night.
! gladly come to participate with
you in the promotion, preservation
and accentuation of the splendid
traditions of Southern Maryland,
This Society, though late in form
ing. doth but honor itself in the
act. II is as it should be. For il
shows that the long rich past of
Southern Maryland-colonial and
state-is still remembered and cher
ished by her living sons. Ii is not
possible that men like myself, ad-
vanced to the elder ranks (and al
most like our distinguished presi-
denD can ever forget the history OF
the land of our birth; or that child
hoods memories can ever fade OF
pass away; but there is liability lest
the younger generations of her sons
forget. The Office of this Society,
therefore, holds special interest. OIL
should, for them-whether born To
the soil or as defendants.
II should be a day of sad and
sorry neglect, for either class, young
or old, TO fall into any remissions
over so stimulating a heritage AZ
decended to them and us; and il
would be besides n sign on US OF
disloyality, even decadence. Te
avoid such liability this Society i,
formed to stimulate a closer touch
with the history Of the people from
whom We are decended, and encour'
age as to take from the example
and virtues of our ancestors new in
spi alton to upright and strengthen
ed citizenship. It is hence, no idl'
exploitation in which we are engag
ed, but earnest useful work to at
tain and develop in US, in so far Al
it may, those high qualities of man
hood which SO distinguished ant
elevated the men of the past. w,
are not after cultivating baubles and
tinsels, nor in erecting make-belie
heroes, but we are after continuing
the fine forces in us which playet
SO we'll and successfully in the uplift
ing of a colony and the founding oi
a State.
1t was no holiday task our ances
tors essayed, to establish politica
and religious liberty in this new
land of America. 1t required lon,
unfiinching courage-hardships ant
sacrifices innuDerable-poise, judg
ment, sagacity,-in fine, are th'
elements of worth and characte
which go to make men valuable t,
each other-to their communities
and themselves honored and emo
bled. In this statement / do no
exceed a measured tribute, nor
just estimate of the service an,
work they completed for us-thei
off-springs. The part they took il
the struggle, from the earliest colo
nial period to the md, will bea
favorable comparison with any O
the Colonies. In their opinions an
resolutions they were, at all times
as advanced as either Massachusetts
or Virginia. Otis and Henry hap
pened to speak before Maryland
but it was only timely chance o
incident in the turn of affairs.
There was, is and never will b
any first" against Maryland
only her sons be true. Writin,
eighty-four years ago, that Mary
land son-her beloved historian
Mcmahon, with soul wrung wit
fears exclaimed: Should the mem
DRY of such people pass from he
defendants as an idle dream" w
say to his spirit here tonight; no
never. Those haunting fears whic
once filled his anxious breast we la
low in a final grave this night.
We have not forgotten, and don
mean to forget, that it was the dis
cernlng eye OF a Southern Mary
lander that fell on the bulky fran
of Washington, took measure @
his spirit, courage and powers a
leader of the American Force
against the mightiest monarch O
earth and won his judgment and we
American freedom.
We have not forgotten and don
mean ever to forget that anothe
son presided as Chief Judge for 2
years over one of the greatest court
of the world.
We have not forg often and don
/ mean ever to forget that anothe
son wore the first Episcopal robe
o: Bishop of America.
u We have not forgotten and don