Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11

Robert Lansing, Secretary OF
State, delivered an address last
night before large gathering of
Amherst college men and dis.
-tinguished guests at the New Will
lard Hotel, in which he assured
the people of the country that 'it
is now, as it has been from the
begiaainl tie wish znd sndeayor
OF this government to remain at
peace with all the world, if it can
do so with honor"
Abiding to the fact that the
United States undeniably is near
the verge of war, the Secretary
of State expressed the hope that
''our country may be spared the
terrible calamity of being forced
into the conflict" and, he said,
with the same patience, the same
forbearance, the same delibera-
tion and care with which he has
met the previous difficulties in Our
foreign affairs, the President will
meet the present crisis. The ma
ton can trust, him to act Justly,
honorably and fearlessly, what
ever may lie before us. In his
hands, the destiny OF the United
States is safe; the national honor
is safe
Mr. Lansing Honored.
Mr. Lansing was one of a number of
speakers at q banquet given in his
honor-because he Is an Amherst Col
leze man-the others including Rep
resentative Frederick H. Gillett. Am
herst, IA, who has represented the Am
herst. Massachusetts. district in Con-
gress for twenty years. and who was
toastmaster; Champ Clark, Speaker of
the House of Representatives; Prof.
Burgess Johnson. Amherst. 's9; Alexan-
der MeikIejohn. president Of the col
lege, and Secretary Lane of the Inte-
rior Department, the latter paying a
tribute to Mr.. Lansing. who. he said.
would be recorded in history as "a man
bigger than a great crisis" and not
only as the greatest Secretary of
State, but among his friends as "a
great gentleman and a noble man."
The banquet was given in the large
ballroom of the hotel by the Alumni
Council of Amherst College and the
Amherst Association of Washington,
arrangements for it being carried out
under committee of which Gilbert II.
Grosvenor was chairman.
The dinner followed a two-day meet
ing here of the council, during which
there were intimate talks between the
president of the college and the alumni
on the college needs and prospects. and
an election of officers of the council for
the ensuing year.
Amherst men came here for the occa-
sion from st. Louis, Chicago. Indianapo-
lis. Cleveland. Rochester and New Eng
land. accompanied by members of their
families.
Mrs. Lansing received the visitors yes-
terday afternoon and last night Mrs Gil
bert II. Grosvenor entertained the women
of the gathering at dinner. Mr. Grosye-
nor presented a photograph of Mr. Lam
sing to each Of those present at the dinner
as a souvenir. Secretary Redfield Alex
ander Graham Bell. Judge Stockbridge OF
Maryland, Rudolph Kaufman and many
other prominent men were seated at the
head table with the speakers
Menace in Materialism,
In view of the fact that Secretary
Lansing rarely makes addresses, he
was listened to in deep silence as he
delivered a speech of lofty sentiment
measuring his words carefully as he
dealt with the international situation
with which Germany has confronted the
United States. He pointed out tha,
"the college spirit has a very direct
relation to the present situation in re.
gard TO foreign affairs" Mr.. Lansing
said the country ought to take stock
at this time of its spiritual as well a.
It's material resources, and he warned