The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-17

thrill the blood OF Americas children, il
viii be time to write "Finis " on all
earthly history.
1t would be impossible for such a socie-
~ to contemplate disjointed State or
ganization. National, like its name, its
membership stretches across States, and
its roll call is answered from the Great
Lakes TO the Gulf, and from the Atlantic
TO the Golden Gate. Its local chapters are
for convenience only, and all their mem
bers are first OF all, members here in
Washington.
lts officers are:
President General, Mrs. Benjamin Har-
rison.
Vice. President General Presiding, Mrs.
VIM. ID. Cabell.
Vice Presidents General, Mrs. A. w.
Greely, Mrs. John w. Foster, Mrs Steven
j. Field, Mrs. @. Brown Goode, Miss Mary
Desha, Mrs. A. Leo Knott, Mrs. Roger A.
Pryor, Mrs Henry Blount, Mrs. II. o. ST.
Clair, Mrs. VIM. e. Earle Mrs. John r.
Putnam, and Mrs. III. V. Boynton.
Secretaries General Recording and Cor
responding, Mrs Geo. II. Shields and Mrs.
Ellen Hardin Walworth.
Treasurer General, Mrs. Marshall Me-
Donald.
Registrars General, Miss Eugenia Wash
ington, Mrs. A. Howard Clarke.
Surgeon General, Miss Clara Barton.
Historian General, Mrs Mary 5. Lock-
wood.
Chaplain General, Mrs. II. s. Hamlin
The above officers with the following
Regents constitute the National Board:
Mrs. j. q. Cilley, New Hampshire;
Mrs. Randolph Keim, Connecticut; Mrs
Frank Osborn, Illinois; Mrs. Maria Dew
ereaux, Georgetown, D. c.; Mrs. n. b.
Hogs, Pennsylvania; Mrs. b. o. Wilbour,
Rhode Island; Mrs. w. w. Shippen, New
Jersey; Mrs. +. NJ. Cockrell, Missouri;
Mrs. f. G. DeFontaine, South Carolina;
Mrs. Clifton II. Breckinridge, Arkansas,
and Miss Louise Ward McAllister, New
York.
Hon. George III. Shields is the legal adj
wiser, and there is an Advisory Board as
follows: DIR. q. Brown Goode, Chairman;
Mr.. Wilson l.. Gill, Secretary; MIR. Will
liam 9. Winlock, Col. Marshall Mcdonald,
Prof. William ID. Cabell MIR. William O.
Mcdowell, GEN. Marcus j. Wright,
Mr.. Edwin ID. Mead, Rev. Edward
Everett Hale, DR.. Persifor Frazer and
Gen. II. V. Boynton.
The society Is growing rapidly. Letters
are received from every part of the coun-
try, and from ladies of the best standing,
asking for Information. There is a steady
demand for application papers, anda con-
slant adding OF names to the list of MEM
bers. California, Massachusetts, Min
nesota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana,
Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York,
Max Hampshire, Vermont -RAeae-
Island have organized active chap
tiers. Other States are preparing for the
work. In selecting Regents care is taken
TO have representative women, who are in
sympathy with the organization, and the
society hopes to perfect some plan by
which unity OF work, as well as feeling,
will be established.
While its one great underlying object is
to foster patriotism, there are practical
means TO be used as channels for its ef-
forts. IL will aid the Mary Washington
Society in its purpose TO build monu-
ment to the mother of Washington. 1t
will gather national relics-protect his
torical spots, and by studies and talks on
American history, by the presence OF the
flag in our homes, and the frequent s.ng
ing OF our national songs, strive to make
our every day atmosphere one of patriot
ism, which shall mould the coming gem
Grafton worthy for the future that awaits
it.
The conditions of mer1bership are
broad and simple. Moral worth and
proven descent from an ancestor who
fought for America in the Revolution, or
rendered civil service or material aid to
the American Cause.
The society has been criticised by some
because it makes no distinction between
the descendants OF private soldiers and
officers. BE it so. We consider that this
very principle places us on exalted ground.
Social distinctions of this sort will do for
small circles where all the members can
enjoy and revel in them, but they have no
place among national organizations. How
ever separate our members may be in pri-
vate life, in culture, or blood, or position,
we meet in the councils of the Daughters
of the American Revolution as sisters OF
one family, each one proud OF the others
history--whether il be of n private soldier,
or that of the great commander in chief.
The society has also been criticised for
admitting on collateral lines. The descen-
dants of brothers and sisters of Revolu-
tionary soldiers are welcomed into the
ranks. Why not? Is there so large a
proportion OF our population showing
five and six generations of American de-
scent, that we can afford to set aside the
descendants OF one son, and welcome those
OF the other, when both had the same
mother and the same homer Did all the
love of country descend to one, or, per-
hsps two, out OF the large families of those
Revolutionary days?
We do not believe that an element OF
weakness comes into our ranks through
these ngAmerican lines OF descent. HUI
man nature is the same in all generations,
and those whose fathers did not fight,
were proud OF their uncles who did. Love
OF country flows in too broad channel 10
be confined within the banks OF immediate
lineage. II onc's ancestor, not fighting,
gave but money 10 aid the American cause,
even this golden key, so long as il hangs
under the folds OF the flag, opens our doors
for those, who in their patient, slow search
through the annals of these long past bat
ever living years, were not among the
fortunate ones finding the magic name OF
onlrfio- pfa their rapprdg