Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21

GUISHED NAMES on THE LIST OF MEMBER
SHIP.
For many years Congress slept over the pro-
tect of building a suitable monument to Wash
ington. The people began to think the monu-
nent never would be erected if the matter was
left to Congress. In September, 1888, a para
graph was published in the National InteHi-
0eace1' of this city calling meeting of citizens
To take the matter in hand.
In response To- that call a meeting of citizens
was held at the City Hall. September %, 1888
at which were present Daniel Brent, Joseph
Gales, James kcarney. Joseph Gales. jr. Peter
Force, w. W. Scaton, John McLelland, Pishey
Thompson, Thomas Carberry George Waiter
son, and William Cranch who was afterwards
chief justice of the Circuit Court of the Dis
trict.
At this meeting the Washington National
Monument society was formed, Chief Justice
John Marshall, then eghty-five years of age
being elected its first president, and Judge
trtnch The first vice president. George Wat
ter>on who was the originator of the enterprise
capacity from 1888 till his death, in 1854, and
was succeeded by John Carroll Brent. who
was succeeded by Dr. j. b. Blake, and then by
Hon HoItttIo King the present incumbent.
A LETTER FROM EX-PRESIDENT MADISON
When Chief Justice Marshall died, in 1885,
ex-President Madison chosen to succeed
him as president of the society. Mr.. Madison,
In his letter to Mr.. Cranch accepting the Office
conferred upon MIN was dated Montpelier, July
%, 1855. and said: Il have received YOUR letter
OF the 2Uth, informing me that l have been
unanimously elected president of the Washing
ton National Monument society in the place of
It's late IaIuented president, Chief Justice Mar
snail i am very sensible OF the distinction
conferred by the relations in which the society
has placed me; and feeling Like my iIlustriolis
predecessor deep interest in the object of the
association. cannot withhold. as evidence
of it, the acceptance of the appointment, though
aware that in my actual condition ii cannot be
more than honorary, and that under cir
cumStanceS 1t could supply the loss which the
society has sustained. \ monument worthy
the memory OF Washington. reared by the
means proposed, will commemorate, at the
same time a virtue "a PATRIOTISM and a graft
tude truly NATIONAL with which the friends of
liberty everywhere, will sympathiZe, and of
which our country may always be proud
THE LIST MEMBERS
Of the society from 1913 To the present time
Embraces many identified with our
national history. Probably no organization in
the country has had ON its roll so many names
of iiluStrious men. Among them appear dis
tinguished statesmen and soldiers, learned
scientists. eminent juristS. professional men of
prominence ana great phIlant!iropiStS Since
the organization OF the society there have bC Ia
seventE-SiX active members elected. Their
names are: Chief Justice John Marshall John
L. Van \esSJames Madison. K. c. WeightInan
Commodore John Rodgers. General Thomas =
JeSso2, colonel George Bomford. NJ. st. Clair
.flarNe. NilliaIn luge. Samuel Fl. Smith, VIM.
Brent John Mclelland, William Cranch, Gen.
alexander McComb, John Carter. William
Col. Archibald Henderson, Thomas Munroe.
Gen. Walter Jones, Walter Lenox, James
Elisha Whttlescy. John r Ingle. T. Hartley
Crawford, Major General Winfield Scott. W. W.
Seaton;i I. :. Grant, y. F, Maury, Dr. William
Zones, Peter Force Philip X. Fcndall b. Ogle
Tayloe. W. l.. Hodge. Thomas BIaeden Henry
j. Cooke; Peter 4. Washington. Judge James
DIun!op. William b. Todd. J. {. kennedy. Hon.
William y. Richardson \. K. Shepherd, john
Carroll Brent. George W. Riggs, o. +. Babcock,
Jane NJ. Carlisle. Fitzhueh Coyle, Or. James
L. Hall. William j, Mcdonald Prof ,IoSnuh
Henry F. y stuart, Or. John NJ. Brodhead. Dr.
; I"hn B. BIake Dr. Charles +. Stansbury, Wv
Horatio King, j. Bayard H. saith Gen. W. F.
sherman Hon. George Bancroft, Col. James g.
