The Washington times., 1895-02-20
THEIR COUNTRY ABOVE ILL
Daughters of the American ReVO-
luton in Congress Assembled.
DOORS BARRED AGAINST MEN
Mrs. Mary L. Lockwood Elected Presiding
Oficer-Interesting Report Of Mrs. Adlai
z. Stevenson, the President General
Origin of the Society Traced-Forty-f five
States Send Delegates to This Assembly.

The fourth continental congress of the Ma
tional Society of Daughters of the American
Revolution, which met at the Church of Our
Father yesterday. Is as exclusive in a way
as the Senate of the United States, save that
its exclusiyeness is directed against men. 1t
of any other than delegates, but the applica-
ton OF the rule is insisted upon with special
emphasis when a man presents himself at the
strictly guarded entrance.
The church was neatly decorated with ma
tional flags. with a blending OF red and
orange, and shields of red, white. and blue
bearing the names of the thirteen original
States. On the presidents stand, also draped
with flag, reposed a small fac simile of the
Worlds Fair bell, carried thither by the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
ELECTED THE CHAIRMAN TWICE.
The scene was an animated one as the del
egates gathered for the morning session.
Daughters of the daughters were ushers,
though ushers were not much needed, but
they hurried to and fro, and furnished an air
of business to the gathering.
As soon as the meeting was called together.
however there was plenty OF stir and bustle
presiding officer had to be chosen. Mrs
Lockwood was elected. but the election was
too sudden. The choice was satisfactory, but
the delegates wanted TO talk. Finally Mrs.
Mary S. Lockwood was again elected without
a reconsideration. although that method OF
procedure is not Indicated in Roberts Rules
n.-.l l.. - A.,
authority for the body. "Rules OF Order
are of great use, but they cannot prevail
against woman's sweet will.
By this time things were running smoothly
again and the order of business resumed.
The chaplain-general. Mrs E. t. Bullock.
offered prayer, followed by the singing of
1.-The Star-spangled Banner" by the Choral
Society and the congress
The roll was then called, and Connecticut.
amid round of applause. reported full del
egation present. New York, Pennsylvania.
and Virginia had the next largest delegations.
After the reading OF Mrs A. E. Stevenson's
address of welcome as presldent-general had
| been read by Miss Kerfoot. of Illinois, resolu-
! tions of respect. sympathy. and appreciation
! of the valuable services of Mrs. Stevenson
were offered and passed. The address OF
| Mrs. Stevenson was OF great interest and full
/ of eloquence.
HOW THE SOCIETY ORIGINATED.
She began her address with a quotation
| from Bishop Ireland: Patriotism is love OF
country and loyalty to its life and veal" No
wonder, she said, that little more than four
| years ago tidal wave of patriotic emotion
/ swept from the Western to the Eastern coast.
| The first inspiration came from the sons of
! Revolutionary sires on the Pacific Slope
/ Quick was the response of the sons on the
! Atlantic seaboard and the Sons of the Ameri-
/ an Revolution came into existence.
| The daughters of these same brave fathers
strove long for admission. but it was denied
| them Mrs Mary s. Lockwood wrote a re-
| view of little Revolutionary story, Hannah
| Arnetts Faith" and it caused women TO put
/ on their thinking caps. Attracted by this
| article Col. William d. Mcdonald, with the
| earnest cooperation of Mr.. Washington Ball.
called into being the organization of the Ma
| tional Society of the Daughters of the Ameri-
| can Revolution. To-day there meet here
| 800 delegates from forty-fve States, repre-
senting more than 5000 members, double the
membership Of a year ago.
| Mrs. Stevenson also made some sugges-
! tions as to various matters. particularly as
! 10 the simplihcetiOn of the board of man
ayers. She closed her address with plea
for love of country and reverence for its ira
| ditions.
| by your example," she said, ''and words
| fitly spoken you are rearing race of pa
/ triots, who will claim this fair land for their
own, and proclaim IN no uncertain tones,
| We are Americans.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
The response to the address of welcome
was made by Mrs. Daniel Lothrop, regent oi
old Concord Chopter, Massachusetts, after
which the meeting was adjourned to . p. m.
| After luncheon was over and the hour of re-
4 NH,,
| Mrs. Lockwood came down briskly. The re-
ports of the national officers were then read
as follows: Vice president general in charge
OF organization, Mrs. Augusta d. Geer; re-
cording secretary general. Mrs. Agnes Martin
Burnett; corresponding secretary general
Miss Mary Desha; registrars general, Miss
| Thedora /. Wilbur (read by the clerk, Mrs
Mary Lee Mann Miss Anna S. Mallett. anC
Mrs. Rober1ean Buchanan; treasurer gen
eral, Mrs. Miranda Tulloeh; historian gen
eral, Mrs. Lucia E. Blount; surgeon general
DIR. Anita Newcomb McGee: chaplain gen
eral. Mrs E. T. Bullock; editor of the Ameri
can Monthly Magazine, Mrs. Mary S. Lock
wood, and business manager, Miss LiliaI
Lockwood.
THE SURGEON GENERALS WORK.
All the reports were attentively received
but those of the historian general, surgeon
general and editor of the magazine were o
the mos. interest. DIR. A. Y. McGee, tn
bright and energetic surgeon general, raise,
ripple of laughter by her description of he
duties. She has clear penetrating voice
and read her report with decidedly humorou
effect.
The rules of the order, she said, require,
her to report on and look after the sick AM
wounded of the Army and Navy. She accord
ingly called on the distinguished surgeon
general of the United States, aud although
her visit was in the nature OF that of a Lexoy
committee OF investigation she was most cor
daily received and afforded every facility Z
visit the Army posts. That however, wa
not insisted upon by the managers OF the sc
eiety, so all there is to do now is to look ate
the health OF the delegates. The hearty ap
plause which followed her report gave eyi
dence of the high esteem in which the pleas
ant surgeon general is held
The report Of Mrs. lockwood also ereatet