1892.] FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 61 



When the company had " eaten and were filled," President 

 Parker rapped to order and said : — 



I wish it distinctly understood at the outset that I am not going 

 to make another speech. It was said of Orator Puff who had two 

 voices, the one up high, the other down low, that one voice for an 

 orator was surely enough. You are no doubt ready to endorse 

 that sentiment with a slight change, and you would say " one 

 sjjeech from an orator is surely enough." But I do wish to utter 

 a single word of welcome. 



In behalf of the Society, I welcome all present here to-night, 

 young and old, guests and members, the veteran semi-centenarian 

 and the newly initiated to the festivities of this interesting and 

 auspicious occasion. It comes but once in fifty years and I invite 

 you all as you may not see another to make the most of it — to 

 " make a night of it." And I call attention to the pleasant 

 coincidence, that the Society is now for the first time since its 

 construction in the occupation and enjoyment, as a Society, of its 

 new Banquet-Hall. So that on this our fiftieth anniversary we 

 are besides celebrating that event, also dedicating our new Hall. 



We have many guests whom we wish to hear from, but as certain 

 exercises are to follow in the Hall below, and as the feet of the 

 more youthful portion of the audience are already " beating 

 time in a sort of Runic rhyme," the speaking will be necessarily 

 somewhat curtailed, and I hope that all whom I shall call upon 

 will remember that " brevity is the soul of wit," and that those 

 words were never more applicable than on this occasion. 



Four Governors of the Commonwealth have been active 

 members of this Society. Two of them were noted for raising 

 great potatoes, and we invited the present Governor to join us 

 to-night and raise what he is noted for — arreat enthusiasm, — but 

 his other engagements prevented. Other distinguished guests 

 whom we expected have been obliged from various causes to 

 send letters of regret which I will call upon the Secretary, 

 Edward Winslow Lincoln, Esq., to read. 



Secretary Lincoln. The General Committee delegated three 

 of its members to invite certain gentlemen, Honorary Members of 

 the Society, or meriting such courtesy because of their profi- 

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