Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-22
FROM WORTHY SIRES
The Annual Congress of the Daugh-
ters Of the American Revolution.
A NOTABLE GATHERING OF WOMEN
The Right of Three District Del.
egates to Seats.
THE BUSINESS TRANSACTED

The third annual congress of the Daugh-
ters Of the American Revolution was be-
gun at the Church of Our Father this
morning at 10 o'clock. When the president
general of the society. Mrs. Stevenson raped
with silver tipped gavel to call the meet
ing to order the cozy little church was
well filled with handsome and patrician
looking ladies, wearing the red white and
blue ribbon of the society, many of the
badges being embellished with handsome
Jewels. 1t was a distinguished gathering
and we'll worthy of it's name. It is a col
lection OF women who take real pride in
their ancestry and are equally proud of
their own patriotism, shown whenever
the occasion arrives
In one of the galleries Of the church
was stationed a section of the Marine
Band in full uniform, about twenty in
number, and throughout the morning they
played delightful music for the most part
selections from the national airs.
The meeting was opened under suitable
auspices, with a prayer by Mrs. j. j. Bull
lock, the chaplain general OF the society.
III which divine blessing was asked upon
the deliberations and business of the
gress. Then the ladies Of the audience all
rose while the band played the Star
Spangled Banner"
Mrs. Stevenson's Address.
the president general, Mrs. Stevenson, who
began by saying that 1t was not as stran-
gers, but friends that she bade a
hearty welcome to the delegates. She spoke
of the pride with which she herself owned
to her colonial ancestry. and told of the part
that her forefathers had taken in the ever
memorable struggle for national liberty.
Mrs Stevenson spoke of the year just
past as pre-eminently a woman's year. as
shown in part by the prominent share taken
In the worlds fair by women, who for the
first time, had had home of their own.
Their meetings had had the largest audi
enceS drawn by any meetings and had eX-
cited the utmost interest. But, after speak
ing OF the prominent part in affairs women
had enjoyed during the year, Mrs. Steven
son said that after all it was woman's
highest opportunity to fill with credit and
honor her place at the freside She
pressed the hope that the time would never
come when the society should be marked
by the presence of no "home women" for
Just as the sons of the American revolution
made the best fathers. husbands, sons and
brothers, so she hoped the daughters would
ever shine in her homes sphere. 1t is as
true today as il ever was that the hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world.
In the course of her address Mrs. Ste
vensOn reviewed the history of the society
during the past year. and presented the
statistics showing its growth and its pres
ent standing. urging that all differences be
now laid aside. as she regarded this as the
crucial perlOd in the life Of the society. and
that all should work together in union and
good fellowship for the best interests of
the organiza ton to which they all owed
such loving loyalty. In conclusion she ex-
tended hearty welcome to the members
to this city and invited them all to a re-
ception which she rendered them at the
Normandie tomorrow afternoon, from to
Value of American Citizenship.
The response to this pleasant address was
made by Mrs. James s. Peck of Wisconsin
on behalf of the society, in which she spoke
of the high place which the society deserved
In the estimation of the people of the land.
She hoped that they would do even more to
win esteem, especially from those who
doubted its position and usefulness and es-
pecially from the foreign born OF our pop
ulatiOn who do not yet seem to realize the
inefrable blessings Of living in land of
liberty, a liberty bought for all the precious
blood of the men of 'I6. She expressed the
hope and the belief that this. the third con-
tinental congress of the society, would be
marked by an absence of all petty differ
ences and a proper union of feelings and
interests.
Both of these addresses were received
with liberal applause and every reference
to the brave and noble men of the reyolu-
tion and to the past and future of this
gathering of their descendants was the sig
nal OF generous handclapping. In fact Ii
was enthusiasm more than anything else
that marked the first day of the congress.
The church was prettily decorated with
bunting and growing plants. The galleries
were hung with profuSion of flags, dainti-
ly draped, interspersed with shields, and
these In turn surmounted by three little
flags. Around the platform, on which were
seated the officers and speakers, were plac-
ed a number Of mammoth palms. and the
little table at which Mrs. Stevenson sat
was covered with the stars and stripes. At
the rear OF the platform was the handsome
picture of Mrs. Harrison. who was. in life
the president general of the society. Over
the picture and acting as a screen to hide
Il from view was a big flag. This. evening
ha fS N q unveiled
pirate ceremonies.
At the conclusion of the two addresses
the recording secretary general. Miss Eu-
genia Washington, read the roll call of the
regents chapter officers and delegates
Altogether there were about 105 members,
but this does not include by any means all
those who were present at the meeting
Many ladies from chapters in all parts of
the country had come on to be present at
the congress- although not formally ac-
credited on the rolls
The meeting had only progressed as far
as the conclusion of the roll call when there
was a little breeze in the congress that
showed that something Of a storm might
ensue unless some good management avert
ed it.
A slight Breeze.
Mrs. Alexander OF the District of Colum-
bia rose to a question of privilege and res
a resolution to the effect that as Mrs Wy
song. Mrs. Breckenridge and Mrs. Powell
were on the rolls as delegates from the
general society of the District Of Columbia
q congressional committee of three be ap-
pointed by the president to consider their
claims to membership I'm the congress. The
resolution was put and lost and then Mrs
stevenson put it again. Several of the dele
gates started TO debate the resolution. when
one lady inte-pOsed the objection that il
was question of privilege. and was con-
sequently not beba table unless decided
by the presiding officer
The chair said Mrs. Stevenson, decides
That this is a question Of privilege an1 con-
sequently can be-What?'
The question implied in the last word Of
her decision was addressed TO a gentleman
VINO sat beside Mrs. Stevenson. AMI who
CHlciated as her parliamentary mentor
Unfortunately il was heard all over the
mouse and caused a general ripple of mi-th
=, AT any rate the question. whether or not
II was one of privilege. was not debated
anu a motion to lay the resolution on the
td1le was carried by a large ma iority