NYC Paine Anniversary: Ball, Supper And Speeches

The New York Times, January 31, 1860. PAGE NUMBER 1

The Paine Anniversary.

BALL, SUPPER AND SPEECHES AT THE CITY ASSEMBLY ROOMS.

The One Hundred and Twenty-third Anniversary of the Birthday of Thomas Paine was celebrated with the accustomed ball and supper at the City Assembly Rooms last evening.

Whether the renowned free-thinker was most remembered in the terpsichorean or gastronomic features of the celebration, does not appear. Possibly he may have been initiated in the mysteries of the jolly cheat and jig, the voluptuous waltz, the invigorating schottische, the everlasting quadrille, the enticing mazurka, the seducing Spanish dance, or the intricate Lancers. Or, it may be, the man may have taken delight in the ill-cooked oysters, the venerable fowls, and the unmastiecatable pastry that so frequently characterize the modern testimonials of respect to his memory. We are left in the misty realms of vague supposition as to the views of Mr. Paine on these important topics, although the proclivities of his followers are given us as a partial guide. Whether or not Mr. Paine was a vigorous dancer, and eater of late suppers, his followers were on this occasion— which is, perhaps, more important for the purposes of the present article. About three hundred tickets were issued, and although there were not quite so many attendants, those who did come seemed determined to make the most of the occasion. The music was excellent, and the twenty dances would have sufficed to satiate the most ardent devotee of the “light fantastic,” &c.

The Committee, Messrs. W. E. Rose, G. Wade, O. C. Hul, and Dr. H. J. Menninger, took particular pains to make everything pass off pleasantly, and if Mr. Thomas Paine was not remembered with gratitude, the fault did not lie with them. The dancing being half concluded, supper came next, and at the supper came the following toasts:

1. The Day we Celebrate — The birthday of the friend of man, who rose to save the world from the dominion of Kings and Priests, by his Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason.
2. Thomas Paine — The man who was the champion of civil and religious liberty, endeared to every lover of freedom; the time will come when his advent will be universally recognized as one of the great epochs in human liberty.
3. Mental Freedom — The key to open the portals of Nature, to raise the soul of the domain of Knowledge, to unfold the volume of Truth, to harmonize conflicting opinions, and to expose the hypocrisy, superstition and despotism of priestcraft.
4. Education — Based on the laws of human nature, supported by demonstrated truth and well-known facts, is the true foundation of the glorious superstructure of a true and noble character.
5. Woman — If she loves herself she will do what is right; man, if he loves woman, he will do what is right.
6. Our Special and Free Press — The natural and inalienable rights of every human being, the main pillars of this Republic; any attempt to suppress them whether political, social or ecclesiastical, is a crime against the State and humanity.
7. Our Co-laborers — Wherever they are, who celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of the great apostle of Liberty, Thomas Paine.

Mr. Paine’s commenced the intellectual exercises by a brief allusion to the works of Thomas Paine, remarking upon the frequency with which they are quoted even by the clergy. Glancing at the achievements of Paine in the striving of the nation, and his recognition by Washington, Jefferson and Lafayette, the speaker characterized him as the apostle of liberty, and a liberal minded civilian at heart. The best thing a man could do, he said, was good his religion. He defended Paine from the charges against his moral character, and rejoiced in what he regarded as the increasing recognition of his services. His speech was frequently interrupted by applause.

Mrs. Ernestine L. Rose, in rising to respond to the second toast, was received with tempestuous applause. She said she gave her great pleasure once more to celebrate this, the one hundred and twenty-third of Thomas Paine. (Applause.) It was a most noble achievement, destined to set the free force in base condition of power that oppressed the human race. That principle must be carried into every day’s practice, and all our institutions, which are based upon it, should be watched with the eye of a jealous lover. Every selfish consideration, every prejudice based on sex, creed or color, should be reproved as unworthy of influence when conflicting with the great doctrine of human equality. Thomas Paine had a checkered history; it was the advent of a noble man. But for him life would be a blank. He propelled the car of progress, and his name should be first. Principles are eternal, death cannot annihilate principles. (Applause.) We knew no truer nature than Thomas Paine. (Applause.) If a combination of clear intellect, sound judgment and warm sympathies, patriotism and benevolence, made a great man, then was Thomas Paine a great man. He carried out in practice his motto: “The world is my country, and to do good my religion.” He sacrificed his personal interest to that principle. He did not work for nothing, for said he, “I should otherwise lose the spirit and the pride that actuates my labors.” It had been the fortune of the World to see how we should see how the sons would repay the debt of gratitude contracted by their sires in the times of the Revolution. Thomas Paine’s portrait had been refused a place in the Independence Hall at Philadelphia, contrary to all the proprieties of propriety. He was called a Christian, and Thomas Paine was an infidel. (Sensation.) The intolerance of the Orthodox Church was exhibited in that proscription, which excommunicated members because they declared that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Their system was at war with the great universal mental freedom, and the time would come when history, with an impartial hand, would give to Thomas Paine at least one favorable glance of a fellow man. (Great applause.)

Mr. Gilbert Yale responded to the fourth toast. He impressively enforced the idea of the idea of independent thinking, as exhibited in the writings of Thomas Paine.

Dr. Menninger responded to the sixth toast, defending Thomas Paine as the true philanthropist and the champion of Liberty, and deprecating the change in public opinion toward him. The Doctor very briefly, because he loved humanity, and fought for mental religions as well as for civil freedom.

Other toasts having been disposed of, the company resumed the dance. The festivities lasted until late in the morning.

A singular marriage was effected in Paris a few weeks since. Some time since, M. Roger, who is a relation of the celebrated tenor, of the Theatre Imperial, saw at work in repairing boots in a shoemaker’s shop in the Rue St. Honore. The actor fell violently in love, unseen, with the person of the unknown young lady, made her an anonymous offer of marriage. The anonymous offer of his hand, and was accepted. The anonymous offer getting circulation, increased the affair into popularity, and now M. Roger is the lion of the day — rather night.