Evening star., 1925-12-23

IL j ~
vice | rely more than that of Mr..
Noyes on local matters" 5aid Sen
ator King. Il have found him al
ways disinterested, seeking only the
welfare of the city as a whole alonS
sane lines
The Senator devoted part of his
address to the condition of the world
generally and dWelt upon the question,
Are we really making prosress?'
intellectual advancement never
saved A nation or d man." the Senator
from Utah asserted. Real progress
rests on morals and religious prin-
ciples as personiiied in Christ and
dignified and glorihed by his cruci
hXion on Calvary'S cross. Neither
does wealth measure progress, for
wealth sometimes eats out those
things most desirable in the heart"
Senator King declared that America
has no foes from without, that our
only foes are ourselves. If the people
keep Christian ideals before them. he
said, the Nation will prosper. In this
connection the Senator said the mem
bers of the Oldest Inhabitants As
sociation can render service by i'm.
pressing the proper ideals upon
younger men.
Outlines Associations Objects.
In his foreword Vice President Bryan
recounted briefly the history Of the as
5ociation. Vt its formation. he said
The associa ton had 20 charter mem
bers. Today it has 45l members. and
of that number, he recalled, Is have
passed the age of So years and have
entered the 90s.
Mai. :. Willard Saxton, 96 years old
The veteran of them all, was present
and was cheered as he responded to
the invitation OF the toaStma Ster. Mr.
Bryan also mentioned Owen II. Edgar,
% years; Judge Charles =. Bundy. 81 ,
and Louis A DellWig and ). r. RyneX,
each 80 years old.
Mr.. Bryan declared the purposes of
the association are to cement and
strengthen the interests and associa-
tons arising out of a common resi-
dence for long period in the same
locality. to keep alive and preserve
matters of local historic interest. rem
lniScenc2s of the past and the social
and paternal communion of the pres
ent and the future.
Fenninc Discusses Federal City"
commissioner Fennin- told the
gathering that since he took office al
The District Building six months ago
he has been laying stress on the point
brought out by Senator King. namely,
that Washington is the Federal City
and that nearly all of its problems
have national aspect. Even the
question of traffic control. he said has
A national aspect here. because of th-
large numbers of visitors who com.
here.
CHANGING about the room. Commits
na
of the association who have been his
lifelong acquaintances and he recall.
ed pleasant memories of their long
friendship.
rhe concluding speaker vas Mr.. Nc
Carthy. who told the story Of the as.
sociation from its organiza tion TO the
present. He spoke in part as follows:
McCsrtliy's Story of Organization.
This association Is different in
many particulars from the ordinary
association of pioneers, old settlers
patriarchs and those under other
names. We are simply inhabitants
caring not where one is born or raised
To be an inhabtant is enough. We
are very broad in every respect. Jew
and Gentle, rich and poor, are equally
competent for membership. and equal
ly respected. providing they are re-
qualifications
1T was not until 1856 that the as
sociation had a permanent home and
this came through the beneficence of
one of our distinguished members
Mr.. W. w. Curcoran also decided to
the association forever rent free a
suitable room in what was then known
as the Corcoran Building. now the
site of the Hotel Washington
This was occupied until 1911. when
the present headquarters the Old
Union Engine House. was granted the
association by an act Of Congress
favored aud forwarded by that prince
of Americans Theodore Roosevelt,
and came into its possession. as the
successors of the Volunteer F'iremen's
Associa ton
Marked Progress Noted.
1T was during President Allison
Nailer's incumbency of the presidency,
1905-190S, that the most marked prog
ress was made as far as the num-
ber of members is concerned. and il
Will be remembered by many of the
older members here tonight that he
had wonderful helper in Mr.. Crosby
:. Moves, then the first vice president,
and father of our now Pre- siding officer
In 1872 the members numbered s.,
ana IN 1897 II had increased to 10".
From then the growth has been steady
and now numbers nearly 500
The association has had two men,
bers who passed the century mark
during their membership-Dr. w. NJ.
Starr and Mr.. w. w Birth. We
have several members who are striv-
ing for that honor and have with us
tonight several of the candidates
among them Maj. s. Willard Saxton.
who has entered into his ninety-sev-
enth year.
General Bettcrment Promoted.
What has the associa ton done to
better things or keeping them run
ming right?
Many. many things. In the first
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