The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09

MONG the charter officers the
AA founder was past president ana
~ Tina l.. Kane the president, but
these were not installed with the other
officers until the following March. Dur
ing the first few months of It's eN-
istence Ursula Parlor had great
deal to do in arranging the details TOT
carrying on the work of secret society
and the adoption of satisfactory en-
blem. At first a spotted deer was select
ed, but that did not meet with general
approval, and Minerva, the orifiamme'
sheaves of wheat and mystic letters r.
d. F. A. was adopted. This has since
been supplanted by the present emblem.
consisting of crossed American and bear
flags supporting wreath of laurel ana
oak. at the bottom of which is ribbon
on which appears the letters n. ID. G.
w, the whole surmounted by a glittering
star.
After the institution of the first nine
parlors, Ursula issued plan for the for
nation of Grand Parlor, and this being
ratified, there was a call for delegates
from the seventeen parlors to assemble
in Pioneer Hall in San Francisco, July %,
1887. when the first Grand Parlor was es-
tablished.
Since the organization of the first Grand
Parlor the order has continued to grow
in number of parlors and members until
it has at this time increased from seven
teen parlors at that time and less than
a thousand members to ninety-seven par
lors with more than 5000 members.
The order has had several constitutions
1o6
until now it is one of the first class ben
eficial and charitable societies of the
Coast. and the wonder is that its mem
bership is not double what it now is.
Each of the grand presidents, and there
are on the list many who have proved
themselves most intelligent and capable
women, have done what in their judg-
ment was an Improvement on the work
of her predecessor. Whatever was done
along that line was for the purpose of
drawing favorable attention to the work
of the organization and to induce the
membership to advance the interests of
the State.
In following out the suggestions offer
ed by the different presidents, the mem
bers in many sections of the State have
done much to beautify the public places
and many a neglected public park has
been made attractive under the super
vision of the Native Daughters. They
have, in the south particularly, giver
much attention to the preservation o1
the missions which have fallen into de-
cay; they are also taking an interest ir
the proposed restoration of the great
highway which extended from San Diego
to San Francisco in the days of the
Padres They have interested themselves
to the extent of getting the people anC
officials of the counties through which
the great highway passes to take a deeI
concern in the matter.
In addition to this the Native Daugh
ters have devoted much attention in tn
work of preventing the total destruction
of California wild flowers. Some say tina
this is only matter Of sentiment, ant
that the wild flowers will take care O.
themselves in the future as they have il
the past, but it is a noticeable fact tina
much of the most beautiful fora of tn
Golden State Is becoming more scare
every year, and It is only by planting ant
cdltlvating, as the Native Daughters hav
been doing in various sections Of tn