Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20
Opening Session of the Daughters of
the American Revolution.
LARGE NUMBER OF DELEGATES HERE
Address Of the President General,
Mrs. Daniel Manning.
OTHER EXERCISES TODAY


ton met in the eighth continental congress
at the Grand Opera House this morning.
The big auditorium was q flash and flare
of color from pit to dome. Flags and red
white and blue bunting were draped and
festooned from column to column and bal
cony to gallery. Between the flags hung
pretty little banners of blue satin with sill
Yer lettering representing the various states
in which there are chapters or state or
GaniZations of the d. A. R.
The stage simply, but handsomely
set with palms. The proscenium arch was
festooneG with two garrison flags, caught
up in the center under a life-siZe portrait
of Washington, in continental uniform. The
table of the president general was fairly
groaning under a burden of Jacqueminot
and bride roses. present from the Penn
sylvania delegation.
There was another magnificent bouquet
of American beauty roses, tied with wide
pink satin ribbons, with the compliments of
Mrs. Letitia Green Stevenson, who for
three terms presided over the deliberations
of the body as its president general. Mrs.
Stevenson was unable to attend the con-
gress because of the ul-health of the
mother of ex-Vice President Stevenson, and
sent the roses as her greeting Of remem-
brance to the president general.
The scene was of animation and
gaiety as the elegantly gowned women
fingered in the foyer chatting with and
greeting each other, as though out for
social call or big tea. 1t made one Won
der if the revolutionary blood of the coun-
try had cornered all the prosperity for
there is a general appearance of wealth and
good keeping" among the nearly 1000
delegates and alternates who crowded the
opera house this morning. They come from
every state in the Union - California to
Florida. Maine to Texas and from the great
middle tnion-there is not Il state but has
its representative in the largest congress
the Daughters of the American Revolution
have held in the eight years of their or
ganization and there is chapter in Ha-
waii.
The balcony was filled, nearly packed, in
fact with the aIternates, whose blue badges
distinguished them from the delegates and
regents who had white badge with a blue
bow at the top and who filed every seat in
the auditorium and overfiowed into the
foyer.
General officers.
On the stage was grouped g notable lot
of women, the general officers of the con-
tinentai congress- who are as follows:
President general, Mrs. Daniel Manning;
vice president gel eral in charge Of organ
izatiCn of chapters, Mrs. Albert u. Brock
EFT; vice presidents general, Mrs. Russell A.
Alger, Mrs. n. d. Sperry, Mrs Horatio n
>.
William P. Frye, Mrs. John y. Jewett Mrs
Anita NeWcomb McGee, MD: Miss Mary
Boyce Temple, Mrs. Charles w. Fairbanks
Miss Mary Isabella Forsyth. Mrs Abner
Hoopes, Mrs. Charles ONeil, Mrs. Green
Clay Goodloe, Mrs. Charlotte E. Main Mrs.
Angus Cameron; chaplain general, Mrs
Charles Averatte Stakely; recording secre-
tary general. Mrs. Albert Akers; corre-
spending secretary general, Mrs. Kate
kearrey Henry: registrar general, Miss
Susan Riviere Hetzel; treasurer general,
Mrs. Mark Burckle Hatch; historian gem
eral, Mrs. Mary Jane Seymour; assistant
historian general, Mrs. Robert S. Hatcher;
librarian general, Mrs. Gertrude Bascom
Darwin.
Called to Order.
The hour for convening was 10 o'clock,
but the hour and minute hand met at IL
before the gavel fell, welded by the presi-
dent general Mrs. Daniel Manning of New
York.
Daughters of the American Revolution"
she said, in strong, clear tones, 1.-The eighth
Continental Congress of the Daughters of
the American Revolution is now in ses-
son.'
The chaplain general, Mrs. Charles
Averette Stakely, offered an invocation
closing with the Lords prayer. in which
the congress joined. Mr. Percy Foster then
led the congress in the singing of "Ameri-
ca As the great volume of harmony rose
and rolled through the auditorium one
could not doubt that these women were
loyal to the hearts core to the land where
their fathers died"
The president generals address, which
followed, was a splendid eulogium of the
order over which she presdes, and was
greeted with rounds of applause at every
pointed sentence. In part, it was as fol-
lows:
President Generals Address.
Ladies of the Eighth Continental Con-
gress: 1t was a custom in Athens in the
time of Parir1aS WI fri
congenial comradeship, to part with the
breaking of a white stone, called the tes-
sera. A half was retained by the host and
a half by the guest who was departing
In the after time, whether of months or
years. with the return of the friend was
brought the cleft half of the tessera, which,
fitted to the half in the home of the host
became the white seal of communion re-
newed. So the continental congress comes
back, after years absence, to find in the
loyal hands of the American capital the
pledge OF a fresh welcome, of larger and
more loving hospitality. We meet with
vivid consciousness that we have never
written SO much that so vital in the
volume Of single year There is the
record Of our progress and prosperity, but
there is far more than that-we have
wrought into the history of our souls chap
ter Swallowed by war and stained with
blood The existence of the Daughters of
the American Revolution has been inter-
woven with the fibers of our nations un-
folding; beneath the banner of our nations
glory. The conflict with Spain was not of
our choosing. The mighty palms of an
overruling Providence shaped the epoch and
It's end, leading our army and navy as
with pillars of fire, to an issue that was
down on His plan for the upbuilding of the
world.
Fourth of July, 1898, was a critical day
for our country. When the evening closed
we had reason to thank God for a crisis
passed. The year has been the most nota-
bic In the career of our organization
When the call to arms came on the Dist of
April the Daughters throughout the land
began to seriously consider how best thew
could serve their country, sustain their
government and prove their right to their
inheritance.
Work During the War;
The national board In April decided TO
offer our services society to the Presi-
dent of the United States and the surgeons
general of the army and navy, which mo-
ton was accepted 1t was determined TO
form hospital corps for direct work. The
committee was elected and at once entered
upon its arduous task, the outcome of
which was magnificent. We faithfully
Continued on Tenth Pags.l