The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
ORIGIN AND ORGANIZATION OF THE
 UNITED DAUGHTERS OF CONFEDERACY

plished in consolidating the scattered forces of Confederate workers into a united association"
 Immediately after this resolution, Mrs Voorhees, Of California, by request, pre- scented to the convention a beautiful DOT trait of Mrs. Goodlett, which was grace fully received for the organization by the president. Mrs. Snythe. This portrait was the outcome of a plan originated by Mrs Hickman of Tennessee. and Miss Sue Davis of Alabama-a joint gift of many chapters of different states.
 At the same convention during the cleo ton of officers, Mrs. l.. H. Raines of Georgia was unanimously chosen honor ary president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, with the following resolution:
 Resolved. That the United Daughters of the Confectionery take this way of ex- pressing their sense of obligation to Mrs. L. H. Raines of Savannah. Ga, for the active and earnest part taken by her In the organization of this association both in it's earliest days and afterwards. espe- cially in the formation of the charter chapters of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Ken lucky, Indian Territory, Alabama, Vir- ginia, Arkansas, Washington. D. C., and other states.
 , Resolved, That an acknowledgment is due Mrs. Raines as the original suggester of the design of the badge still used by the Daughters of the Confederacy.
 Resolved. That this association also ex- presses it's appreciation of the zeal and courage with which Mrs Raines for nearly year filled the office and did the work of president, vice president and cor responding secretary. owing to the resig- nation of the president and the absence in Europe of the corresponding secretary; after which labor of love, consideration of health and calls of domestic duty caused Mrs Raines to forbid her friends to urge her claims to the presidency of the United Daughters of the Confectionery "a position which she was so well quail flied to fill.'
 But is this the end is the controversy forever settled? One cannot know. The discussion outside of convention is still going on. There are those who hold that Mrs. Raines should be recognized as founder" some say it will never be set tied until all the correspondence and facts are known-not to a committee of seven, but to the convention as a whole; while some believe the resolution passed at San Francisco in error. where it states the question was settled in Wilmington, since a minority report was accepted and since no final decision was reached in open convention, the discussions having
 
 While Mrs. Goodlett and Mrs. Raines are the two ladies most intimately con- nected with the first days of this won derful organization, there is another con spicuous for her work-Mrs John P. Hickman of Tennessee. She bears the unique record of having for ten years all most unanimously pleased the General United Daughters of the Confectionery as recording secretary That there should bax eff tn secretaries was of course to be expected, but each attempt has been a failure. None who attended the Wilmington con- vention can forget the dramatic scenes of that election hour. During the elec- ton of recording secretary other candi- dates were also nominated; Mrs. Hick- man was elected. She immediately re- signed the office, but the clamor and calls from the floor refused to accept the resignation and she was finally again de- clared the recording secretary. At the 18th annual convention at Gulfport, Mrs. Hickman refused longer to serve, and Alabama received this honor. Mrs. A. L. Dowdell of Opelika being chosen U. D. c. secretary.
 Now, while there have been exciting and memorable scenes on the floor of these conventions, good judgment. tact and wisdom have invariably prevailed. proving the remarkable qualities and qualifications of this noble band of wo- men, which from a mere handful, now numbers 50,0O0 members. Virginia claims the honor of having formed the first state division
 Although Alabama can make no claims of this nature, yet she was among the first and bears a proud record.
 The first convention was held in Nash vile, Tenn, and the following officers named: Mrs. M c. Goodlett, Nashville; Mrs. L. H. Raines, Savannah, Ga, vice president; Mrs. Kate Caoell Currie, vice president, Dallas, Tex; Miss May White, Nashville, vice president; Mrs. John P. Hickman, Nashville, recording secretary; Mrs. J. B. Lindsley, Nashville, corre- spending secretary; Mrs w. B. Nancy, Nashville treasurer. The first minutes given to the general public are those of the second convention, held in Atlanta, Ga. These were prepared by Mrs. J. Jeff ferson Thomas, recording secretary, and read before the third convention at Nash vile in 1896. At the second convention there were no state divisions, the con- vention being composed of chapters, which then numbered 35; Mrs. Goodlett presided The third convention met in Nashville and was presided over by Mrs. L. H. Raines. This was a memorable convention, being the first represented by state divisions-three or more chapters nelTS lHe Te4ulSlle ioT ct oifiSiOh. At this meeting there were nine divisions, SS9 cha hapters-Alabama division at that time having seven chapters. But now how is 1t? Texas. which was then fifth from top having only eight chapters now numbers 134 chapters; eight other states have increased in proportion. Of historic information is the fact that out of the IA charter chapters of the 14 states rep resented at the third general convention, 10 of them were formed through the in- strumentality of Mrs. l.. H. Raines of Georgia This third general convention was again noticeable for ordering the printing of minutes in pamphlet form, for the announcement of the distribution of the electrotyped and beautiful certifi- cates of membership, and for the com- pletion of the U. D. c. badge pin. Ala bama should be especially proud of this beautiful association pin. The little flag, with it's stars and bars in white, blue and scarlet, which sits enshrined within a golden wreath of laurel, is reproduc- ton of the flag adopted by the first Con- federate Congress at its first session. held under the dome of the beautiful old Alabama capitol, high sitting on that hill of green.