The morning times., 1897-01-21
The ANCIENT CONSTITUTION
Sons of the American Revolution
Want the Vessel Preserved.
They Have Asked Congress to Have
the Frigate Brought Here-For
a Memorial Building.

The January melting ofthe Society of the
Sons or the American Revolution of the
District OF Columbia, was held last night
in the hall OF the Confederate veterans As
sociation, at the corner of Eleventh and +
streets northwest. Members of other
Revolutionary societies of this city were
present, although the rainy weather kept
the attendance down TO rather small
figures. Gen. Oh B.. WILCOX, U. 8. A,
president OF the society, presided, and j.
7. Earnest, the secretary, recorded the
proceedings. Ia
Two new members We're installed last
night, Mr.. William T. Powell and Mr..
William Walton Armstrong
The members OF the society are desiroUs
that the old frgate Constitution, which is
now at Portsm outh, N. H., shall not be
allowed TO fall to pieces A resolution
was adopted asking Congress to take steps
to preserve the historic vessel and to make
this city its permanent abode.
A committee, consisting OF Gen. Wilcox,
Gen. j. c. Breckinfidge, inspector general
of the Army, and Hon. John w. Douglas,
was appointed to use their influence with
Speaker Reed, and with other members,
OF Congress, to further the bill before
the House, which proposes to donate TO
the National Society of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution the lot at the
corner OF Fourteenth and b streets, on
which shall be erected a memorial building
to commemorate the services and perpetu-
ate the memory OF the heroes of the Revo--
slutionary war.
The society has recently drafted a bill
which 1T hopes TO have passed at this ses-
sion, providing for proper Illumination
OF Federal buildings on national holidays.
Senators Faulkner and Frye are inter-
ested in the measure and are WORKING for
its success.
Beside the regular business of the even
ing two interesting papers were read, one
by Prof. Otis Mason. on Virginia in the
American Revolution" and the other by
DR.. L. NJ. Gallaudet, on Connecticut in the
American Revolution"
Prof. Mason said that his idea was to
trace, not so much the life history Of
separate individuals in the Revolution, as
the course of events showing regular
progress from individual effort to an or
ganiZed effort, and also that Virginia had
the largest share N this organization.
The speaker mentioned the different acts
that led up to the Revolution and dwclt
at length. upon the part Virginia took in
the struggle. He said it was a fitting
climax that the sword of Lord Cornwallis
should have been surrendered ON Virginia
soil.
The address of DR.. Gallaudet was equally
as interesting and he made an excellent
showing for the Nutmeg State, He laid
special stress on the friendship between
Jonathan Trumbull and George Wash
ington, and said that the name, Brother
Jonathan given by the British TO the
colon SITS. originated from this friend
| ship, as when Washington had particular
hard question to solve he usually asked
the advice OF Brother Jonathan, as he
| called his friend.
Replying to the resolution of the House,
the Navy Department estimates at S12 900
the cost OF repairing the frigate Constitu-
ton now at the Portsmouth IN. H. Navy
Yard, and towing her to- Washington for
use as a naval museum. There is a balance
Of 81 ,9Ss available for this purpose ri