Evening star., 1902-05-01
At MOUNT VERN0N
Sons Of American Revolution
P'4.l!:'''
ELOQUENT SPEECHES
PROPOSED STARS. AND STRIPES
MONUMENT IN ENGLAND.
Business Transacted at the Morning
Session Before the Trip
Down the River.

The proceedings of the congress of the
Sons of the American Revolution today
consisted of an interesting business ses-
sion In the morning at the hall in the New
Willard, and exercises at Mt Vernon in
the afternoon. There was a large attend
ance both at the hall and at Mt. Vernon.
The principal event of the business meet
Ing was the discussion and adoption of an
amendment to the constitution providing
for change in the tenure of Office Of the
national officials. Heretofore the consti-
tuition has limited the holding of offices in
the national society to one year. and the
amendment adopted this morning provides
that sthe national officers of the society
WHO shall be elected by majority Of the
members present at the annual meeting
Of the congress Of the national society shall
hold Office for one year and until their sue
cessors are elected"
The discussion of this amendment, which
was favorably reported by the committee
on revision Of the constitution, afforded the
occasion for a display Of the oratorical
abilities of a number of the delegates, and
several stirring speeches were made On the
floor.
The exercises at Mt Vernon included an
grafton by Mr.. John Goode and short ad-
dress by Mrs. Donald Mclean.
The delegates and friends Of the national
congress left the Willard Hotel at o'clock
this afternoon on special cars, which went
direct to the wharf, where the boat was
waiting. The steamer made no stops on
the way to Mt. Vernon, and after disem-
barking the large party gathered at the
tomb Of Washington, where the oration or
the day was made. .
Ex-Representative Goodies Address.
The principal address Of the afternoon
was delivered by the venerable ex-Repre-
sentative John Goode Of Virginia, at the
tomb Of Washington. He said in part:
MI. President, compatriots, ladies and
gentlemen:
IF it be true, Seneca wrote of a lofty
and deeply shaded grove filled with vener-
able trees, whose interlacing boughs shut out
the face Of heaven, that the grandeur of
the wood, the silence of the place, the
shade so dense and uniform. infuse into the
breast the notion of Divinity what must
be the feelings OF patriotism and
reverence awakened in the breast of
ton when he makes a pilgrimage to
this American Mecca with its hallowed
shades, its sacred relics, and it's inspiring
associations. Here are the silent woods in
which Washington was accustomed to
roam. Here are, the beautiful fields and
gardens he cultivated. Here are the state
ly trees he planted Here is the modest
mansion In which he lived with noblest
loved so we'll. Here is his sacred tomb, to
which his ceuntrymen may always resort to
gather fresh inspiration for the proper dis
charge of the responsible duties Of Ameri-
can citizenship. Where else upon this con-
tinent can you find such memorials Of the
mighty past? Where else, can you find such
associations to quicken the pulse and inspire
the hearts Of the young with all those ele-
waited principles and lofty desires which
make ambition virtue?
Named by Lawrence Washington.
"Of course every Son of the American
Revolution Is familiar with the history of
Mt. Vernon, but it may not be inappro-
pirate perhaps, on an occasion like the
present, to recount briefly some of it's Incl
dents. 1t was named by Lawrence Wash
ington, the half-brother of George Wash
ington. in honor of Admiral Vernon of the
British navy, under whom Lawrence Wash
ington served in colonial days during the
war against Spain. George Washington in
herited 1t from Lawrence Washington in
1853. George Washington, by his last will
and testament, devised it to his nephew,
Bushrod Washington Bushrod Washington
devised it to his nephew, John A. Washing
ton. John A. Washington devised it to his
wife, Jane c. Washington. Jane c. Wash
ington devised it to her son, John A. Wash
ington, who sold and conveyed POP acres of
the original tract to the Mt. Vernon Ladies'
Association of the Union, which now holds
the title. 1t is proper to add that Jay
Gould and wife conveyed to the association
an adjoining tract Of thirty-three and half
acres, which was part Of the original Mt.
Vernon estate.
I'VE have thus seen how Mt Vernon was
acquired and how it is now held. How was
it paid for? To Miss Anne P. Cunningham,
the first regent Of the association, and q
highly cultured lady Of South Carolina,
belongs the honor Of originating the idea
that Mt. Vernon should be purchased. not
by the general government, not by the state
of Virginia, but by the voluntary contrlIbu-
tions of the American people, and conse-
Grated forever as sacred to the memory
of the father Of his country. Solitary and
alone she put this ball in motion She la
bored Zealously and increasingly until her
pious and patriotic object was accomplished,
and the stipulated sum of 100000, as the
purchase money, was raised.
Nations Pilgrim Shrine.
I'm rendering honor to whom honor is
due for originating and carrying on to COM
pletion the great idea Of purchasing and
dedicating Mt. Vernon as The Nations
Pilgrim Shrine 1t would be objectionable
to omit honorable mention of Mrs Anna
Cora Mowatt Ritche. the first vice regent
of the association; Of the newspaper press
throughout the country, which generously
lent it's powerful aid; OF the members of
that ancient and honorable order of Free
Masons, of which Washington was a con-
spicuous member; of the school children
who responded to the call with all the ar
dor and enthusiasm of ingenious youth; Of
our noble countrywomen who gave to the
cause the highest energies of their n natures
and the best affections of their hearts, and
last, though notleast. 10 Edward Everett.
the gifted orator of Massachusetts,, who, in
a spirit of unselfish- and dsinterested pat
riotism that was,trply refreshing contrib
uted his valuable time and his brilliant tai
ents for several years, without any reward
whatever, except an approving conscience
and the heartfelt gratitude of his admir-
ing countrymen.s y
The speaker briefly reeounted the history
of George Washington and mentioned i'm
portant incidents in his career Continuing
he said: 50. -
Americas Greatest Son.