The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-05-16
MRS. DOWDELL'S
ANNUAL ADDRESS
Oelive cred at Demopolis at the Con-
,ss vention of the Alabama
Division. u, d. C.

Delivered at Demopolis at the Con-
Isl vention Of the Alabama
Division, q. d. G.
The following Is the annual address of
the President of the Alabama Division,
United Daughters of the Confederacy,
delivered by the President. Mrs. A. L.
powdell of opeiika at Demopolis. on
Tuesday morning:
tile of perfect happiness comes in with
hmitless aow. and I can but feel that
such moment Is mine as stand IN your
presence. today, to greet you ofhciaiiy /
you Of the growth and the success that
has crowned the Alabama Division.
When look back, recalling the nu-
merous duties of the past year, 1t seems
that twice as many months have crowded
themselves into the year since you hon.
ored me with the exalted position Of your
presiding officer.
The work has been arduous and filled
with anxiety for the welfare and develop
ment of all the objects of the Division
From my excellent predecessors i re-
lCeived inspiration, and the honor TO me
was greater because elected to follow In
their eteps and the duty devolving upon
ne to improve and cultivate the seed
planted with love and patriotism. in ex-
pectation of a richer harvest. has indeed
been q sacred trust The work has been
one Of love; each letter written. each re-
ceived, has afforded me pleasure.
In all matters requiring my decision
have tried to be just and impartial; and
now as you win review the work OF the
year. / crave place in your hearts ana
beg you will think of what | desired to
do. and not simply of what has been
done. for my desires for the organization
have 20 far exceeded the results. that
have oftentimes wished that l might stay
the wheels of time until many months OF
work had elapsed before presenting the
annual report.
70 renew friendships and to meet the
enthusiastic women of the Marengo Rifles
Chapter. together with tho friends in this
hospitable city of Demopolis, is sweet and
.pleasant--but far holier motives actu3te
tour gathering here in convention. We
come to renew our pledges and to discuss
ways and means to perpetuate In the
hearts of coming generations the South
sern Confederacy, which should live for
ever In the dignity of honest purpose, and
the grandeur of heroic sacrifice.
Only four Chapters have been organized
during the year, and one Of these was was
convention. The four new Chapters are:
William H. Forney, at Admission: Jeffer-
son Davis, at Hurtsboro; James Canty.
at Scale AMI the John H. Forney. at
Ihave not ben idle along this line, hav-
ing made great efforts organize Chap
tiers at Gadsden. Montevallo, Sheffield,
Ozark, Roanoke, Dadcville, Wetumpka,
sCoiumbiana, Avondale and other places.
For the convenience of my successor,
mention these places. that she may know
where to take up the work left unfin-
Committee on Chapter Extension
would greatly assist the President in her
efforts to extend the work. | am en-
couraged to believe that the Division has
increased numerically, although there are
only four new Chapters to report. have
signed and mailed nearly three
These were for the most part
old chapters and indicate either
growth or that the chapters are going
over the ground and bringing the mem
all Daughters to secure their certificates
of membership. have written nearly five
hundred letters and postals, answering all
On February Is the Executive Board
met at my home in Opelika. Four State
officers and nine directors were present.
and three chapters cent proxies. This
meeting was reported In The Advertiser.
Miss Hobson, our esteeded Historian.
found It necessary to resign her Office in
February, and 1T was my pleasure to APP
point Mrs. Harvey Z. Jones as her sue
cessor.
- Because OF the recent great sorro "
in her home. Mrs. Isaac Ross resigned
the position of Corresponding Secretary
and Mrs. Wiley w. Williams was APP
pointed to the Office
You are more or less familiar with the
adoption of the Sunday Advertiser as the
officiai organ of the U, d. c. of Alabama.
After comforting with number of the
State Division. the generous offer of The
Advertiser was accepted and the Presi-
dent became editor-in-chief with two as
slsfent editors. With very limited expert
ence In such matters. we have done our
best, and from many chapters and in
dividuals words of approval and apprecia-
ton have been received For the efficient
help Of the co-editors would express APP
a a N hnh a1 Af fhp
! vision. ! wish TO thank The Advertiser
for the many courtesies extended to the
Alabama Daughters. You have been en-
abied through the organ to keep in touch
with what has been done in the Division,
% that only brief reference to the va
rious interests is necessary at this time.
The Treasurer will tell you of the "Old
Soldiers Fund.-" really the chief work
OF the Division. and you will please devise
ways and means for caring for the noble,
battle Scared veterans who stand great
~ in need. ] am not unmindful of the no.
BILE work of local character. erecting
monuments, preserving relics, etc, that
the various chapters are doing, but let us
rally with love and pride to the State
Fund for Old Soldiers and provide for it's
permanent maintenance.
THE Confederate soldier set the pace
for the world in loyalty. courage and
patriotism" The lessons of that long
struggle. the trials and sufferings Of the
SOLDIERS in grey" the heroism of the
men will live forever in song and story to
inspire true womanhood to noble deeds
Let us do first what we can for the liv-
ing, not forgetting to perpetuate in his
tory and in stone and marble the gloriou:
deeds Of those gone before.
would recommend for your consdera-
ton, the children of the Confederacy
The young of the South need your care
and II is time we enlist their interest
and have them know the truth and learr
something OF the unparalleled bravery
OF the Confederate soldier. In this de,
partment of our work, Alabama ranks
low in the list and in patriotism anc
pride would like to see her point the
way" and take her place as she does al
alphabetically. First, l suggest a commit
tee on children of the Confederacy.
Could we not promote the educationa
interests of our Division by seeking from
generous school boards. principals ant
4 lnstitutinns. free schnla rshins for amhl