The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-04
DESCENDANTS
OF THE SIGNERS
They VIII Meet at
Monticello.
FIRST At WASHINGTON
Win Be Received by President
Taft.


On Easter Monday. April IL. there
! will be notablye gathering at the Ma
tionsl Capital Of descendants OF the
I signers of the American Declaration OF
Independence. This win be the first
event OF It's kind at Washington city.
therefore especially interesting and his
torical. The occasion will be the guar,
terly meeting OF the Goard OF Govern
ors Of the youngest OF our national pa
triotic organixations--"The Descend
: ants of the Signerss'--composed OF lin
cal descendants Of the men who, In
ITS. created the most Important epoch
IN the history Of the United states
TO this quarterly meeting have been
invited the members of the organiza-
tion generally, for conference as to the
best methods for promoting its welfare
and making It o practical patriotic
movement in every particular, as it's
founders contemplated. In addition to
the usual and the special business in
cidont to this meeting of the Board OF
I Governors an interesting program OF
entertainment has been arranged by
the local members Of the organization.
which includes visit TO the Depart
ment of State to see the Immortal
Document" which was enunciated on
July 4, ITS. by their iilustrious ances-
tors. along with other Interesting relics
of that great event at Phfladelphia
From the Department OF State the
distinguished men and women will go
TO heswhite House. where they VIII be
received by President and Mrs. Taft.
i who have evinced great interest In, the
new Organization. :
Several other social features have
also been arranged for the afternoon
At night the descendants and hoist Of
their friends are TO be entertained az
the Arlington Hotel by an Illustrated
lecture entitled ssrhe Stgpers Of the
Cd by Miss Mary v. worsteIl. of New
York city. editor o. St. Nicholas Maya
zine. This lady has won considerable
distinction a. a lecturer upon historical
SUBJECTS, the one to be delivered at
Washington being Acknowledged as
her masterpieces" In attendance upon
this lecture. which will be preceded by
an attra6tive program OF music ana
brief addresses. will be members of the
Presidents Cabinet, United States Sen
etcrs and Representatives, Army and
Navy ofiicers. foreign diplomats. and
/ other distinguished men and women :,
The meetings OF the Board of Cow
ernors OF the Descendants of the Sign
ers viii be held in the Arlington Hotel.
Pil@rimage to Monticello.
The day following the aboye-nner-
toned events in Warrington April IS.
wal also be notable one In the his
tory of the new organization. II will
be the One hundred and seventy-sixth
birthday Anniversary OF the author Of
the Declaration OF Independence. and
as an appropriate recognition of the
same the members OF the DESCENDANTS
OF the Signers will make pilgrimage
to the home and tomb Of Thomas$Jef-
ferson.-
After arriving at Charlottesville. and
prior to visiting Monticello. the de-
scendants will be the guests OF the Uni
vsrsity of Virginia. participating In
the usual FOUNDERS Day, exercises.
followed by luncheon 81 the Univer-
sity Commons.
At 9 o'clock the spiigrimage" will
start from the campus OF the Univer-l
sity escorted by q committee from the
faculty and students of the University
and Aibemarie Chapter, Daughters Of
the American Revolution. The home
and tomb OF Jefferson being about
three miles from the University q por-
ton OF the pilgrimage" will have to
be made by carriages. which have been
generously rendered by the Mayor and
other citizens OF Charlottesville. who
have displayed intense interest in the
coming OF the descendants OF illustri-
Gus sires.
An impressive program will be rem
fered at the tomb OF Jefferson. consist
ing OF short addresses by the Mayor~of
Charlottesville, the regent OF A1bemarle
Chapter. and by the president OF the
DESCENDANTS of the Signers; vocal mu-
sic by members of the d. A r. Chapter.
reading Of an original poem. and the
etrewing OF flowers and placing of
wFeaths. @R
Mr. Jefferson Levy, OF New York.
owner OF Monticello, Will accompany
the descendants. ana has assured them
of every possible attention. The old
home will be visited after the ceremo-
mics at the tomb.
Origin of The Association.
In reply to an invitation to attend
the first reunion of Descendants OF the
Signers OF the Declaration of indie
pendence which was held at the James,
town Exposition on July 4. 1907. as
part Of the celebration of ''Tndepend-
ence Day" by the Thomas JEFFERSON
Memorials Association OF the United
States. the late Grover Cleveland inn.
pressively wrote:
TT seems to me that a reunion OF
the Descendants OF the Signers Of the
Declaration of Independence on or
about the date when this immortal
document was signed would be most
Impressive incident in connection with
the jamestown Exposition Such a re-
union should have q tendency to stimu-
late patriotic sentiment and arouse
among those who are within Its infiu-
ence a better appreciation Of the initial
efforts of<the fathers of the. Republic
to establish new nation and Impress
upon It the best ideals OF a free gov
eminent"
The most gratifying result of this
first gathering OF Hneal descendants of
the signers was the temporary orRani-
cation of 1.-THE Descendants of the Sign
ers." which was permanently created
by the election of officers, adoption of
constitution. etc, at the Exposition on
October 10. the anniversary of the
surrender of Lord CORVALLIS at York;
town in 1871. Rapid progress has been
made. and the organization gives prom
Use of becoming one of the most promi.
nent and useful of all patriotic move
ments. The primary objects of the or
ganization. as set forth in its constitu-
ton. are "for the purpose of aiding In
the preservation of historical records;
to help educate the people In love and
patriotism for country: to apropri-
ately mark and protect the last resting
places of the signers OF the Declaration
OF independence; to collect and publish
Instructive material regarding the life
and works OF all the signers OF tho
Declaration OF Independence, and for
Z other patriotic purposes"
The members of this youngest OF pa