The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-26
AT ANNUAL DINNER
BANQUET OF THE SONS OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Three Times Its State President Has
Died While in O1iice-EIcction
of officers.

Sons of American Revolution was held at
the Commercial Club last night There was
business session before the dinner, at
which officers for the ensuing year were
elected, as follows President, Senaca B.
Brown Fort Wayne; vice president, Will E.
English. Indianapolis; secretary, Charles W.
Moores Indianapolis; treasurer, Cincinnatus
H. Mcdowell, Indianapolis; registrar, David
E. Snyder Indianapolis; honorary vice pres
idents, Samuel Caldwell Meredith, Indianap-
oils; Wellington A. Clark, Crown Point
Robert H. Hatcher, Lafayette.
The first address on the programme was
that of VIII +. English. His subject
''Our Dead Presidents He spoke fol-
lows:
I'm making my annual report and address
to the members of the society, it is my sad
duty at the outset to revert to the circum-
stances under which alo might af haxe been
this organization. On the attn day OF this
month death entered our fraternal circle
took from us our respected and beloved
president General Mahlon y. Manson, and
ciety / have been called upon to fill the un-
expired term of the regularly elected ex-
ecutive chosen at the annual meeting of the
organization. 1t is strange coincidence
that upon each occasion, since first organ
cation elected it's president, the office has
been vacated during the term, and | have
| been honored by being called to fill the
served three terms president, first during
ten months of the term for which our first
the term of Judge Niblack, and now for the
Of General Manson Manson which closes tonight. "
THE society has not only suffered in the
loss of it's honored president, but during the
| past year DIR. Elijah Newland, DIR. George
w. Mcconnell and DR.. William H. Brooks,
three OF our most rev ERE , and
| They were all direct descendants of the
heroes her Of the Revolution and after ,,a long
| in life, lamented in the end and the death
of Dr.. Brooks leaves but two names upon
revolution-our esteemed compatriot, Well
ington A. Clark, of Crown Point, and the
venerable Samuel c.. Meredith, of this city.
| the only surviving ties that bind US to
generation fast passing away. We are
IS not more 'als si Of in
| view of the number of men of advanced
| years who belong to our society, yet 1t is
all too long for our desires. We would that
there was not one vacant chair; but this is
| sorrow from which we cannot escape;
ours is the. common lot of humanity.
AT the annual meeting two years ago
| the registrar reported a. membership. of
| seventy at our last meeting. During the
| past year we have AIDED thirty-ive names
to our roster, which leaves us with an en-
| rollment up to date of just one hundred and
seven good men and true.
| I'm reviewing the work of the society for
the closing year 1t is due that should here
bear testimony to the unselfish, diligent and
| satisfactory manner in which my colleagues
| upon the executive board, Secretary Moores,
| Registrar Snyder and Treasurer Mcdowell,
have performed the duties pertaining to their
respective Offices especially their part of
executive committee, upon whose shoulders
rests the general management Of the socie-
tvs affairs and the work incident to the
| growth and progress of the organization.
1.-THE growth and advancement of the ma
| been of most gratifying character, and
promising societies composed OF the very
a Of the States of the
Union, and the progress of the organization
| both in numbers and Importance may be re.
garded almost phenomenal, IN view or
| the fact that it came into practical exist
ence but c9mparatiyely few years ars ago. ago.
| cessors of the hardy pioneers of the Pacific
slope During the centennial year when the
| fires of revolutionary patriotism were every
where rekindled Throughout our country by
| the national celebration of the one nun.
| 177e the descendants of revolutionary SOL
| diers in San francisco, in response TO a can
issued by the Daily Alta California. met
| ciety, which they named the Sons of Revo-
| lutionary Sires,' whose purposes We're stated
/ to be to unite the descendants OF reVoiu-
| tionary patriots and perpetuate the memory
| of all those who took part in the american ian
| highest officer or the humblest private in
| that struggle for freedom. From this small
neginnng nds natonal orsanization flourish
/ ing societies already existing in twenty,
seven of the States of the Union, and 1t WI MI
not be out of place to here again repeat tne
circumstances under which the national as
| sociation was organized and the Indiana So
| ciety came into being. .r,
advanced but slowly. until Dec: a, 1ss5, when of.
| a society was formed in New YORK cry
whose first great effort secured the compile
ton of the pedestal for Bartholdis famous
| statue of liberty and later inaugurated anu
| carried to a successful conclusion the GEN.
George George washington as the first President Of
yUhi
Sne marnificentiy COMMUNICATED in New
| york city. April 80. 1889: Branch socieues
were soon after lolhaeu call for a national
convention was thereupon issued by the
latter. requesting delegates from NE Va Yors
citv and on the glorious anniversary OF
April so, 1889, this national body assem- ss,rIr
Known as Fraunce's Tavern. and in the very
same room in which washington; JUST enc enc
hundred years before, delivered his famous
fareweu address to his brave comrades In
| arms both native and foreign born VINO
had faithfully followed him during an the
struggle Time and place were most Mt
ting indeed for the birth OF an organization .,1
ic Character ana whose members were direct
| descendants of those very comraueS 70
farewell utterances. Delegates We're pres
ent from New Jersey, New YORK, Mew
Hampshire, Connecticut, Massacnuse1t11si,
Maryland, Delaware. South Carolina, III
nois, Ohio Missouri and California. a per
manent organization was perfected by the
| election of Judge Lucus p. Demng, OF
Connecticut, as president: and vice pres
ident from each of the States represented,
among whom appear, such hon9 por.er nam ass
President Ruthford Is. Hayes, Gen. Wade
Hampton. ex-governor simon Z; bufahe ~
! of Kentucky; Edmond de Lar aystee' VI
France and others -, ., 60
| this national gathering a meeting. looking
| to the formation of branch organization
| in Indiana assembled in the agricultural
| rooms of the Statehouse, April 20, 1889,
| which was presided over by William H.
English, with David T.. Snyder as secre-
| tary Owing to the short notice there was
but a small attendance present s.oa and the the
| 18th of January following. in the rooms
| of the Secretary of State at the Capitoi.
| This meeting was well attended. An eX-
PLANTATION Of the objects and purposes Of
| the oranization was followed by the. adop-
| ton of the constitution and the selection
| of Dec IL, the anniversary OF Indiana s
| admission to the Union, as the date of
the regular annual meeting, which has
| since been wisely changed to Feb. %, the
anniversary Of the capture Of Vincennes
| from the British forces by the gallant
American patriots under Gen: George Rog-
| ers Clark being the only battle of the
| revolution fought upon Indiana SOIL