Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-11

impress upon the hes, ideals of free
government"
The most graft ,ine result OF this
as. gathering of ii, eel descendants OF
the sig'cr' was -" temporary crSah-
ization of The Descendants OF the
. Signers," which was permanently Gre
ated by the election Of officers, adop-
ton of a constitution, etc. at the Ex-
position on October 10, the anniver'
sary of the surrender of Lord Corn
wallis at Yorktown in 1881. Rapid
progress la teen made. and the Or
ganIzatiIr gives promise " becoming
one of the most prominent and useful
of all patriotic movements. The pri-
mary objects of the organization. as
set forth in its constitution. are for
the purpose of aiding in the preserva-
ton of historical records: to help ed
ucate the people in love and patriot
ism for country: to appropriately
mark and protect the last resting
places of the signers Of the Declare.
ton of independence: TO collect ana
publish instructive material regarding
the life and works of all the signers
of the Declaration Of Independence
and for other patriotic purposes.
The members of this youngest OF pa
triotic organizations. while feeling
Justly proud of their lineage. declare 1t
to be their determination that it shall
be conducted on purely patriotic lines
and that they will welcome to its
| ranks all who might be eligible. In
this connection the greatest care Is be-
ing taken as to the eligibility OF appll-
cants, which are coming in rapidly
/ and from all parts of the world. Every
applicant is required to give undiputed
! proof as to direct descent. and must
be acknowledged before notary pub
lie or such other person authorized by
law to take acknowledgment. The
! form of application for membership Is
very complete and interesting.
The membership Of the Descend
ants of the Signers is now up into the
hundreds. with descendants OF nearly
every one of the fOrty-siX OF the sign
ers Of the Declaration of independence
who left descendants. Nine OF the
signers died without issue. several
never marrying. There are members
of the organization in Switzerland.
France England and Hungary, with
most of the States represented. Thus
far Pennsylvania seems to have taken
the more active interest in the move
ment, although other give good prom
Use. 1t is estimated that there are
several thousand persons. including
; the children, who are eligible to men,
bership
The officers of the organization con-
sist of a president. vice-presidents Tor
all the States, Territories and the Dis
trict of Columbia; a treasurer. a chap
lain and a secretary. all OF whom are
chosen annually. The general AFFAIRS
of the organization are conducted by
a board of governors Of seven mem
bers, including the president, treasu-
rer. chaplain and secretary.
| Plans are being formulated to pre-
pare and progress comprehensive pa
triotic propaganda. Special attention
is to be given to the public schools.
/ to the end that all coming generations
will be more thoroughly informed OF
the country's early history and OF the
deep-rooted and genuine patriotism OF
its founders-of their motives and
principles-theretyi intoxicating more
intelligent and firmer love Of country.
its history and traditions. ever ready,
as we're the signers of the Declaration
of independence. to pledge their
, lives their fortunes and their sacred
honor to perpetuate IT.
The annual meeting of the organiza-
ton is set for July 4. Independence
Day." at Philadelphia. in the old State
House and in the room in which the
Declaration Of Independence was
adopted on July I. 1776. and suose-
euently signed. II is also provided by
| the constitution that all meetings OF
the organization and of the board OF
governors shall be held at some place
prominently identified with Colonial
history. 1t has therefore been sIg-
gested that the fall meeting OF the
board Of governors be held at York
town on October 10 in celebration OF
the close of the Revolutionary war by
the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS.
The present officers and members
of the board of governors OF the De
scendants of the Signers are: Pres,-
dent. Albert Mcclellan Mathewson.
New Haven. Conn; Treasurer. Henry
Norris NJ. D.. philadelphia. Pa; Chap
lain. Rev. George Washington Dame.
Baltimore. Md: Secretary. william
| Shields Mexican. Washington. d. G.:
John Quincy Adams Johnson. Yonk-
| ers. N. Y: Hollins n. Randolph. Allan
tn Ga: Rraxton d. Gibson. Charles
town. w. Va, and John Calvert, Phil
adeIphia, Pa.
The general headquarters of the or
SANITATION are a. washington city. In
the Merchants and Mechanics Bank
building. Pennsylvania avenue and
Tenth street.
Services At Emmanuel.