The Washington times., 1902-05-19
Biennial Convention to
Meet at Arlington Hotel
Tomorrow.
TO BE IN SESSION FOUR DAYS
Several Hundred Delegates From Prac-
tically Every State and Territory in
the Union to Attepd-Fiye From Each
of Thirteen Original States.

The biennial convention of the National
Society of Colonial Danes of America will
be called to order tomorrow morning in
/ the parlors of the Arlington Hotel The
sessions will continue for four DAYS. and
/ will be conducted behind closed doors as
has always been the custom of the or
ganization. The order is one OF the most
exclusive of the national patriotic So
cieties, and numbers among its 1000 mem
bers some of the most prominent ladies'
Of the country. Only those ladies ara
eligible to membership who are direct
lineal descendants of some officer in the
colonial forces or OF some person who at.
tanned prominence in the fight for tho
liberty of the colories. Membership in
the organization is only secured through
an invitation from the society. and those
seeking admission arc Invariably black
balled.
There will be several hundred delegates
to the convention. coming from PRACTICAL
ly every State and Territory in the
Union. The thirteen original States are
each entitled to a representation of five
delegates. while from the other States
and Territories and from the District of
Columbia smaller number is allowed.
The constitution provides that the ses-
sions shall be held in this city every two
years. The last one was April 25. rs. 27.
and IS. 1900. and was productive of many
interesting discussions.
Officers of the Laity.
The meeting will be called to order by
Mrs. Justine Van Rensselaer,. the presi-
dent OF the national association. The Of
fee OF first vice president is vacant, but
the other officers arc: Second vice presi-
dent. Mrs Herbert A. Claiborne of Rich
mond. Va; third vice president. Mrs.
Colt, of Hartford, Conn: secre-
tary. Mrs William Reed. of 100 Monument
Street. Baltimore; assistant secretary
Mrs. j. J. Jackson, OF Baltimore: treas
irer. Mrs. Alexander J. Cassatt. of Phila-
ieiphia; registrar. Mrs. Emil Richter.
Portsmouth. N. H.. and historian. Miss
innie Hollingsworth Wharton.
Owing to the fact that arrangements
or the convention are in the hands Of
he officers Of the national society and not
u the members of the local society the
ature of the program has not as vet
een announced IL it has been thoroughly
prepared. The most important incident
( the convention from the public point
u view will be the unveiling of the Span
81 war memorial monument at Airing
on. at i:30 o'clock on Wednesday. May
l. This monument Is the gift of the
ociety OF the General Government, and
Ill be unveiled with appropriate cerc-
lonies.
On Thursday evening" May q, the Dis
rict OF Columbia Society of the Colonial
ames will entertain the members of the
ational society at the Washington Club,
40 Street northwest. Invitations for
his event have already been placed in
lie hands of those ladies' who are to at
md. The officers Of the Washington So
ETY. include Mrs. Beverly Kennon. presi-
INT: Countess Esterhazy vice president;
rs. Henry Heath, treasurer. Mrs. Rosa
right smith. secretary. and Mrs. Gen.
lillian Henry Brown. historian
Collection of Colonial Relics.
One Of the questions to be considered
the convention, 1t Is understood. will
the consideration OF methods to en-
rye the collection OF colonial relics that
e deposited in the National Museum.
bout two years ago permission was
anted to the society to place a collec-
IN OF relics of colonial times In the
lseum. and 1t is now the desire of the
icers Of the association to greatly en-
rye the collection. 1t is probable that
appeal will be made to the various
ate societies to Cooperate with the ma
'nai society in the work. The New
'rk society. however. is running a mu-
am OF its own. which was opened in the
Van Cortlandt mansion Iarch 27.
~ This old building was erected in
Is. and was only saved from destruc-
n by the timely action Of the society.