The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-01-31
SONS OF TILE REVOLUTION.
A Patriotic Order to be- Established In
nl.FE M I. This Stntp. r ia

. -- .
A Patriotic Order to be- Establlshed In
7M s This State. Ir tp4
Mr.. William O. Mcdowell, Of Newark,
N. j., Vice President General OF the
order OF the Sons Of American Reyolu.
ton, arrived in this city yesterday and
registered ut the Mcclure. His errand
In coming here Is to organize branch
Of the order in this State and for
thnt purpose n meeting will be held at
tho Court House ut 9 o'clock this after.
noon, 10 which all arc invited
who can trace their ancestry back
10 the Revolutionary War on either
parents side. AS the objects OF the Or
ganization arc neither secret nor benetl.
cial, but purely patriotic, and as West
Virginia has scores OF old families whose
ancestors were revolutionary heroes, the
society in this State should be large
ono. The society aims to promote ma.
tional patriotism that shall remove sec.
tionalism; to celebrate the country's
natal day by inviting together the repre-.
sentntives OF the founderB OF all repub.
lies to organize like societies, which slall
foster national pride, general sympathy
and kind.hearted fellowship among lis
members. It's object also Is to produce
patriotic literature which shall CON.
mand the attention Of the world.
The order was born in San Francisco
on July 4. 1876, when writer Oh the
Anglo Californian on the occasion OF a
parade celebrating the centennial OF our
birthday, requested the descendants OF
revolutionary ancestors to march TO-
gether in body. Alta subsequent meet.
ing IN organization was formed. For
seven years the idea smouldered and the
original body was the only one in ex-
istence, when on December i, 1883, the
centennial OF the final evacuation Of tho
British troops OF American soil, seven.
teen gentlemen met in New York and
organized the Sons Of Revolution on the
lines laid down by the California body.
In 1888, Pennsylvania organized, and
last year New jersey followed In its
wake. On April 80 Of last year, q ma.
tlonal society was formed in the "Lonp
Room" Of Faunce's Tavern, in New
York, the very room in which Washing,
ton parted from his fellow officers after
the successful close Of the war. At tina,
meeting twenty-five States were repre-.
Bented. There are now societies in
twenty.four States, and 1t is hoped tina,
at the meeting to be held at the Courl
House this afternoon that West Virginia
will be added TO the list.
The order now numbers about 5000
members, but Mr.. Mcdowell is confident
that it will be the largest order in exist.
ence before many years. Among the
members OF the New York society are
Judge Armour, President Of the Bar As.
ISOLATION; ex-President Cleveland,
Chnuncey NJ. Depew, General Alexan.
der S. Webb, John g. Calhoun, Presi.
dent Of the New York Southern Club
Le Grand B. Cannon, Charles A. Dana
OF the Sun, Hart Lyman, Of the Tribune
and others OF like ilk.
The idea is that each State shall take
the most notable day in the history OIL
its connection with the Revolution iol
its anniversary meeting, which when the
order is organized in all the states OF the
Union as at present, constituted will rive
forty-two celebration days. As giving
IN idea Of the dates that have been
chosen by some Of the state branches nj
ready organized the following may be
mentioned; Massachusetts has for he,
dates the battles OF Lexington and York
town, which are just six months apart
New Hampshire celebrates on Bunker
Hill day; Vermont's society celebrates
on the anniversary OF the battle OF Ben,
nington; Connecticut's society commem'
crates the meeting between Generals
Washington and Rochambeau; the
New York society has chosen the
dates OF the battle of Saratoga
and Evacuation Day as the dates o.
its celebration; the Pennsylvania So
ciety. the date OF the starting from Val
ley Forge for Trenton and Princeton
the Delaware society the date OF the
ratification OF the Constitution, 1t being
the first Of the thirteen original States tc
do this; Maryland's society, has chosen
the date Of the start OF Maryland troops
for Bunker Hill; AIichiean's society, tic
date the United States flag was first
raised on that territory; New JERSEYS
society, the battle OF Trenton; the west.
ern States, in which societies have thus
far been organized, the date OF their adj
mission to the Union; North Carolina
the anniversary Of the Mecklenburp
declaration of independence; South
Carolina, Fort Moultrie day; Tennessee
the battle Of Kings Mountain.
The French branch OF the Sons OF the
Revolution, which has been organized
in this country, has chosen Tor its cele.
bration day the date Of the sailing oil
Lafayette from France for America,
The West Virginia branch OF the order,
which will be started to-day, has a mum,
Der OF important dates from which to SO.
lect an anniversary day. There is frs,
and foremost, the date Of the battle OF
Fort Henry, the last battle OF the Revo,
luton then there is the battle OF Point
Pleasant, and coming down to later days,
the admission of the State into the
Union, or the battle OF Philippi, in
which the first blood OF the War OF the
Rebellion on land, was shed.
These later days could be appropri.
ately chosen without giving o1ense.
On this point the Louisville Courie,
journal says in regard to these societies:
"a large number Of kentucky's early
settlers were soldiers in the Revolution
and their descendants in the State by
this time must aggregate into the
thousands. Two happy incidental re-
suits Of such society, arise from the
immediate intentions, will be felt in the
ABSENCE Of rancorous party or the late
war strife, which other organizations too
frequently keep alive, and the promo
ton Of q national patriotism that draws
each section OF the country into closer
and more fraternal bonds OF national
pride, general sympathy, interest and
kind-hearted friendship. It begets a
spirit OF historical interest and inquiry
into affairs Of the nation, to which once
enteredi into, will widen and deepen from
its original channel until each town,
village and city, as we'll as State, can
avail itself Of the letters, family history
and records evolved for the society Of
the State" 81 syss-
Mr.. Mcdowell, who is about to or.
ganize the local society, is an enthusiast
in the labor OF love which he has under
taken. Ills fund Of revolutionary lore
is prodigious as he has made it matter
OF Rpeciaf efudv -Ha fatka anfarfoin;nrfy