New-York tribune., 1920-03-14
Lotos Club, Fifty
Years Old, Observes
Its Anniversary
Chester Lord Presides and
C.M. Schwab, Job Hedges,
DR.. Van Dyke and James
M. Beck Make Speeches

The Lotos Club, distinguished among
the clubs of the city for its genuine
spirit Of good fellowship and it's
roster of prominent men in art, sculp-
trre, literature and science, celebrated
it's fftieth anniversary at the club
house IN West Fifty-seventh Street last
night. The ceremonies were of the
simple, old-fashioned, house warming
kind, even to the singing Of popular
songs Of yesterday by entertainers.
Patriotism, however, was the keynote
OF the celebration, exemplitied in the
profuse decorations of the assembly
room with the national colors, in the
addresses of the speakers, and the
singing of the Star Spangled Ban
ner" before the dinner was served.
Chester Lord, president Of the club,
presided, and the speakers included
Charles M. Schwab, Job E. Hedges, DR..
Henry van Dyke and James NJ. Beck.
Others at the guest table were W. A.
Clark, formerly United States Senator
from Montana; Judge Abram I. Elkus,
of the Court of Appeals; Colonel Her
bert l. Bridgman. Walter stabler,
Uncle" John Elderkin, one of the old
Story and Frank Seaman.
Mr.. Lord indulged in pleasant remin-
iscenes of the fifty years of the clubs
life, filled with notable functions in the
entertainment of distinguished men
He paid touching tribute to the old
members and it's former officials He
spoke Of the clubs origin from a group
of young men in furnished room
illuminated by candles stuck in the
necks of empty bottles. He said that
undoubtedly the candles at that first
meeting were consumed and, it was
presumed, the empty bottles multiplied.
At the end Of fifty years, he said, the
club enjoyed good health, with a nor
NAL pulse and its thirst ain splendsS
condition" Fifty years of good fel-
lowship had only been screen for a
deeper purpose, he said. He paid o
tribute to the late Frank r. Lawrence,
president for many years, and to one of
its earlier presidents, the late White
law Reid. who presided over the desti-
nies of the club for fourteen wears.
"Mr. Reid once said in speaking Of
the spirit Of the club" said Mr.. Lord.
"that there has been a good deal of
eating and drinking here, and there
have been dinners that would give Fall
staff himself Indigestion"
MIR. Hedges delivered one of his
characteristically humorous speeches.
touching upon his recent experiences
with the Board of Estimate in traction
matters: He was secretary to the late
Mayor Strong years ago and declared
ne enjoyed the pleasantest relations
with the Mayor at that time, but that
times had changed and his relations
with the present Mayor were different
and not marked by delicate init
macy" He declared that the cities Of
the old countries, which had pro-
gressed most in art. literature and
science had not been handicapped bv
Board ofsEstimate.
Mr.. Schwab spoke of the relation of
big business to the national problems
OF reconstruction, and declared the
business men of the country had
learned the lesson that true business
success depended on the humane ele-
ment in business, an appreciation of
the finer things in life in business
hours. DR.. van Dyke said the three
characteristics that had spelled sue
cess for the Lotos Club were its pa-
triotism, its real love of art and its
fine spirit of good fellowship. He
urged the need Of the league of ma
tions to maintain justice, peace and or
der in the world. Mr.. Beck spoke on
..-.,s