Or. Cha>: H. Nichols. Or. Joseph M.Toner. Judge
George W. McCrary. General Wm. Mckee Dunn
Watter~0n. e~q.: Rear Admiral l.. NJ Powell
Judge Nalte1 ;. Cox and Rear Admiral c. r. r.
Rodgers.
Ey-oFFICIo OFFICERS.
Upon the death of President Madison in 1896
the constitution amended so as to provide
that the President of the United States should
he ex-ofhcio president OF the society. Andrew
Jackson was the first ex-officio president and
he was followed by Martin Van Buren,. VIM H.
Harrison John Tyler. James n Polk Zachary
Taylor Willard fillmore Franklin Pierce James
buchanan. Abraham Lincoln. Andrew john
son, L. = Grant. X; b. Hayes, Jas. y. Garfield
and Chester y. Arthur.
. The mayors Of Washington and the governors
of the District were made ex-otcio vice presi-
Il +.
WIn. Y. Bradley. Peter Force W w Seaton
Matter Ierox, John W. Maury. John T. Towers,
" III. Il. IaGruder. Rich d Wallach :. j. Bowen
NJ o. Emery mayors and III. b. Cooke and \.
X. shepherd. governors.
During the many years when the society was
striving 10 secure funds. by popular contribI,-
ton, To erect the proposed structure its finan-
;Ial affairs were entrusted to a general agent.
Hon. Elisha Whittlcsey. of Ohio was the first
general agent. He appointed in 1918 and
served a number of years. Lieut.. j. c. Ives was
in ,,16E
Harvey filed The post from s14 TO j $50, when
oom..ss assumed the task of completing the
AN ADDRESS To THE PEOPLE.
An address issued by the society announcing
the appointment OF Mr. Whttlesey as general
agent Is interesting as showing the spirit and
intention of the society at that time. 1t was
addressed ito the American people" and after
announcing the appointment Of Mr. Whittlesey
said: 1t may bc proper to state. for the in
formation of the public that the DELAY i'm com
lncncing the monument has been occ;tsioned
by the want OF proper site. but that difficulty
mas now been removed by the late act of Con-
Efe>> Though the expectations OF the managers
have not been realized To the amount OF con-
trlbulio made by those who have been called
suffered 10 lie idle. The board authorized the
whole amount collected by the agents of the
society. about SIS, 900, to be invested i'm he
safest stocks in the country, and placed in trust
IN the names of three respectable citizens of
WASHINGTON, Samuel II. Smith Nathan Towson
anu inoiil'eS MuiIroe. or the survivors or sur
NiNor oi them To- be free from risk and
SUBJECT, with the accruing interest. at 4ny
moment 10 The accomplishment OF the cOnteui-
plated object. To Keep The public fully informed
"l the condition of the funds OF the society the
treasurer has been required 10 publish. and has
published, AN annual report, showing the
amount invested in safe stocks. These invest
mentS amount, according to the last statement
o. the treasurer. TO 2.4oU.66.'
IN closing the address. Mr.. Watterston the
secretary, SAID: II am authorized by the board
OF managers To say that "a copy of every journal
In the United states which publishes this adj
dress, shall be deposited i'll the cornerstone of
the monument
COLLECTING FUNDS,
The plan adopted by the society was to secure
The assistance and unite the efforts of the people
1f the comfy III erecting a monument to Presi-
neht aShIngton, all hope of Congress acting i'm
.hf matter having been abandoned At first
shtrlbutlOnS We're limited to the annual sum
81 from any one person. Agents were APP
pointed IN different parts of the country with
authority To make collections The collections
on the II plan had amounted to SIS 600 in
1856 The financial embarrassment of the
country IN 1888 put II stop To any further opefa-
lions Tor several years, and matters remained
al standstill until 1916 when the ) / rule hay
ing Deen abolished, contributions on "a more
geperDus plan were solicited with such success
That In ! o4I the fund amounted to SS1, 600
Mrs James Madison, Mrs John Quincy
Adams and Mrs Alexander Hamilton at the
request OF the monument society effected an
organization To- assist in collecting funds through
the women OF the country. In November 1s17,
the monument society passed a resolution that
the cornerstone of the monument should he
laid ON the 22d of February ISIS provided
tLdt a suitable site could he ii,