The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-23
PATRIOTIC DAUGHTERS.
CONTENINg OF THE SOCIETY OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Mrs. Pryor's Appeal In Behalf of tho Mary
Washington Monument-Sons of
the Revolutions.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The second
Continental Congress OF the National So
ciety OF Daughters OF the American Revo-
luton met here at IL o'clock this morn
ing for It's first general session In the au-
ditorium Of the Church Of Our Father.
The church had been deliberately deco
rated for the congress-. particularly the
platform. which was charmingly set with
palms and other foliage plants and cut
flowers. A large wreath. composed OF
white ~violets, ivy and palm leaves and
purple immortelles, in memory OF Mrs.
Benjamin Harrison. who at the time OF
her death was president-generai OF the
society, rested upon the presidents
vacant chair. The church was well-flled
with women when William D. Cabeli,
the vice-president-general called the con-
gress to order and introduced Mrs. T. S.
HamIin. the chapiain-general. who offered
prayer. She feelingly referred TO the
death of Mrs. Harrison. and prayed that
her life might everywhere prove an in
spiration 10 "A nobler and higher woman
hood. Mrs. George n. Shields, chairman
OF the committee on CT eientiats, read her
report.
The invitation OF President Harri-
| son and Mrs. Mckee to the mem
bers of the congress to attend an in
formal reception the White House On
next Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock
was accepted.
The vice-president-general delivered an
address OF welcome. to which Mrs. Joshua
WilbOur. State regent of Rhode Island,
responded. Mrs. Wilbour also presented 10
the society a silver-mounted gavel. made
from wood taken from the British ship
Gaspee, burned by the colonists during
the revolution off Bristol. X. l.
The report Of the vice-president strong
ly urged the erection at the national capt.
tai OF a building to be dedicated to the
uses OF the society.
The report Of Mrs. II. V. Boynton, vice
president-general. in charge Of organiza-
ton OF chapters, showed that the 81
ciety now has a total membership OF
200. In the general congress are twenty
four State regents, 81 chapter regents and
q honorary regents. The first chapter
was organized I'm Chicago March ~, 1891,
and since that time the growth OF the
society had been highly satisfactory.
Reports for the general officers were
read, after which the congress adjourned
until tomorrow.
This evening the delegates 10 the con-
gress attended a reception in their honor
given by the Sons of the American Revo-
luton Of the District. The affair took
place at the Arlington Hotel. and was
largely attended.
An Appeal for the Monument.
The following communicated was pub
lished I'm the New York Herald yesterday,
and IS self-eXpianatory:
You are always so generous in your sup
port Of every good cause that l venture
to ask you for a little space In the paper
you will issue on February 22d.
On that day our countrymen will assemble
wherever the fla. of the United States is
known to do honor to the greatest man Of
this great nation-born in an unpretentious
farmhouse In Virginia just 161 years ago.
II IS fitting hat we should honor his
memory.
He is the one great central jewel in our
crown. around which other jewels are
clustered only as a setting.
But We should not forget, while engaged
in this pious and patriotic duty, that we
have still the privilege OF doing that
which will most honor his memory. We
can finish a work which he left unfinished.
Careful Inquiry among the venerable
citizens of his native State cOnvinces me
that he proposed TO rear a memorial stone
over the grave of his mother, but was re-
strained by the assurance that the cOun-
try claimed that privilege. II this prom
Use was made it was never fulfilled.
The grave of Mary Washington. who
gave us 161 years ago the greatest OF
all our blessings. lies in ruins. marked
only by the Wondering stones which bear
mournful record of the patriotic inten-
lions of a New York merchant, Intentions
xrIt.L l. III .1.A.t x.Tfaa rHI,, mic
fortune and death overlook him.
Would il not be a magnificent express
sion of our sincere loyalty to her son IL
on this day sufficient money could be con-
tributed, each reader Of the Herald Civ
ing something, to insure the erection OF
a suitable memorial stone over Mary
Wa%shington's grave? Tnis year would
then be signalized among the many glo-
rious pageants and exhibitions by which
we endeavor to celebrate it by the pay
ment of this one debt to our immortal
hero.
With all the untiring labor We could
command we have been able to realize
only a small sum for the monument over
Mary Washington's grave. But we have
commenced our work. The monument,
designed to be suitable but not extrava-
CANT, is already begun. We have
enough money to pay for the
work for one year. During that
year we must find means to complete it
or this country will be dishonored by
another futile attempt TO perform a sim
pie act.
We call him "a king among men, god
like In his virtues" we know that he
served thus for eight years. In peril OF life
and fortune, u~nsustaiued by encouragement
or the hope of success, leading a forlorn
hope against a powerful enemy. We know
that his more thar any score of names
has given us the place We hold among the
nations of the earth. Shall we content
ourselves with toasting that name at our
banquets and leave his mothers grave
to be marked only by Wondering stone
and noisome weeds?
Hers is the only ore OF all her kindred
that is thus dishonored. Tie graves Of
her people are preserved from decay and
surrounded by walls that defy the tooth
of Time. He distinguished son lies. as Ii
Is fitting he should lie. in a marble sar-
cophagus at Mount Verron. She chose
for her final Pillow the spot where God
had answered her prayers in the gift OF
wonderful serenity OF soul, and in a short
while he alone will know where 10 find that
spot unless we can be aided TO mark it
as we should.
Let me then earnestly entreat my coun-
wherever they be, on this birth
day of George Washington, to send some