Evening star., 1923-12-08

|
ton-members of the Association of
| Oldest nhabitants-gathered around
the banquet board at the Ebbitt Hotel
last night and celebrated the fifty
eighth anniversary of the organiza-
ton.
! They listened to a stirring address
! by Rt. Rev. James f. Freeman. Epis-
! copal Bishop of Washington in which
he lauded the civic spirit prevailing
in Washington despite the absence of
the franchise
They heard their president, Theo-
dore w. Noyes, outline the duty of the
oldest inhabitants to unite during the
new year with other organizations in
working for political and financial
equity for the nations Capital.
They paid tribute to the memory of
their twenty-seven comrades who
| passed away since the last ami
versary meeting. and they separated.
refreshed by the renewal of old ac-
quaintance.
Bishop Freeman's Address.
Bishop Freeman, in opening his ad-
| dress. characterized the men of the
Oldest Inhabitants as the cream Of
representing the finest ideals Of the
city"
Il feel a certain trepfdation in fac
! ing this association" the bishop con-
tlnued, FOR certainly / ran contribute
nothing to the knowledge of such an
audience"
Making a brief reference to the
VoteleSS status of the WaShingtonian.
the speaker said: since | moved out
OF the legitimate territory of the
[ n Ha Ti - h241
area or the District of Columbia l
have found my privileges as citizen
curtailed. have not been able to
penetrate precisely the reasons why
We are disfranchiscd."
Advised Not to Locate Here.
The bishop said that before he
came to Washington he was given
| many reasons why he should not
| come
| Il was told" he went on. that
this was city for retired Army Off
| GERS and men who had been in politi-
cal life; that the people We're lacking
IL civic pride and a consciousness of
their responsible tics, After living
! here | have concluded that Washing
! ton is the Capital Of the greatest ma
ton on earth and that ultimately it
| may become the greatest factor in
| the civilized world.
Il am Intensely Interested in all l
have heard here tonight. After liv-
| ing here for three years | have begun
! to understand something of the prob
! IL ms of Washington. \ newcomer
frequently notices things that others
v Ould overlook.
"ln spite of your diSfranchisement,
/ have observed great civic interest
here, growing steadily ana quite
acute in an organization like this. as
! we'll as in the younger groups. such
as the Rotary and KIwanis clubs"
Impressed by Ceremonial.
| Bishop Freeman declared he was
| profoundly moved by the simple
ceremonial of placing on the banquet
| table one white flower for each mem
| ber who died during the year. The
| gathering stood in reverent silence
while J. Eliot Wright. secretary, read
| the names OF the departed.
THE whole thing reached down
and gripped my heart rather than
| my mind" the bishop continued. 1t
reminded me that next to kinship
one Of the finest things in life is
| friendship"
The bishop then paid a tribute to
! the influence OF mothers in shaping
! the lives of men.
us it not true" he remarked. tina
no man is greater than his mother
| And it is also still true that the
| hand which rocks the cradle rules
the world"
Turning to the present-day condi-
tions. the bishop went on:
IF 1 have caught your vision you
have not been narrowed in your
views bv the flight Of time. You are
seeing things as broadly today as
YOU ever did. There are too many
today who are doleful pessimists. who
are regarding life fearfully. who are
viewing everything in shadoWy
and calamitous way think nave
caught YOUR vision when l say that
Won men are not hopeless about to-
morrow.
world Needs New Rope.
"The world needs new hope. a
larger expectation, a kindlier view of
humankind We should get out of our
systems before the new year daWns
the bitterness. the hatred, the un-
Generous thoughts that render life
unpleasant
NAV | venture s a younger brother
in the community. as a devoted cltl-
zen, as a child OF God. TO wish all OF
you-not in a careless way, but with
real feeling. happy, healthful,
brighter and more hopeful new year.
President Noyes' Annual Address.
In his annual address President
Noyes said that when he became
head of the organization fifteen years
ago the members were working to OBJ
tan from Congress permission to use
Jointly with the veteran tiremen the
Union Engine House at 18th and II
streets where the Association of Old
est Inhabitants meets and the walls
of which are covered with souvenirs
of early Washington.
THE correspond: labor of today,
he said is, secure enlarged accom-
raodatfons for our meetings and for
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