The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-17
D. A. R. CONGRESS IN SESSION,
THE DAUGHTERS MEET IN THEIR
UNFINISHED HALL.

Presldes and Delivers an Address or
WelcOme-The Han Decorated with
Dark Green Cloth, Flags and Plants.
WASHINGTON, April 18.-The fifteenth
continental congress of the National
Society of the Daughters Of the American
Revolution was called to order this morning
at 1880 O'Clock in the yet unfinished Memoir"
ial Continental Hall of the society. The
president-general, Mrs. Donald Mclean of
New York, presided. There was not an
inch Of available space in the large audi
torium which was not occupied by an
enthusiastic woman, befrilled and be-
rufied with gay spring attire, while scores
of them stood in the aisles. The prayer
OF the chaplain general, Mrs. Hamlin, wife
Of the Rev. Tuenis S. Hamlin, pastor OF the
Church OF the Covenant, invoked the divine
blessing Upon the Daughters, their work,
their hall and their fifteenth congress
and thanked the Almighty for their pros
perity and harmony.
The address of welcome of the president
general was an extemporaneous oQe. Mrs.
Mclean was handsomely gowned in white
crepe de chine, with embroidered bodice,
and wore q toqueo Of dull red, with a band
Of red roses around it. She paid a hand
some tribute to her predecessor, Mrs. Fair
banks, In her u~ntiring energy in behalf OF
Continental Hall and the results obtained,
and announced that she had tried to follow
and hoped to continue TO follow in the same
ines which had brought alb out such Sue
cess. She referred to the sl75 900 which
had been expended upon the hall and ground
up to the day of the assembling of the last
congress, leaving the treasurer Of the fund
with only 81, 900. To-day, she said, they had
In hand $50, 900 and hoped this congress
would produce mora over thar they had
ever had before.
Mrs. Mclean admonished her sisters to
gather themselves together for the purpose
Of enlightening the ignorant, referring
especially to the great influx Of ignorant
foreigners, and implored each one to make
1t her personal duty to instruct and en-
tighten every soul she found who needed
1t. She closed her address with an apos-
trophe to the North Star, the Southern
Cross, the Star OF the East and q new star
which shall represent the progress Of
woman. She was interrupted frequently
by the applause which rang long and loud
at the finish.
As Mrs. Mclean resumed her seat N the
PLATFORM, where she was sulIOuICtu w lAO
members of the national beard Of the society,
a large American flag was drawn from the
gallery across the auditorium until II fcated
from the centre Of the ceiling, where 1t was
| fastened amid the white drarery which
formed q canopy inside the glass ro9i
and was festooned TO the side walls. II
was surmounted with a laurel wreath and
white streamers.
The address was responded TO by Mrs.
A. A. Kendall Of Maine, Mrs. Charles, b.
Bryan Of Tennessee, Mrs, William :; init
, Of Ohio, Mrs. l.. Bradford Primo OF New
| Mexico, Mrs. John L. Stevens of Iowa,
Mrs. John X. Walker Of Missouri and Mrs:
Mary Wood Swift Of California, sister OF
Gen. Leonard Wood. The session closed
Banner' by Miss Edith Pickering, accom-
panied by Percy s. Foster, who has charge
of the music of the congress, in WINCH
capacity he has served the women for the
last eight years. D.,
dark green cloth, which covered the as yet
undeoorated walls, and over the centre OF
the stage hung a large portrait OF Martina
Washington, festooned with a flag and arts
tic green's. In one box over me slaEe Vas
Bessie Mclean. At the opposite side, in a
| corresponding box, wasMrs, Daniel Lothrop,
founder Of the Children Of the American
| Revolution Society, with the other officers
Of that organization.
At the afternoon session, Immediately
after the roll call, TO which LAP New YORK
delegates responded, Henry st. George
Tucker formally invited the delegates TO
visit the Jamestown Exposition, and e1;
pressed tho hope that the society wouIo
erect a building at jamestown.
Mrs. Mary Wood Swift made a speech in
which she urged the daughters to cease
| their worship Of ancestors and heroes and do
something toward making history;
The President-G General then read an invi-
tation from Mrs. Fairbanks, wife OF the Vice
President of the United States, and former
president-general of the society, for a re-
oeption on Wednesday afternoon from 4 to
o'clock. The invitation was accepted amid
applause, and a vote OF thanks was passed
The evening session was omitted from the
programme in order that the delegates
might attend the benefit performance OF
Money Talks at the Belasco Theatre, the
proceeds Of which will go TO the Continental
Hall fund,
The approaching election Of officers
has excited great interest among the dele
gates and much quiet electioneering ls
already in progress. Ten vice-presldents
general, two honor ice-Presidents-general
and the editor and business manager of
the American Monthly Maorz zine will be
voted for. Among the candidates for these
Offices are Mrs. Althea Randolph Bedle OF
New Jersey, Miss Clara Lee Bowman OF
Connecticut, Mrs. Charles r.. Berry of
New York, Mrs,R. j. Barker OF New Jersey
and Mrs. William d. Kearfoot of New Jersey.
A lively fight is expected to develop,
over the candidate for vioe-president- general
from New York State. Mrs. Charles Il.
Terry, who is one Of the leading candi7
dates, will be opposed, not on personal
grounds but because New York State al
ready has a e-president-ge general whose
term will not expire until next year, and
many OF the delegates object to New York
having two ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The
elections will be held on Thursday.