Evening star., 1928-02-22
YATES SG|VESFA|TH
TO MODERN IDEALS
Oldest Inhabitants Speaker
Sees Continuance of Wash
ington's Aim.

be .t,e heir of ages, the child of the
centuries, the beacon light of liberty
the last hope of humanity. utterly re-
gard!cSs of what 1t costs in men or in
money" Representative Richard Yates
Of Illinois. paid fervent tribute 70
George Washington and his work OF
fatllering the infant United States in
Washington memorial meeting of the
Association Of Oldest Inhabitants, held
at the First Congregational Church.
Sharing the speaking program of the
meeting with Mr.. Yates. John Clagett
Proctor, poet-laureate of the aSSocia-
ton, read his original verse, If Wash
ingtcn Could But Return" in which he
made subtle plea for the ballot in
the District of Columbia. If Washing
ton could return. Mr.. Proctor declared
in his poem, there are many things he
would ask him. including what the
First President thought Of the fact that
''the ballot box was kept away from
folks like you and me
Wasl.mgton's farewell address was
read by Harry c. Davis in accordance
with the annual custom of the aSsocia-
ton in hearing the stirring charge OF
the First President, whom it honors
each year on his birthday anniversary.
Rev. r. Y Nicholson. pastor Of the
Rhode Island Methodist Protestant
Church. gave the invocation, and vocal
solos were presented by Mrs Thelnla
Mills Rector. granddaughter OF
Clark Mills, sculptor Of the equestrian
statue of George Washington at Wash
ington Circle, and other monuments
here
Preceding the patriotic exercises in
celebration Of George Washington's
birthday, the regular business session of
the association was held under the
Craftsmanship of Theodore W. Moves,
president. who also presided at the me-
mortal program which followed. The
association elected TO membership. on
the unanimous approval Of the men,
bers. Hal Harrison Smith. and accepted
the application for membership of sew
eral other candidates.
Wreath Committee Reports.
Mr.. Proctor and j. Eliot Wright, con-
stituting a special committee, reported
that they had visited the Washington
Monument to ascertain whether the as
sociation's wreath had been placed at
the memorial in accordance with. the
action OF the association based on its
previous annusl practices.
AT the suggestion of James F.
Duhanlel, the association appropriated
$40 as q contribution toward the total
cost of a series of photographs being
prepared By Joseph E. Bishop of the
lower Per 1sylvania avenue buildings as
they stand today. Mr. Duhamel. re-
ferring to the Federal building program
suggested that posterity would be in
terested In the appearance of the Ave-
hue as 1t was before the Federal pro-
gram was completed. The photo
graphs would be filed and indexed and
made available for societies and organi-
cations similar 10 the Association OF
Oldest Inhabitants and the Society of
Natives. which also has contributed to
the project.
Following the patriotic exercises. the
members and their guests partook OF
luncheon, which concluded the meet
ing
Mr.. Yates Address.
Mr. Yates spoke as follows:
The life of the hero. to honor whose
memory We have come here today
touched -. raany phases Of human life
and activity that Ihave never had the
dress upon the life Nand character OF
George Washington. conflne myself.
then. to mention of some of the
things mcat dear TO his heart
and most notable In his actions
] remark, in the first place, that
he was in favor of education. and the
very widest education, constantly urg-
ing the general diffusion Of knowledge.
remark, in the second place. that he
tonored labor and believed in work and
the utmost possible thoroughness. I
remark. in the third place. that he was
O believer in the Divine Providence.
t. &c Es> inn Nf "a f.jF -s4a
belief IN God that the likeness Of him.
in imperisnable bronze. which hangs on
the wall o: the old Subtreasury In old
New YORK represents him On his knees
in the sncw at Valley Forge, on that
mighty day when he made his most
urgent appeal 70 Heaven. Oh, Valley
Forge. Have you been TO Valley
Forge? II not. hasten. beg you, TO
60 al your earliest opportunity. See
the oreag,work: the line where Lafay-
ette's division lay: the lire Of Mad An
thony Wayne: the great Government
arcj1 Of marble with its lettering, They
shall hunger no more. neither thirst
any MORE And. above all, See the
bronze praying stool. and On 1t the
voyds. Day o! fasting and prayer. June
]. .7TS@ I went TO church and tasted
al day A reproduction in the hand
writing Of George Washington. ! re-
marx. in the fourth place, that Wash
:yagtofs always acknowledged his respect
ard reverence for American woman
hood; and. in the fifth place. I urge
with especial emphasis that he was al
ways Washington. the op,imlst.
Il remark that George Washington
was real and eternal optlmist. He
had his oEsappointments and, indeed.
plenty OF them, but he was not a pes
sign.st. He was hopeful always. In q
cooi, determined way, A pe8ssnist has
bsen defined as a man who, having 70
choose between two evils. takes no
chances, but CHOOSES both. know
the breed. YOU know the brand: 1, Is
an ugly type Such man continually
poes about conJendfrg that everything
Is going from bad 70 worst, going 70
the defnritlou tow~Woys. Such q man
believes that there were giants In those
Gays. m: not now He bei.eyes that
there are no longer. anywhere on land
or sea, any good preachers, any good
teachers, any good doctors. any good
3axyess. any good capitalists. any good
Izboregs; he thinks they are all dead
and gore Ard such man Is wrong
Az matter of fact, there never were.
Ia any tine or cline. 80 many good
preachers, 50 many good teachers, 80
many god cocboYs and lawyers as
there are WGay.
Laads Modern Ideals.
There never was 80 much generosity
snc Der2egolefaee and philanthropy, and
good fsamaFitanism IN general, never
80 much u the milk ot human Kindness
III the hears o! nsen, never 80 rnucn of
ths LSrs God Almighty in humanity
ks there Is b,cay.
''Wi4ise II il time for patience and
flrEts.alaLne aud far MitLLAlCing Of