Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24

in this country and in Europe until his
death in 1895 in Providence, R. l. He
was a prolific writer, fluent and elo-
quent speaker and an earnest worker.
x
The life history of William Jones Rhees
is well known in Washington. where he
spent most of his days as an official in
the Smithsonian Institution. He was
loved and valued citizen whose death last
spring brought genuine sorrow to many
a heart Apart from his connection with
the Washington association as one OF It's
three founders Mr.. Rhees bore an I'M
portant part in the early days of the fed
Grated effort. He was secretary OF the
first convention in Buffalo in 1854 and
edited and published the proceedings
He was chairman of the committee at
the Buffalo convention to report on ba-
sis of organization of all the Young Mems
Christian Associations. He was secretary
of the second convention at Cincinnati, IN
1855, and appointed on the central com
mittee; also elected foreign secretary OF
the confederated associations and local
secretary for Maryland. District OF Column
bia, Delaware and Virginia. In 1856 he
was secretary of the third convention OF
the Y. NJ. c. A. at Montreal and mem
her of the central committee. In 1S53-6O
he was a member and secretary of the
committee of the Washington City Y. M
c. A. to prepare and publish a volume or
sermons entitled The Union Pulpit, by
representative clergymen of this country
the EXPENSE of which was borne by a Mr.
w T. Smithson. member of the associa-
ton In 1859 he was secretary OF the
Troy convention of Y. NJ. c. A; in 1850
reappointed on the central committee and
secretary Of the sixth district.
In 1851 he was chairman of the COM
mittee of the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION to distribute religious and secu-
lar literature to the soldiers arriving IN
ipJy
use of a large room in the general Post
Office Department. where the business of
receiving and distributing the books,
tracts, stationery, etc, was carried on.
X
Mr.. Rhees was a vice president of the
Boston convention of Young Mems Chris
tian Associations in 1864 and was elected
on the executive committee. In 1853 Mr..
Rhees was appointed chief clerk of the
Smithsonian Institution and private seer
tary to Prof. Joseph Henry. which pos.
ton he held until the latter's death. He
continued as chief clerk under Prof. Baird,
and under a special act of Congress and
appointment by Chief Justice Waite was
acting secretary of the institution in the
absence of Prof Baird.
In 1865 a fire at the Smithsonian 1nSti-
tuition destroyed a large collection of Y.
M. c. A. documents which Mr.. Rhees had
made, and fearing another loss of this
kind he deposited nearly all the material
he then had in his possession, including a
large number of documents sent him by
Richard c. Mccormick of New York,
afterward a member of Congress from
New York. in the Library of Congress,
where they are now permanently pre-
served.
In 1890 Mr. Rhees presented his letter
books on association business and many
papers to the historical library of the
Young Men Christian Association at
Springfield, Mass, and he prepared a
special collection of interesting and valu-
able material for the exhibit of the Wash
ington Y M. c. A. at the Boston jubilee
in June, 1901.
Rev Thomas Duncan, the sole survivor
of the three original members like Mr..
Langdon, entered the Episcopal ministry.
He was a chaplain in the Confederate
army during the war and has served vari
Gus parishes since then, and is now hap
PLY located in a parish near Tenley-