Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-22

She said that during the year several hun
dred of the roSetteS of The society mad
been ordered. Unfortunately the manu-
facturerS of this country had been unable
to make these rosetteS, and it had been
necessary to send for them from France
The result is now that the members of
this society that stands for all that is pa
triotic are wearing roSetteS made for them
in a European country. In her report Mrs
Clarke said that if this was unavoidable
as IL seemed to be, her sister members
might feel some satisfaction in that their
custom had been sent to a sister republic
which had stood by us during our days of
trial and need. The report told of d num-
ber of valuable volumes that had been pre-
sented to the patriotic library of the So
ciety during the year.
A Gift From New York.
Mrs. Mclean of the New York city chap
ter then rose to a question of privilege, and
on behalf of her chapter presented the So
ciety with a number of works bearing upon
different phases of the revolution. In doing
this, Mrs. Mclean said, New York was
only setting a good example and If this
were followed by other chapters the result
would be that in a short time the society
would have a library on revolutionary topics
of which they might we'll be proud.
In the name of the society, Mrs. Steven
son received the present and said that she
hoped New York's example would be fol-
lowed by others.
The report Of the registrars general, Mrs
Charles Sweet Johnson and Mrs. Rosa
Wright Smith, read by Mrs. Smith, showed
that the society during the year had re-
ceiyed an addition to its membership of
1902, making total of 4,I1O. The report
said that of the applications which had
been favoraDly acted upon all but about
fifty had based their eligibility to member
ship on lineal descent from revolutionary
mothers. This statement gave great salts
faction to the 'lipeals" in the congress, for
this year the great question up for settle
ment is one of eligibility based on lineal
or collateral descent. The question comes
up for action in the form of an amendment
to the convention to be considered
The report of the historian general, Mrs.
Henry Blount, made an earnest appeal to
the congress for more thorough study on
the part of the members into the facts of
their own ancestry and the details of the
daily life of the women of revolutionary
days, who. by their devotion, self-sacrifice
and patriotism, did so much to win the bat
tie for liberty Mrs. ID. r. Barclay, vice
president general. read her annual report
as business manager of the American
Monthly Magazine.
The report of the treasurer general, Mrs.
Marguerite DickinS, showed that the re-
ceipts for the year amounted to s7,S56S9,
with expenditures of S6i96.74, leaving a
balance of 81, ,359.95. In addition to this the
society has a I.ermanent fund of 81, So
and a 81 900 six PEI cent bond. This per-
manent fund is TO be used nucleus of a
sum to be eventually used in erecting a
national home for the society in this city.
Mrs. S. X. Alexander of this city read
the report of the auditing committee, which
showed the books of the different financial
officers of the society to be in satisfactory
condition. At 12:45 the congress adjourned
until Z 80 this evening.
Lineals VS.. COllateraIs.
The differences between the two factions
of the society, the "lineals' and the "col-
laterals," will be settled probably tomorrow
/ The clause in the constitution as it row
stands, bearing upon eligibility to member
ship. opens the society to all acceptable
descendants from men who rendered loyal
aid to the cause of independence as a
[ recognized patriot, as a soldier or sailor, or
Z as civil officer, or from the mother Of
such patriot. The members who are in
favor of limiting the membership only 10
lineal descendants nave submitted an
amendment to the constitution, elimna ting
the words 'or from the mother of such a
patriot" This is likely to give rise to a
lively discussion when it comes up for con-
sideration.
The arguments in favor of the amend
ment are contained in report to the con-
g-ess submitted by Mrs. Stevenson and
Miss Eugenia Washington.
The report is as follows: I'VE, the board
OF management, elected, in compliance with
the constitution of our society, to execute
your purposes and to inform you of those
things which We consider conducive to the
BOOu anu prosperity OF the society, would
call your attention to the following amend
ment to the constitution. and we do hereby
give notice to state regents and chapter
regents and secretaries, in accordance with
the Constitution (Article IX), that the said
amendment is now proposed to be acted up
on at the continental congress that will
convene in Washington. d. c., February 22,
1894.
The eliminating of the phrase, 'or from
the mother of such patriot in the eligibil-
ity clause OF the constitution of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution, received a
large majority of votes (J5 to 1S) in the
congress of 1893; and, in the board of man.
agement on April II, 1893, the amendment, t,
now presented to your notice and which
omits the words rejected by the congress, was
passed by vote of II to 4; but, by ID legal
technicality, it is necessary to submit it to
the congress of 1894.
Injurious Results.
This clause Cmother of such patriotJ
was admitted to the constitution under the
impression that it would be used only in
special cases and that it would in no sense
divert the society from its original intention
of strict Hneal descent as continuously ex-
pressed in it's official application papers.
The practical working of the clause has en-
dangered the genealogical and historical
records of the society upon which it's noble,
patriotic and commemorative work is
founded; and the effort to honor our moth
ers of the revolution has, through this
clause, failed to be effective by the possible
admission of members without a patriotic
ancestor, thus subverting the declared in
tention of the organization. A loose con-
struction of this clause is also calculated to
lead the society away from the objects for
which il was established.
These obiests are stated in article of the
constitution. This amendment, now to be
confirmed, broadens and strengthens the
respect paid to women of the revolution
1t removes the only element of discord in
the society and places it on a solid founda-
ton by vesting the descendants rather than
the represen tatives of revolutionary pa
trlots, men and women, with the RESPONSE
/ bllty of honoring the memory of their an
cestors and maintaining the work they in
augurated
we therefore recommend the UNQUALIFIED
confirmation of this amendment by the
votes or your delegates and regents in the
continental congress of 1884"
| Pretty Girl Ushers
The delegates to the congress TODAY were
| materially aided in finding the seats allot-
ted to them and in other ways by an eff
Gent corps OF pretty fiirls. who officiated as
/ ushers- They were Miss Maclay, chairman: :
Misses Keim, Ballinger, Moncure. Wal
worth, Lockwood, Wilbur Marable. Wilson.
MI MhrtlahG. Flnckel. Hallowell, Hull and the
| Misses BlOunt.
letter was read to the congress this
| morning from Mrs. Cleveland, rendering the
| officers and delegates an informal reception
/ at the hite House tomorrow at l2;45
| o'clock 'Ao