The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-06-18

memory with tender recolections of
those members who have gone on and
for whom covers are annually placed
at an adjoining table.
This was the second meeting since
the passing of Mr.. William Shapley.
Four members survive: Charles w.
Gennet William W. sisson, George M.
Burr of Mantisee, Michigan, who was
unable to attend, and Or. Johnson,
who was a resident Of Binghamton
about so years ago.
DR.. johnson is being entertained by
Mr.. Sisson over the week-end and is
enjoying renewing acquaintance it'll
old friends in this city. During the
dinner, Mr.. Sisson presented his guest
with scarf pins to mark the occasion
Mr.. Sisson has been the host of the
Thirteen club for q consecutive years,
The original - members were C. j,
Bartlett, Isaac Bartlett William Stu
art, Samuel Mexican, pr c. w. Me-
Call, Volney B. Barrett, Cyrus F,
Hotchkiss, Frank F. lIotchkiss, and
William M. Shapley, all Of who are
now deceased and William w. Sisson,
Charles w. Gennet, DR.. j. H. Johnson
of Golden, Mont, and George N. Burr,
of Mantisee, Mich, who survive.
The purposes Of the club are ex-
planned by brief paragraph found
in the minutes when 10 of the leading
business men of Binghamton met 81
years ago. It reads: I'm the fall of
1870, IS young men of this city formed
a social organization limiting the mum
Der to the mystic IS and pledging
themselves never t. take another
member and to celebrate each year I'M
til the last member kept his vigil
alone"
They added Ia young women as an
auxiliary-13 as their companions at
the meetings and the fourteenth being
hostess as the club met at their homes.
Each man drew lots to escort woman
member 70 the club to the meeting but
could not take her twice in succession.
1t is an interesting fact that the
four surviving members are widowers.
The table prepared for the absent
members stands as mute reminder
of those earlier days when the Taught
er and merriment of the departed
ones, fell with familiar ring on the
ears of the three members who met
together last evening. At the smaller
table in the corner of the room, were
laid places for nine, on each card
bearing his name. A white rose at
each place had its peculiar signifi-
canoe. In the center on an ebony ped
estal rose a silver loving cup and in
scribed upon it the names of the le-
parted nine. Below the inscription Of
the names is a space for four more.
To the last Of the thirteen to live will
come the possession Of the cup The
youngest member Of the club is now
~ years old.
On the mantle at the north Of the
room was placed photograph Of IL
Of the 10 members made in 1870. On
ly the face Of William Stuart is miss
ing. He would never permit his pho
tograph to be made.
Gracing the table where the three
members were seated were small low
ing cups placed before each plate-the
name Of the owner inscribed upon it,
Upon the passing of the member this
loving cup is presented to his immedi-
ate family.
Pathos mingled with merriment I'M
til late hour and the poem by Albert
Pike framed and placed near the din
ers explained eloquently the thoughts
Of those who will carry on until the
last surviving member must dine
alone, and in silence toast the twelve
who have gone before. One stanza
reads:
"To the past go more dead faces,
Every year.
And the loved leave vacant places
Every year.
Everywhere the sad eyes meet us,
In the evenings dusk they greet
us,
And to come to them entreat us,
Every year.