Evening star., 1934-12-30


appeal before that body for the repeal Of the
law which obliged the people to pay for the
support OF certain church officers.
Likewise, when in Virginia, Rev. Leland Bit
terly opposed the paying Of large, fixed salaries
to clergymen practice prevalent there and
elsewhere during Colonial days, and in this
connection it seems a certain Col M thoroughly
agreed with the parson and upon one occasion
when he was discussing the matter with q
clergyman Of the established church the latter
in order to prove that he earned his salary,
then amounting to 10000 pounds of tobacco
annually. urged that although he only preached
one day a week, yet this required six days
preparation.
Replying to this, Col. M. said that John
Leland, who preached In an adjoining county,
could deliver a good sermon on a moments
notice-without any preparation. Well, replied
the doubtful parson, If he win come here and
preach from my pulpit upon text that shall
give him will agree you are right.
Mr.. Leland was invited and accepted, and
at the proper time the following text was
given him, And Balaam Saddled His ASS"
Leland without hesitation, began by "describ-
ing the country through which the Children OF
Israel were travelling, and enlarged upon the
difficulties by which they were surrounded;
spoke of the desire of Balek that Balaam should
curse them, and although false prophet that
he was he was willing to 90 so. God forced him
to bless instead of curse His chosen people.
After this opening he announced: In order
that you may more readily understand I VIII
divide my discourse into three heads: firstly,
Balaam the false prophet, is more fifty repre-
sented by the hireling clergy Of the established
church; secondly, the saddle Is suitable type
of the salary paid to these hirelings; thirdly.
the patient, dumb ass represents the burdened
people endeavorng in submission to support the
oppressive load laid upon them" From these
divisions he launched out in fiery JUNCTION
and scathing sarcasm against the existing con-
dition of affairs.
And here the narrator of this story leaves
US to our own imagination.
Not only did jefferson have his bounufuly
supplied cellar and buffet and his cut-glass
decanters and all that went with them. but
many of his successors In the White House
also enjoyed a wee bit Of grog. It takes all
kinds of people to make world however as
has often been aptly said, and we find that
some of the occupants Of this notable residence
have been teetotalers. notably Mrs. Hayes. and
most probably President Hayes also for during
his administration wines and liquors were BAN
ished from their palatial home opposite Lafay-
cite square.
Mrs Polk even went further than this. Hav-
ing early become q member Of the Presbyterian
Church, the strictneSs Of whose early religious
observances she carried into much of her social
life, she even banished from the White House
receptions the dancing that had probably
crept in there as early as Mrs. Madison's day.
She also abolished the practice Of offering re-
freshments at the presidential receptions.
I INCOLN'S New Year days must have been
= all sad ones though he made notable jan
uary 1, 1863, by his proclamation freeing the
slaves. However. he lived long enough again
to see united country, and died at time
when happiness was supreme.
Perhaps the pioneer civic organization OF
Washington to make annual calls at the White
House on January was the Association OF
the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Co
lumbia. which began this practice on New
Year day, 1868, when it was but two years old.
and which has continued to pay its respect to
the Chief Executive ever since when q recep-
tion was held there on this day.
At that time J. Carroll Brent was the acting
secretary, and his minutes Of December 4 1857,
record the following resolution. offered by ]. T.
Callan: THAT the next meeting Of this asso-
citation be held at Willard's Hotel on the 1st
day of January, 1868. for the purpose Of paying
our respects in body to the President of the
United States, and that a committee Of three
be appointed to notify the President Of such
intended visit at such hour may be agree
able"
Andrew johnson was then President and the
minutes Of the next meeting show that the
association called on the President of the
United States at the Executive Mansion
Subsequent to this there were several lapses
but on January /, 1873, call on President
Grant was made, and the association did like
wise on January l, 1874, when the members
also extended their visit to Alexander R. Shep-
herd, who was then Governor of the District
of Columbia, but who went out Of Office the
following June, when the territorial form OF
government was abolished.
The members attending this reception in
cluded some Of the most representative citizens
Of Washington at that time and included: DR..
John B. Blake president; John Carroll Brent.