Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-26
DAUGHTERS OF CoNFEDERACY

The fifth annual convention of Vir.
giuia Division, United Daughters of the
Confederecy, convened in Confederate
Hall, Portsmouth, yesterday morning.
1t ia the fret time the convention has
met in TideWater Virginia, and the
ladies of Portsmouth Chapter, uGder
whose auspices it is held, are somewhat
disappointed at the small number of
delegates present. Their failure to at.
tend is attributed to the nearness Of
the date of the national convention in
Richmond, which takes place in No.
vember. Mrs. Edwin O'Brien, of
Alexandria, presided. When the con-
vention had been opened Mrs. Alice r..
Jenkics, president OF Portsmouth Chap
ter, delivered an address of welcome,
to which Mrs. O'Brien responded. Mrs
O'Brien said
members of Portsmouth Chapter No.
80, Delegates to the Fifth Annual
Meeting of the Virginia Division, ..
D. c..
"While recognize the duty required
of me, as your representative, 10 re-
spond to the cordial welcome, so beau
tifully phrased and happily worded,
that each delegate and visitor feels her
self an honored guest, still 1 fully re-
alizs my inability to do so in proper
manner. La the early sixties the Con.
federate soldiers of Portsmouth were
always to be found where duty called;
at the present day, the noble band OF
women comprising the Portsmouth
chapter, by many acts of charity, love
and kindness, have shown not only
their unwillingness to forget, but their
determination to remember the gallant
and heroic deeds of our soldiers in
gray and, in the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy, are always in the
front rank. Daughters of the Confede-
racy is title of honor, and proud in
deed should be the women who are en-
titled to wear it, for its badge, the
stars and Bars, was the standard of be.
roic men. 1 find many such here to-
day. In the name of the Virginia d.
vision I acknowledge with much sp
probation the honor of being the guests
of Portsmouth chapter.
Mrs. O'Brien displayed tact and abili-
ty in her rulings throughout the session
demonstrating fine executive knowl-
edge.
Mrs. O'Brien announced that owing
10 happy event in the life Of the Re-
cording Secretary, Mrs. Gertrude How
ard, of Lynchburg, she is unable to at
tend the convention. 1t is understood
that the reference was made to Mrs
Towards marriage, which is to take
place during the present week. 1t was,
therefore, necessary, said Mrs. O'Brien,
to elect recording secretary pro TEN.
Miss Virginia Griffin, of Portsmouth;
Mrs. Charles e. Elliott and Mrs. Viii
liam F. Creighton were placed in nomi-
nation for the position, and Miss Grit
fin was elected.
The president appointed Mrs. ". F.
Creighton. of Alexandria; Mrs. Hardy
OF Lynohburg, and Mrs. William, Of
Woodstock, committee on creden'
tisls.
Owing to illness, Mrs. Thomas Perry
the Corresponding Secretary, has been
unable to fulfill her duties, and Mrs
O'Brien has been attending to the du.
ties OF this office. Mrs O'Brien said
that the Historian, Mrs Blackford,
would be unable to report on account
of illness.
: The remainder of the session was
taken up with reports of officers, which
showed the organization to be in q
llourishing condition. Within the year
there has been an increase OF GO pei
cent. in membership.
The report of the President, Mrs
o Brien, contained suggestion tor the
use of the division badge on otficial sta
tionery, and advised that the minutes
be printed annually. The year, Mrs
OBrien said, had been the most glorious
in the history of the division. Much
good work had been done for the
relief of the sick and indi
gent veterans and widows, sew.
eral monuments had been erected, and
in the near future many more would be
built. Cemetery work had been car.
ried on Systematically, and the division
was eXerting its energies in the direc-
ton of keeping green the memory OF
the soldiers who lost their lives in the
defence OF the Confederacy.
Yesterday afternoon the visitors were
given an excursion around the harbor,
and last night reception in their hoC-
or was rendered at the residence OF Mr..