The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
A PATRIOTIC W DIRK
THE CONFEDERA TIE MEMORIAL LII
ER4RY SOCIETY.
An Account Of the Orig inand Growth OF the
Work-first Proposed By the Holly
wood Memorial Associatiop.

: capital OF the Confederate States II
seemd but "a fitting sequel. beside the
| countless graves Of his dead comrades
and the last resting place OF his chieftaln,
! overlooked by the lofty monument, reared
! TO his memory, TO place museum, where
sbould be gathered. the relics OF his glo-
rjous past and the memorials OF MS
I heroic sacrifice.
| II had been the high duty and sacred
/ privilege OF the women OF this capital
! TO care for the sick, 10 tend the wound
ed and dying. and even to perform the
last sad offices for the dead from every
State of the COnfederacy.
They had Lovingly kept green these
graves for nearly thirty years
In their necessity during the years or
! poverty succeeding the restoration OF
peace. the City Fathers had allowed the
I house made sacred as the residence OF the
| President of the Confederate states 10
be used as a school building, and 1t now
f, came as an inspiring thought to these
women that IN this historic mansion
these relics should be brought together.
Here each State Of the Confederacy
should be represented. a room for each,
I bearing It's name and IN charge or
regent within its own borders Memorials
from the whole South should be placed,
and here the "Battle-Abbey Roll OF the
South" should be inscribed.
They realized that their sister States
/ loved these men and their cause. tended
/ their graves. had within their own bor-
ders reared monuments. and established
= museums, but no one place could repre-
! sent all except the one spot remaining
I that belonged TO all, the capital OF the
! Confederacy. the one place where gath
cred so many OF the sons Of every state
in their lives. and upon her bosO:a now
/ and forever holds them IN their death.
| PLAN PRESENTED RY MIS-. JOSEPH BRYAN.
This object and plan Of the Confederate
/ Memorial and Literary Society was pre-
scented to the ladies Of the Hollywood
/ Memorial Association by Mrs. Joseph
Bryan on March 4. 1890. Immediately after
her election as president Of that asso-
citation.
! Steps were PROMPTLY taken to carry out
} this idea a conference was held with the
Mayor, Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson, who call
: ed a meeting OF citizens and members Of
! the Chamber OF Commerce, the Virginia
and the Southern Historical societies.
that the ladies might make known their
wishes.
The movement having received a hearty
J approval at this meeting. with the advice
and earnest support of their Advisory
Board, the ladies prepared a memorial 10
be presented to the city Council asking
that the Davis Mansion should be given
TO them for this purpose.
On May &c. 1890 they met. Judge George
L. Christian. Mr. Joseph Bryan. Judge T..
c. Minor. Colonel w. f. Cutshaw. and
Colonel John y. Cary. being present, and
formed a society. under the name OF the
Confederate Memorial Literary Society.
whose object II should IL be ITO gather
and preserve all records and relies OF the
Confederat States. and all literature per-
tanning 10 the South"
DAVIS MANSION GIvFv THE LADIES.
on June 3. 1894. the eighty-sixth birth
day Of President Davis. IN the presence Of
the memorial associations Of the city.
the Mayor. and the School Board
Colonel Cary chairman, in behalf OF the
committee. formally turned over the
house TO the ladies. II was received for
them by Mr.. Joseph Bryan, after which
the president herself expressed few
words OF earnest thanks.
MEMORIAL BAZAAR.
During the fall and winter OF 'e2 a
great deal of preliminary and necessary
work was accomplished. and on April H.
1893, the Memorial Bazaar was opened with
Mrs. +. y. Hotchkiss as president. Every
State OF the COnfedcracy, including Mary
I land and Kentucky, was represented, had
been solicited, and, IN greater or less
degree. had responded.
More than 10000 was realized from the
Bazaar THIS sum. divided equally be-
tween the two objects secured the COM
pleton Of the monument. which was I'M
yelled on Hollywood Memorial Day. May
30, 1894, and placed balance I'm the treas
ury Of the Confederate Memorial Lite
rary Society with which TO begin the
cherished work.
In October next the building will he
in readiness to receive the objects for
which IL has been prepared. The appear
ance and construction of the house. as
used by President Davis. will be entirely
preserved and, as far as possible, the
same material will be used
The present officers are: Mrs. Joseph
Bryan, president, Mrs. T. c. Minor. first
vice-president Mrs. Ann f. Grant second
vice-pres!dent; Mrs Raleigh Colston.
third vice-president; Mrs. 3. L. Purcell.
recording secretary; Mrs Stephen Putney
corresponding secretary; Mrs. NJ. S.
Smith. teasurer. Committees: Building
Mrs L. d. Hotchkiss (chairmam; House
Mrs. Jas. Grant; Museaum-Ars. Jas. r.
Werth; Ways and Means-AIrs \. V.
Randolph; Finance-Mrs Raleigh T. Col
ston; MembcrshiD-Mrs l.. c. Daniel
The Relic NOW museum) Committee has
never ceased its work since the inception
Of the plan. and there is in hand a large
and valuable collection from every State
of the Confederacy; also. promises from
soldiers homes" and individuals. price
less beyond expression.
The collection TO be known az 1.-The
Mary Du Renne Collection" presented by
that family to the Georgia room. is said
TO be the finest ever made In the South.
THE DAVIS MANSION.
And what shall be said OF the house
itself. which shall hold these relics2 II
is. perhaps. the most sacred of all. asso-
ciated. as 1t is, with so many of the
noble spirits who formed the galaxy of
those times
1t was bought from Mr.. Lewis r. Cren-
shaw by the city, and presented to Presi-
dent DAVIS at the time the seat of gov 7
eminent was removed from Montgomery |
TO Richmond. He declined the gife. but |
consented 10 occupy IL. and here during |
those four fateful years he and his fam |
lily dwelt in hope and fear in joy and IN |
sorrow.
And here. amid the darkly gathering |
clouds. by which the little life would be |
forever Swallowed. amid confusion. anx- J
ious coNings and goings, the rattle OF |
sword and spur. in the only place OF quiet !
the third-story front room. the loved |
Daughter OF the Confederacy' opened |
her soft, dark eyes. unmindful OF the |
travail OF mother. father. and country.
What memories cling in and around |
those walls?
Halowed still. though soiled and de- |
faced. and desecrated by the uses of sue |
ceedng years. chosen as headquarters |
upon the entry OF the Federal troops into |