Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-20
VIRGINIA HIsroRIcaL noCIETY.
Proceedings or Their Meeting Held
Last NIGHT

A meeting OF the Executive Committee %
The Virginia Historical Society was held al
the rooms Of the society. In the WesmOre-
lap1 Club House, Yesterday, l0ih instant az
s O'Clock p. NJ. Present: Messrs. Henry
tin the chair, Tyler, COttrell, Brock. and
Berksdalr.
A number Of gifts were reported, books
etc, irem various societies and institutions
AMI from the United states Government, and
among other mssnorisls Of the past the FOL
lowing from Mrs. +. l.. Chase, NE Miss
KoTa Mason, cendsnt OF George Mason,
Of " Guuston Halt" the author OF the Viz
Cinia Bll n Rights: sword" One Of
twelve which were presented n Genera!
George Washington 10 be given by hin 10 biz
most deserving officers Of the Revolution.
or during it. "Cattain Willsm Mason was
awarded this sword" pain, IN preteD-
tlou' weapon, and It may be assumed was OF
local manufacture. Itissmedium lenEta cut.
lass. WITH siaple wooden handle aud leather
sclDbard. Also u brace Of pistols with flint
lock and brass barrel. carried by Captain
William Mason during the Revolution. Aso
two autograph letters OF President james
Madison Addressed 70 "George hasOr,
Green SOrinP," near Williamsburg, Va, ssd
dated retpectiyely NoDtpeiiz. July u. 1926.
and December ~. 1897. rel1ting 70 the career
~ George Mason, Of "Gunston Hall" and
beariag testimony a. follows to the
agency o. Mason in the preparation aud
passage Of the Declaration ef Rights and tue
State Constitution:
Div arst Acquaintance with him rGeo7gc
MasaDl was in the Convention Of Virginia
ID 1916, which Instructed her delegates ia
Congress to prepare a declaratien ~ izdc-
pcndence, aRd which formed the Dcclara-
ton OF Rights and The Constitution FOR Tie
STATE. Being yeusg aRd Inexperienced, !
had Of course but little agency " tho'e pro-
ccedinKE. retain, however. perfect i'm.
prtssiou that he vas q lesdiuC champion for
the instruction; that he was TIE author OF
tbe Declaration - originally drs~p. and
with very slight variatisus adopted. and
ih,t be was the master builder Of the Consul.
~ len and its nam expositsr and supporter
thrOussout the discussions which eudsd m
its sstabiishncnt. How lsr he NAV have
approved It in all ~ features as established
am not aDle 10 say. and 1t Il now the more
difficult to discover unless the priYfie
napers leit By him should give the inlou1a-
ton. 90 ~ that DAY TO debates we're taken
down. and ~ The explanatory votes, II sueN
there were, may hRy- ecCJrrsf in COMMIT
ioco Whole only. and 81 csurse not appear
10 the Journals. h2v- found among nay pa
pcrs printed cepy Of The Consultation IN
ODE OF its stpess, which. compfred with the
Instrument finally adopted, Shows some o
he changes II undrrweut, bur M ne iosta0ce
10 hose suggestion or by Whose vote.
! have also printed copy q stitched
couttliution which appears 10 have been roe
primitive draft on the subject. 10 l's dlar
cent in several respects iroa the other COPS
.n print, and from the Constitution hnadv
4 D L. u
whether it was from THE taud Of your Grand
f,tDcr. There ia tradition that 70 so. from
ibat OF Neriweihrr smith," Also, .cvcfl
documents relating q the carceroi Geor-'
Wa,ona and the birth * religious freedom il
Vrginn.
From T.. b. Kcnror, South CASTOR
y. c.: Ori-inal portrait IN oil Of Con
eral George Washington, by Poole. srd a
diploma q membership in the Order oil
the Cincinnati. given Colonel Hicna
Neunon in 1873. ugnsd by George Washing
ION ss President and General Henry knox
ne secretary. framed win specimens o. Con
fieenlA currency.
TAe following gentlemen wcro elected
,cinbcrs Of tho society: csp5ndnk-
Professor ". 4. ". BJrhe, Petersburg, VI
Va: Professor Edward y. lhWlng, hr0oh'
lyu. y. !. Anuual-Csp-ein ". Il. Garrett
University of Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn.
lir. ". G.. Brown. Lexington. Va. Hon
1rsrv-Pfofess0r Burke 4. Nisdaic. Ph. ID.
University ~ Michigan. Ann NrooI, Men.
On moion Of DR. Tyler T. WAS
kr,OWsd. That the proceedings OF The an
lud me-fines Of M society Include OH
lrtssos cn Virginia history, The subjects &c
be agreed upon by committee appoint,
Tor tee purpose, snd The speakers inYii'd
Inc addresses To be- limited o. tulriy minutes
The fonoCing gentlemen were appointed o.
ihc committee uoGer the resolution. Mcssrs
ryler Anderson, Henry, and Brock.
A1i0urDed