New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-28
PILGRIMS PRAISE
EARL ROBERTS
President Eliot Tells OF
Debt We Owe England
Cause for Sympathy.
SAYS SCOLDED FOR
FAVORING ALLIES
c. NJ. Depew, Mayor Mitchei
Gen. Leonard Wood and Others
Speak Fraternal Greetings.

"All Of the early practice Of liberty,
and the teachings of John Milton about
civil and religious liberty; the assur-
ance. finally, that national efficiency can
be developed TO a higher degree under
free than under autocratlc lnstitu-
tons"
Such, in the words Of Charles W.
Eliot, president emeritus Of Harvard,
/ speaking at the annual luncheon OF the
/ Pilgrims, in the Whitehall Building,
yesterday, IL the debt we owe 70 Ing
/ land, the reason for American sympathy
with her in her present struggle.
81 have received many letters er-
pressing displeasure at my stand IN
/ favor Of the Allies" he said. They ask
me if am an Englishman, and where
l was born, and what the British pay me,
/ end what, also. we owe 20 England. 80
/ ! have thought about our debt TO Eng
/ land"
This debt, he said, lay in her practice
! and teachings of civil and religious Id
erty; in her example that a nation could
be more efficient under free than under
autocratic rule.
A memorial was then read by DR..
Manning, of Trinity Church. expressing
the sorrow of the society at the death
tess Roberts and the members OF the
family the deep sympathy which they
feel with them in their great loss"
"The American Pilgrims" ran the
memorial. share the affection of their
English brethren for Earl Roberts ds a
man and their pride in his career as a
soldier whose great gifts and achieve
ments earned for him the gratitude o.
is countrymen and won the admiration
of the world.
"The Pilgrims Of this country will
ever think of their friend, the frs,
president of the British Pilgrims, as
one whose high character, unaffected
simplicity and knightly spirit illus
trated the truest ideals Of our race
copy of the memorial is TO be sent
TO the Countess Roberts.
Chauncey NJ. Depew, who followed
DR.. Manning, said that a concerted ef.
fort was being made by hyphenated
Americans to drag this country into
war, and that the chief lesson TO be
taught by the Pilgrims was the duty
of neutrality. Mayor Mitchell, who
spoke on the value of the Pilgrims and
similar societies TO this country, said
that affection for the country OF ones
ancestors increased rather than less
ened true Americanism.
The Mayor in the name of the city
congratulated Joseph Ii. Choate, presi.
dent of the society, on his elghty-thlrc
birthday, just passed.
Major General Leonard Wood, com
m nding the Department of the East
spoke tersely of our debt TO Roberts
remarking that "if we had listened e
his advice yesterday we woul b'
ready to-day, and that advice was mere
applicable TO US than to England"
Sir Arthur Herbert, who was elected
TO the society yesterday, declared tina
the good feeling between this country
and England needed no promotion. 81
exists" he said, "and | am mos
touched by the extraordinary sym
pathy shown TO Us on this side"
A suggestion was received from th'
British Pilgrims for the erection Of {
monument to Earl Roberts in this
country similar to the one TO be Sc
up in England.
Some two hundred attended, among
them, besides the speakers mentioned
being Rear Admiral Nathaniel k
Usher. U. S. N; George I. Wilson
William S. Van Rensselaer,, j. Pierponi
Morgan. Frank s. Wtherbee, Hamilton
w. Mabie, Henry Clews, Colgate Hot
A. Barton Hepburn, George McAneny
Henry Bruere. Marcus NJ. Marks, lsaa'
n. Seligman, X. l.. Nosworthy, British
Consul; Beekman Winthrop, William
Sloane, president of the ST. Andrew
Society, and John Emery Mclean, pres
ident of the Canadian Club.