The evening world., 1902-11-29
In National Convention They
7 Vote an Annuity to Mrs. Nor
rlsOn and Wipe Out Encum-
q hrance on Her Farm.
0UTBURST OF REVERENCE.
Committee Of the College Fraternity
Men Carries the News to Dr. Nor.
Fison's Daughter - She Is Over.
como by Emotion.

Tue national convention of the Phi
'0oata Theta fraternity closed at the
'Aotei Majestic this morning. and for
ne nrst time the pretty story back OF
IN action OF the delegates that brought
thanksgiving Joy to an humble Missouri
tome was told outside the convention
hai1S.
By q spontaneous outburst OF rsver-
Snoe for the memory Of the Rev. DR..
Robert Morrison, the founder Of the
'~eraternity. the encumbrancs on the lit
de farm near Fulton, No.. was wiped
away and an annuity voted to Mrs.
Morrison. A committee carried the word
% Miss Mary Morrison, the attractive
daughter, who has been the guest OF
ehe fraternity during the week. She
was ~speechless.
The Action UnpremedItated.
The action OF the convention was en-
ftrely. unprecedented. When the use
Eul life of the Rev. DR.. Morrison ended
tast July It was known in the fraternity
that he was not a rich man, but few
guessed that his life had been so gen.
Srous that he forgot to keep a compe-
lance for his family.
Immediately after the convention
was called to order on Wednesday one
81 the delegates told OF the money that
san remained to be paid on the farm,
n before the words were fairly out OF
his mouth the representative OF the
New York Alumni Club was on his feet
with an offering OF $3.50. For five min
@tes delegates struggled for the floor to
show their regard for the man whose
saoe was absent from the convention
hah this time for the first in many
gears.
President Ward was forced to call for
1rder and ask the offerings TO be made
slowly enough for the secretary to re-
cord them. In a little over ten minutes
moro than $1,000 was raised. 1t was
more than enough to wipe away the
debt.
Miss Morrison was in the hotel, and a
committee of men who had been most
intimate with her father carried the
Rsws to her. The gift. they said, was in
grateful Remembrance OF the years OF
service which the founder had given
- tho fraternity.
Overcome by Emotion.
Tears came to her eyes and she could
eot speak. 1t was not expected. A tele-
gram to Fulton made Thanksgiving a
happier day to Mrs. Morrison.
Robert Morrison was a student IN
hiami University in Ohio. n in 1S4S
conceived the idea OF the Phi Delta
Theta fraternity. He called Ave OF his
friends around him In his room. and to-
gether they laid the foundation of the
aPRa pi1atiOs fhak pnuy has Hhantpra In
sixty-eiGht OF the largest universities
and colleges in the country and a mem
bership roll of 1900.
While at Miami he helped to initiate
Benjamin Harrison into the order. and
ais stories of the college life of the late
Sx-Presldent were always one of the In
teresting features OF the convention.
After being graduated from college he
studied for the ministry. spending part
Of the time at Princeton. He was looked
upon as one OF the most promising OF the
younger Presbyterian clergy. but in
stead Of fame he chose a life among the
mission churches of the West.
One church after another he freed
from debt by ~tireless energy, leaving 1t
In charge OF a younger man, to do a
similar work in another place. Dozens
OF Missouri congregations owe much to
him and his work. In Westminster Col
lege. Fulton. Mo-. is the following in
Bcrlption:
Memorial in the College.
an commemorauon OF the eightleth
birthday OF the Rev. Robert Morrison,
%. D.. a distinguished Presbyterian min
ister whose work freed this college from
debt. Insured It's future and won for him
the gratitude of all its soma"
When he bought the little farm sev-
sral years ago he wrote to a friend in
the fraternity:
THE house is old~-fashioned. with large
rooms and plenty of outbuildings. The
place Is beautiful FOR situation. l bought
II as a desirable home for my family In
che years to come after 1 have passed
away"
But death came to him last July be-
fore the home was all his own,