The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-10
VET. CITIZENS
ASSOCIATION
Met at MdthewsOu Street N.
{. Church Yesterday.
T.W BICKNElL CHOSEN PRIEST.
interesting Papers on the HugusnOts 10
Rhode Island Read and Various Mat
ters Of Business Adjusted.
T.. " BICKNElL CHOSEN PRIEST.

q. Clark, DR. Ossian Sumner and Arthur
L. Peck were elected members. and Col.
Daniel r. Ballou and James c. Collins
were proposed
new form OF membership was then
adopted, 10 be added 10 the constitution
after an exciting debate. Vice President
Eaton. acting ds president In the ABB
sence OF Gov. Dyer. then announced
very unpleasant duty the reading OF "A
letter. the resignation OF Gov. Dyer as
resident
GOV. DYER RESIGNS.
lie paid p very handsome eulogy Ia Gov.
dyer for his valuable, eminent services
and greatly regretted his decision Mr..
Iiickneu moved that the resignation be
accepted after Complimenting the govern
or on the performance Of his duties,
which was seconded.
Mr.. j. II Brown moved an amendment,
that COMMITTEES of three be appointed
bv the chair 20 confer with Gov. Dyer
and request his continuance in the onlce
for the remainder OF the official term
which was seconded.
Mr. Brown spoke OF the high regard and
esteem entertained for Gov. Dyer as
urcsdent of the association and deemed
4, a matter OF Official courtesy due him,
ard that on proper presentation he might
withdraw his dcciinatio He thought al
60 the members should have months
constitutional note. as now they had had
only two DAYS. IN the election OF promi-
ytnt officers After very warm, and
Anlrlted debate on the constitutional
rights and privileges OF members the
amendment was lost
After n long and eloquent discussion on
bo,n sides the original motion and resig-
nation was voted on. and was carried by
"a rising close vote.
GOV. DYER'S LETTER
The following ls the text Of Gov. Dyer's
note OF resignation To secretary OF the as
tvctation, Gallagher:
IL beg leave 10 tender my resignation
ns,president OF the II. I. Veteran Citizens
historical associate and ask that the
Enme may be accepted. 1 am extremely
sorry TO do so but / am so much occupied
at present that can not give the society
the attention IL deserves. / have enjoyed
ve;y much my connection with the society
md dislike 10 separate. but IL Is absolute'
Is necessary.
"ELisHA DYER"
col. AMAsA EATON DECLINES.
A motion was then made and seconded
nominating Con Amssa NJ Eaton Tor
president. Col Eaton. being In the chair.
expressed his very many thanks Tor the
high honor rendered. but stated that his
time was so constantly engaged at pres
ent that he regretted very much he must
decline, and his declnauon was ac-
cepted.
The list of oficial presidents was then
called for. and the name OF T. W. Bick-
nell was read after the names OF Hon.
Henry l., Greene and Hon. Amasa M
Eaton and Hon. Thomas w. Bicknell was
nominated by Mr.. Gallagher. The mo-
tion was seconded and he was elected
and in taking the chair returned MS
thanks TO the members for the honor
conferred and announced that he had
been requested TO read a paper by Mrs
Orrin J.. Bosworth OF Bristol, entitled
'''The Huguenots I'm Rhode Island
"HUGUENOTS IN RHODE ISLAND"
II was A very able and interesting his
torical paper and was I'm part as follows;
1T has been said the Huguenots gave
n lustre and a glory 10 every place and
everything they touched. 1t Is impossi-
bic OF course TO conjecture what might
have been had they remained. the infiu-
enoe exerted by these earnest indust-
rious, intelligent people upon Rhode ISL
and colonial history.
MANY OF the F'renchtown Huguenots
were OF the flower OF France, educated
far beyond their English neighbors and
bringing with them the laughter and
sladness OF their sunshiny. vine clad hills
and the ready fact, the elegance Of man
ner. the love Of the beautiful. and that
indescribablc finesse which characterizes
the Frenchman I'm all countries and In
oil climes and OF which our English fore
fathers were often so sadly wanting
Some OF them decided TO remain on
their farms and others later on returned
and their children took up the lands they
had deserted. and 1t is a singular fact
that many OF the Oldest and best known
families Of Rhode Island claim descent
from Huguenot ancestry.
"By inter-marriage. the enerr~ per-
sistency and courage Of the Englshman
uniting with the suavity. viyscity and
elegance Of the Frenchman have produced
an element which has affected out state
intellectually, politically. financially and
socially.
1--WE read " tho dispersion OF tho
Huguenots we know that some OF them
came TO this country. we may even have
chanced 10 notice that they established
themselves in our own state. but 40 many
other matters have claimed our attention
we have failed 20 realize that they be-
came a part Of our own people.
This bit OF Huguenot history like so
many others OF which we read seems at
first dim and far away. but unlike the
others. 81 becomes aglow with interest
when we realize that we can bring II
down 10 our own times. to our own lives
better sull-to our own hresides.
Because We have carelessly failed II
gather up and treasure our family
traditions, ~ may surprise us for the
moment 20 he reminded that the blood
OF these same Huguenots flows IN our
veins and that today We are what we are
because they were what they were"
A vote Of thanks was passed 10 Mrs
Bosworth for her very entertaining paper.
Action on the bylaws wes postponed 20
the next meeting
RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
Mr Bicknen offered cemetery resolu-
tions 10 memorable the legislature Mr..
Hall offered resolution 90 eNpend part
~ the 800 on the cemeteries. Mr..
Chsffee offered complimentary resolutions