The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-15
THE CONVENTION HELD ITS FIRST SEES
SION YESTERDAY.
Ovation for Mrs. Stonewall jackson.
Very Interesting Opening Exercises.
e Ayeock and the Hon. Alfred
Moore wadden Among the Speakers.
Magnificent Reception The Jeh
Davis Monument

Vention yesterday at lO:3O O'CLOCK at
the Y. NJ. c. A. auditorium. The at
tendance included delegates from all
over the south and from many north
ern states. The hall was packed with
visitors, and those who looked in on the
. convention saw the most representative
body of southern women that was ever
seen in Wilmington.
Just before the convention was cali
ed to order, Colonel T. w. Foster, who
is a federal veteran but who has resid-
ed in Wilmington many years and is
one of our most successful
turers, presented the ladies with a gavel
made from timber from the historic
mansion of Cornelius Harnett, the
Cape Fears revolutionary patriot, who
resided at Hilton, in the northern part
of the city. The gavel is made of red
cedar from the posts of the piazza and
the handle is of walnut taken from
a handsome one and it was used in the
days proceedings. The ladies highly
appreciate the souvenir.
Mrs. Edwin G.. Weed, of Jacksonville,
: Fla. president of the United Daugh-
tiers of the Confederacy, called the con-
vention to order and the programme
was opened by the singing of Our
Southland words composed by Miss
-Adelia Dunovant, historian of the Tex
as Division, United Daughters of the
~Confederacy. 1t was sung to the tune
of America, with Mrs. Alfred NJ. Wad-
dell as accompanist. The singing was
by the entire audience. lead by a
choir composed of Miss Annie Hart,
Miss Matte Lee Horne, Miss
Norma Foster, Mrs. Joseph Waters.
Mrs. E. K. Bryan, and Miss Annie Ad-
rian.
The Rev James Carmichael, D. D..
r rector of st. Johns Episcopal church,
( then repeated the Lords Prayer and
closed with a beautiful invocation.
FLAG PRESENTATION.
After the prayer, the president an
nounced that a ceremony would take
place with reference to a handsome
Confederate flag presented to the Unit
ed Daughters of the Confederacy by
Mrs. Mollie r. Macgill Rosenberg, of
Texas. to commemorate the memory Of
her father and mother Dr.. and Mrs.
Macgill, of Hagerstown, Maryland.
The presentation speech, which was
very interesting and most attentively
listened to. was made by Mrs. Corne-
liza Branch Stone, of Galveston, Texas.
She gave an account of a long and use
1 full life of the two splendid persons who
Swere true to the south and underwent
great vicisitudes and suffering in their
Maryland home which was the theatre
of war for long periods. While the
presentation was being made the beau
tifuI flag was gracefully held by Miss
Kate l.. Daffan, of Ennis, Texas, secre-
tary of the Texas division, United
Daughters of the Confederacy and one
of the most charming ladies in the con-
vention. The flag was held in various
pretty poses and was waived over the
excellent and accomplished president,
who received it with appropriate and
chaste remarks. The incident received
very hearty applause.
OVATION TO MRS. JACKSON.
At his point, Mrs. Stonewall Jackson
who had been given a seat on the rOs-
trum and introduced by Mrs. Weed.
"A The audience rose to it's feet and ap-
plauded and cheered and many people
were so overcome by emotion that they
wept. Mrs. Jockson bowed and in a few
words acknowledged the demonstra-
ton, saying she was glad to be present
and receive the greeting of the people
of the south. She then secured her seat
amid applause. All were r~ejoiced that
she appeared to be in greatly improved
health.
THRICE WELCOME.
Mrs. William NJ. Parsley, president
of Cape Fear Chapter of this city, well
coined the convention on behalf of the
Daughters of the Confederacy CT Will
minston. She made a brief but happy
speech. and was heartily %applauded
- when she finished.
- a male quartette composed of Messrs
c. II. Cooper, r. c. Banks, j. S. Will
liams and H. K. Holden, then sang
Old Kentucky Home" They sang this
lovely southern song in a most beauti-
full manner and it called forth the most
.appreciative applause.
MAYOR wADDELL SPEAKS.
The Hon. Alfred Moore Waddell,
mayor of Wilmington, was introduced
and welcomed the convention on the
part of the city. He said:
Madame President and Ladies:
II esteem it an honor and a privilege
to welcome you, on behalf of the good
people of Wilmington. to the hospital
tiles of this city.
You are on ground as historic as any
in America, although, by a strange fate
the facts which make it so ave been
generally M to the people of the
81 other states. Among these facts, which
hav long been established beyond the
possibility of controversy. are these:
81. Sixteen miles below Wilmington
r on the west bank of the Cape Fear river
where the ruins of ST. Philips church