Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-04-23
A MEMORABLE EVENT.
Organization of Janet Montgomery
Chapter, d. A. R., at the Old
Hungerford Tavern.

hiCiiNo, III II was upOH Tic UIiSIlt AIT
beautiful afternoon of that day that the
impressive ceremonies were performed al
the historic old Hungerford Tavern, in Rock.
vile, which launched that hopeful organi-
cation upon its promising career. The in
terest of the occasion was heightened by
the weather of perfect day in spring and
by the presence of a number of distin-
guished visitors from distance, among
whom may be mentioned Mrs Donald Nc
Lean, the popular and brilliant retiring
PreSdent-General of the National d. A.
R., daughter of the late Hon. John
Richie, of Frederick Mrs. j. Pembroke
Thorn, State Regent of the Maryland D. A.
R.; Mrs. Thomas P. Anshutz. of Washing
ton, Pa, a member of the Russell family
Mrs. Thomas H. Whiting, Treasurer of the
New York City Chapter, D. A. R.; Mrs.
Ida Murphy Shirk, of Indianapolis, Ind,
a descendant of the Talbot family of
Maryland and charter member of Janet
Montgomery Chapter. who came all the
way from her western home to be present
at the organization Miss M. S. Lyman, of
Washington, D. c.; Mrs. Sarah j. Paine.
of Chicago. ILL.,; Mrs. Philip A. Beatty. of
Baltimore, and Miss Mary Dow Strader, of
Beverly, w. Va.
When, for the first time in several years,
the ancient Hungerford Inn was thrown
open early Friday morning. large Ameri-
can flag foated gracefully over the vine-clad
portico; the interior was resplendent with
tasteful and brilliant decorations, in which
the State and National colOrs predOmina-
ted, delicate charm being added by ever
green boughs and wreaths of native flow
ers of the olden times the lower rooms
were quantity furnished with rare relics of
the continental days. lending a cozy and
home-like aspect to the scene and offering
an old-fashioned Maryland welcome to
all who cared to enter. and every detail
was in perfect order for the ever-memOra-
BILE occasion which had been looked for
ward to with so much interest and pleas
ure by the prospective members of the
county chapter.
1t was especially appropriate that a
chapter of patriotic organization such as
the Daughters of the American Revolution
should be brought into existence within
the walls of the old Hungerford Tavern,
the oldest building in this vicinity-a rude
memorial to the Spirit of '76"-in which
the immortal Washington, Jefferson, Jack
son. Clay. Calhoun, and other noted men
of olden times were entertained as guests ;
where political councils of momentOus i'm
port were held, and upon the grounds sur
rounding which the forces of General
Braddock pitched their tents for rest on
their way to the mountainous wilds in
which their commander met his tragic
fate. The building was for many years
the property and home of Mrs Susan Hood
Worthington Russell later it descended to
her daughter. Miss Mary Mcpherson Rus
sell, and now belongs to Miss Lucy RUSSELL
whose present residence is in Washington,
d. c. and who was represented at the Or
ganization ceremonies by her niece, Miss
Mary Russell Bradley.
1t was nearly O'Clock in the afternoon
when the organization ceremonies were
begun, the Daughters being INDUCED for a
while in exchanging hearty greetings and
peeping into every corner and Granny of
the quaint old inn. The ceremonies were
by Mrs. Morris L. Croxall, Re-
gent for Montgomery county. who called
the gathering to order and presented the
Rev Thomas S. Childs, of Chevy Chase,
Md, Chaplain of the District of Columbia
Society of the Sons of the American Rev
who delivered an eloquent and i'm
pressive invocation. Mrs. Croxall with
charming grace and elegant expression.
then addressed the assembled company.
presenting the charter members to the
visiting officials of the d. A. r., citing the
history of the organization about to be
perfected, extOlling the womanly virtues
and worth of Janet Montgomery (wife of
Gen Richard Montgomery, the revolutionary
hero who fell at Quebec. from whom the
Montgomery chapter takes its name, and
announcing the following officers for the
initial term:
Mrs Morris L. Croxall, Regent Mrs Henry
T. Newcomb. Vice Regent; Mrs. f. j. Harris
horne, Recording Secretary; Mrs. j. Harry
Cunningham, Historian; Mrs. William II.
Talbot, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs.
David H. WarfieId. Treasurer. and Miss
Margaret Fields. Registrar.
Mrs. J. Pembroke Thorn. State Regent,
was then recognized. In formal phrase
she spoke the magic words which made
Janet Montgomery Chapter full-fedeed
county organization, closing with words OF
hearty cOneratulation that the chapter was
able to begin with the large enrolment of
forty charter members and bespeaking
most successful and useful career for the
new organization.
Mrs Donald Mclean, the able and el0-
ouent President General of the ID. A. X,
then rose and addressed the assemblage.
She said that she spoke not only as the pre-
siding officer for the past four years OF the
GREAT organization of which Janet Mont
6omery Chapter now formed part, but
as a neiehbor and devoted friend of the
people of this county, who in years gone
by had extended unfailing friendship and
support to her beloved father. the late
Judge John Richie. She recalled that in
the days of her infancy, in the conclave
of the family. she had often heard her
father say in times of political competi-
ton, Now, there is Montgomery county
we can always count on old Montgomery
Mrs. Mclean paid beautiful and touch
ing tribute to her native State of Mary
land, and said that she never set foot upon
its soil without feeling a thrill of peculiar
pleasure such as eladdened her heart in
no other place on earth. In speaking oil
the large membership of forty with which