St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-19
ONE GREAT SOCIETY
RUKARD HURD EVOLVES A PLAN
FOR UNITING ALL REVOLU-
TION,S SONS,
WRITES A CIRCULAR LETTER
TO GENERAL NATIONAL AND STATE
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIE-
TIES.
THE SOCIETY OF THE REVOLUTION
Is the Name Which He Proposes for
the Consolidated Organization
Its Main Features.

general Of the Society of Colonial Wars,
state of Minnesota; vice president of
the Minnesota Society Sons of the Rev
olution; member of the Society of the
War of 1872; member of the Aztec club,
1S47; member of the Loyal Legion, is
sued circular yesterday to the general
national and state officers of the Soci-
eties of the Sons of the Revolution and
Sons of the American Revolution, pre-
senting 'a practical plan for the reor-
ganization and consolidation Of the
two societies. Says he:
1t is greatly desirable to bring this about,
to unite in one society the now over $1,000
prominent men of our country, but it is one
thing to talk about 1t and quite another thing
to do 1t. have seen no practical plan sug-
gested, and as l have thought out mine and
worked 1t out and presented it to many men,
bers OF the two societies, it has grown on
them and myself, and 1 feel that my sugges-
tions will be received in the same spirit with
which they are given-patriotically.
shall tell you of plan whereby every
state society or each society can retain its
membership, its honor, prestige, finances, its
own circle, its own celebrations its own in
sigma, and yet united all belong to the one
and same organization, and all this without
the slightest friction, ill-feeling or recrimi-
nation. The very basis of the plan is chapter
organization. We can say to the members of
the Empire State Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution: Yours is a great So
ciety, with great record; you have some of
the very best men of New York; the value of
your meetings, celebrations, patriotic work is
acknowledged by every one, but come with
US; you can be a chapter of the great society,""
To the New York State Society of the Sons of
the Revolution: You are proud of your
record and you have reason to be, but join
the great society and be of US. No one
wants your money; no one seeks to interfere
with your set of congenial spirits, your cele-
bratiOns, dinners, services erect your monu-
ments, control your own finances, but do it
all as part of the great organization And
to these and all other state societies, "Join
as chapters of the greater society, and as
time smoothes out the wrinkles, divide up
your chapter into chapters allotting to each
It's proportionate share of funds. Keep your
old insignias, as corps badges" for in
stance, but let their issue stop, and ALL as
members of the new society have the new
insignia.
Now I propose that the new society. the
Society Of the Revolution, be organized by
the present officers and delegates of the pres
ent general and national societies, or by del
egates from each state society, or by individ-
uals OF each state society, at a congress to
be held IN independence hall on July 4, 1896.
That they incorporate under national char
ter under an act of congress.
propose that they adopt a general consti-
tuition whereby each present state society of
The the two societies e shall be regarded as
elect the following general officers: presi-
dent. four vice presidents Ito represent the
North. South East and Vest secretary and
vice secretary. treasurer and vice treasurer.
registrar and vice registrar, historian and
vice historian. chancellor and vice chancellor
and chaplain.
congress OF the general society all presidents
of state societies Ito be elected by the
united chapters be added to the general Of
fcers named as a board of administration
and that thereafter these general officers and
this board of administration and all future
general officers and state presidents be the
congress SnpjafU n ha
Mr.. Hurd recommends appropriate
designs for a seal, a bronze insignia
and a bronze button to be used by the
general society. He adds:
/ suggest that there be no honorary officers
and no honorary members. The initiation
fee shall be S10 and an additional annual
levy of say % cents per member could be
made upon state societies, if necessary, for
the support of the general society Men,
bership with insignia and button might be
made hereditary, and be conferred upon the
nearest acceptable male descendant.
The state officers should be president. one
vice president from each chapter secretary.
treasurer, registrar. historian, chancellor and
chaplain, and board Of say, ten members.
Chapter officers should be: Chairman, vice
chairman, recorder, chaplain, and a board Of
say, five members.
Regarding the name, "Socety OF the Revo.
luton" it is concise, full, rich, harmonious.
fun of meaning The constant repetition of
Washington, our patron saint, in SEAL in
sigma, and button tells the story in itself.
and is a constant reminder to the wearer
and to the observer of patriotism. No one
need ask the wearer of such a button, or
such an insignia, what revolution was it,
in what country was it fought" The face
of Washington tells the story.
The chapters should meet and elect officers
for their state societies. who should proceed
to adopt necessary bylaws for the govern
ment OF the chapter and the state society.
State societies of each society who have in
corporated should. of course, change their
articles OF Incorporation to correspond with
the new name and constitution
This plan has the cordial Endorsement OF
prominent members of each society in Min
nesota, with whom I have conferred. and I
present il to you, the thinkers of the world
large will never agree to the details of any
plan. You are the men who will have to
work out and settle on a plan with details)
If one is ever adopted.
/ will be very glad to hear from every Of
fcer with suggestions, that we may be able
proval of the meetings of the general society
of the Sons of the Revolution on April 19
and the National Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution on April SO
District Encampment G. A. r.
Department Commander McCardy of the
G.. A, R., received yesterday a communica-
west Minnesota, announcing that it would
hold its annual gathering at Jackson, Mimi.
on June "a, % and 26 The Southwestern
district includes the following six counties
Jackson, Mobiles, Murray. Cottonwood Mar
tin and Watoawan.
Directory of the Committee.
General Secretary Pinney, of the G.. A. R.
committee, was busly engaged yesterday