GERMAN SOCIETY CONCORDIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4341, 23 March 1882, Page 4

GERMAN SOCIETY CONCORDIA.

Tho celebration of the anniversary of the 85th birthday of the Emperor of Germany by the German Society Concordia took place at the Wellington Hotel last evening. There waß a large attendance. Previous to tho more convivial business of the evening the election of officers for the ensuing term waa proceeded with. The following members were elected office-bearers: —President, Mr L. A. Elerig ; Vice-President, Mr Schnidor; Secretary, Mr Loibl ; Treasurer, Mr Menzol ; Librarian, Mr Fisher. Tho ordinary business concluded, some "-sparkling" was introduced, Bnd the event of the evening then followed. Dr Striese, in proposing the health of the German Emperor, referring to his boyhood, said that the religious teaching of the one whose memory they had assembled to honour had been inculcated into him by his loving mother,- while his father had guided him in that military training which in after years gained for him the admiration of tho world. His punctuality ws3 wonderful, and, be it prince or peasant to whom an audience was promised, no ono had to wait a moment. It was the Emperor's misfortune that he had to ■ flee from his country for three months, which he spent in England. This happened, however,. while he wis Crown Prince, and not as the Press had recently stated, while Emperor. The cause of this banishment was of his own seeking, in preference to acting as a hypocrite by bowing to the will of the people when ho was of a far different opinion. The motto of the •Emperor, laid down by himself in his .youth, he had always steadfastly adhered to — viz., Bless God, honour the King, and love your neighbours. The conclusion of Dr Strieso's speech was the signal for repeated cries of " Lobe Hoch."

The toast of the evening having been- drunk with musical honours, the national anthem, " Heil Dir im Sieges Kranz," followed. " Her Majesty the Queen" having been duly proposed and heartily toasted, the remainder of the evening was spent in the most enjoyable manner.