The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-07
CITY MUST BURY HIM.
PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES SEND ULTI-
MATUM CONCERNING
GEN. GREENE'S Refinement
CEREMONIES WILL ENTAIL TOO
GREAT AN EXPENSE THEY SAY.

Mr.. r.. It. Waller, Secretary of the
Societies. Explains Position of the
Societies TO Mayor and Council,
and Asks That They Assume
Charge of the CeremOnies-UnIess
This Is Done the Societies VIII Be
Forced to Return the Remains to
the Vault in Colonial Cemetery.
The committees having in charge
the movement to renter the remains
of Gen. Greene sent their ultimatum
to the Mayor and City Council yes
terday. In this communication the
committee stated that the extended
character of the ceremonies as out
lined would entail an expense which
the societies are not able to bear, and
advising that unless the city assume
charge of the refinement ceremonies,
they will be obliged to consign the re-
mains to the vault from which they
were taken with such ceremony as To-
cal resources may supply.
Mr.. r. T. Waller said yesterday that
the action of the committee in sending
the letter was due solely to the lack
of finances. He supposed that if the
city assumed charge it would act in
concurrence with a committee from the
societies. The societies, he said, are
willing and anxious to do all in their
power toward making the ceremonies
imposing, and to this end would be
glad to act in conjunction with the
city. That matter he said, however, is
entirely with the city. The societies
~ mil - Ill.
ton is desired.
Mr.. Waller said that at least $4,000
would be required to make the cere-
monies a success. This amount he said
could hardly be raised by subscription,
even with a most generous public.
Concerning the funds which the Geor-
gia Society of the Cincinnati had re-
ceived from the general society, he
said that he knew little, and he hard
ly thought that those funds could be
devoted to the ceremonies.
The date of the exercises has been
set for Nov. IA. The Daughters of
the American Revolution have their
state convention here on the day fol-
lowing, and it was for the purpose of
having them present at the ceremony
that the date was so arranged, as the
movement to RENTER the remains of
Gen. Greene originated with them.
The letetr which was addressed to
the Mayor and Council and presented
by Gen. w. w. Gordon, follows:
ITO the Mayor and Aldermen of the
City of Observation-Disclosures The I'M
dersigned, on behalf of the Joint com
mittee having in charge the movement
to RENTER the remains of Mai Gen
Nathaniel Greene, respectfully calling
your attention to the conferences here
tofore had with representatives from
your body. beg to suggest that if the
ceremonies on that occasion are to take
the extended character outlined it
would be best that the whole matter
be turned over to the city of Savannah,
the societies here not being in posi-
ton to meet the expenses consequent
upon the programme contemplated.
This is particularly expedent in
view of the attitude of the state of
Rhode Island, and the Society of the
Cincinnati in the state of Rhode ISL
and, which were prepared to elaborate
~ entertain representatives from Geor-
gia had the refinement taken place in
the former state. Should the ceremon-
les remain with the committee. under
the circumstances we do not see our
way clear to anything more than a
simple refinement in the vault from
which the remains were taken, with
such demonstration as local resources
may supply.
In any steps you take it is proper
to remind you that this movement had
its inception in the forethought of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
and that the state convention of this
society meets in Savannah, Nov. Is,
1902" signed, r. T. Waller, secretary
Association of Patriotic Societies COM
posed of the Georgia Society of Colo
NAL Danes of the American Revolu-
ton, Society of the Colonial Wars of
Georgia, Sons of the Revolution in the
state of Georgia, and Descendants of
Gen. Nathaniel Greene