The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-22
HOW THE FUND WAS RAISED?

and devotion"
HOW THE FUND WAS RAISEDP
A History of the Jasper Monumental
Association.
The Jasper Monumental Association held
a special meeting yesterday and completed
the final arrangements for the celebration.
OF the thirteen members of the Association
eleven were present: John Flannery, p. w.
Meldrim, John r. Dillon, John r. Roman,
j. j. McGowan, j. Fl. Estill, George A.
Mercer, N. O. Tilton, Luke Carson, John
Screven, Jordan +. Brooks. The absentees
were jeremiah Cronin and j. X. Clarke,
both of whom are absent from the city.
Capt Flannery read his report, giving a
brief history Of the organization, the efforts
which resulted in the erection of the monu-
ment and a synopsis of the Ire surer's re-
port The report was adopted and ordered
spread on the minutes, and the thanxs Of
the Association were returned to the Presi-
dent. The report is as follows:
SAVANNAH, February, 1888.
To the Members of the Jasper Monument
Association.
GENTLEMEN: The object for which our
association was formed being practically
accomplished, it becomes my duty to pre-
sent for your information II report of the
financial condition of our organization.
Before doing So however, it may not be
amiss to refer briefly TO the history of our
association. The idea of a monument to
the gallant Jasper was, as you are fully
aware, not original with us. 1t had place
in the minds of our people for over half a
century. In 1912 our distinguished fellow
citizen, the late r. M. Charlton, called at
tention to the matter in the following lines,
being part of a beautiful poem written by
him at the time:
1T was thus that Jasper fell,
Meath that bright autumnal sky;
Has stone been reared to tell
Where he laid him down to die2
To the rescue spit bold
To the rescue gallant men:
Let the marble page unfold
All his daring deeds agdnr
While more than one attempt was made
to unfold his daring deeds ON the marble
page none Of them assumed the shape of a
serious effort until November 6, 1875 when
r. w. Meldrim, James j. McGowan, John
Flannery, John Mcmahon, John K. Dill
lon, John T. Roman, John Foley
Luke Carson, Charles Collins, Daniel j.
Foley and James Hunter met at the request
of Messrs. Meldrim' and MCGOWAN and APP
pointed a committee to arrange for perma-
nent organization. On Dec q following,
vannah, Ga ~ was formally organized and
the following officers elected
President--John Mcmahon.
Vice President-Peter w. Meldrim
Recording Secretary-John T. Roman.
Corresponding Secretary-D Daniel j. Foley
Treasurer-James j. McGowan.
The rules of the Association then adopted
made careful provision that all contribu-
tions should be sacredly guarded and used
nj 4 II III -,
cidental expenses must be met by the month
ly dues of the corporate IN ubofi whose
number was limited to thirteen lat being
the original number of the States in the
Union-and who were TO have full charge
and control Of the affairs of the Association.
The other class Of membership
provided for were associate members, )" con
sisting of those who shall have contributed 81
or upwards and honorary life members con-
sisting of those who.e contributions
amounted to 500 or upwards. How faith
fully the funds contributed have been
guarded, nursed and invested. the annexed
statement taken from the report of your
treasurer will show.
In February, 1879, James Hunter and
John Foley resigned and j. II. Estil and
Jeremiah Cronin were elected members
in the following month the roll Of
thirteen members was completed by the
election of George A. Mercer and Nathaniel
o. Tilton. In August of the same year
permission was obtained from the city
authorities to erect the monument in Madi-
son square, Jasper ward, and the associa-
ton, having only about $1,000 III its treas
ury, began the work Of preparing a pro-
gramme for the ceremonies Of laying the
Cornerstone ION the one hundredth anniver
sary of Jasper's DEATH, which eliminated
in the grand centennial celebration Of Oct.
8, 1879.
Soon after this celebration the Committee
on Design for Monument opened correspond
ence with several parties engaged in that
line, but without accomplishing anything
satisfactory. he association also inaugu-
rated series OF gift entertainments excur-
sions, etc, with Wow 10 increasing It's
funds, and also made a canvass of the city
for subscriptions
On April 9, 1880, D. J. Foley resigned his
position as Corresponding Secretary. and
on NAV IL John X. Dillon was elected IN his
stead On Jan. 10, 1881, Col. john Screven
was elected a member in place OF d. j.
Foley. The association met with serious
loss in the sudden death of its President
John Mcmahon, on Jan. %, 1881. His de-
votion 70 the o1ie"t of the association and
the zeal with which he worked for its inter
ests coupled with his unselfish ADerality,
largely contributed 10 the success 50 far at
tainei by the association. Tae statement
Of your Treasurer shows that sl,O14 ~ OF
the funds received were the result Of sue
cessful ventures made by him entirely at
his own risk as 10 losses, but the profits
b go 10 the association. In March, 1881,
jordan r. Brooks was elected member
b al the vacancy caused by Capt Nc
Aahons death. On Nov. . following YOU
did me tbs honor 10 elect me a. your Presi-
dent against my expressed wishes In De
csmber, 1888, James x. Clarke was elected
a rneInbsr.in place Of Charles Collins resign,
ed. No further changes took place Ia The
nembershlp or Ofiess After this time.
In February, 1884, the Committee on
Desigus. la Response " invitations received
a number Of letters, drawings and sugges-
lions from yaFi0ugparties, among them 0ne
from 81. Alexander Dgyie, ~ Now York.
bot, IS tbs Association bal not yet deter,