The Washington herald., 1909-04-12
WILL PAY TRIBUTE
TO SIGNERS TO-DAY
Descendants to Gather for
First Meeting Here.
MEMBERS YET TO COME
Ars. Mary v. WOrsteII, of New York.
To Give Illustrated Lecture on the
siEners of the Declaration of Iu-
dependence at the Arlington To-
nIght-wm Visit Monticello.

For the first time in the history Of the
National Capital. an organized band OF
lineal descendants Of the signers Of the
Constitution will gather here to-day when
the quarterly meeting Of the board Of gov
ernors of the patriotic society, The De-
scendants of the Signers." will go into
session in the Arlington Hotel.
While the meeting Is only that OF the
board Of governors. a general invitation
has been issued 20 all members TO at
tend, and between fifty and sixty men
and women. aside from officers, will re-
spOnd. From Milwaukee. Cincinnati. New
York. Newport and Baltimore. among
other cities. they are gathering to honor
the memory of their forefathers who set
their names at the bottom OF the most
remarkable document that had ever greet
ed the eyes Of the rulers OF Great Brit
ain. Many OF the descendants WIFI bring
with them heirlooms Of great historic
value that have never up 10 this time
gone out Of the family circle.
Probably for the first time in their lives.
the descendants Of John Adams and
Thomas Jeierson, who were inseparable
friends, viii meet 70 exchange stories
handed down 20 them Of that historic
friendship. The corridors OF the Arling-
ton will be hazy with "reminiscences and
anecdotes.
Some of Those TO Attend.
Among those who will attend from out
of town are Miss Henrietta Chenning FL
lery. Of Newport. a granddaughter Of
William Enery. Of Rhode Island. and Miss
Mary ]. Woods. Of Lewiston Pa, grand
daughter Of John witherspoon. OF New
Jersey. to whose memory monument
viii be erected IN Washington on May T.
Among the residents Of Washington who
belong to the society are:
William Shields SicKeau. founder x the orEani-
zation; Mrs Amos G. Draper. who is a dirg7-1 de
scendaut Of George Walton Of Georgia: Robert J.
Walker. who traces his ancestry 10 BENJAMIN Frank
lin; Airs =. p. II. Beach. Miss Sallie s Beach
Robert Nelson Heury. and Miss RoEena A. Hud-
g,as, descendants Of Garter BraxtOn, Of Virginia
Henry Morris Husband. whose ancestor was Robert
Morris. Of Pennsylvania; Alfred Tuckernan q de-
scendaut Of Oliver WolcUtt, q Connecticut; Arthur
Mathewson and William ". Mathewson. descendants
Of William Williams. q Connecticut and Nlrs. Ed
ward A. Macomber. whose ancestor was John HArt,
OF New Jersey.
Maryland members Of the society are: Rev. George
Washington Dame. James HAYWARD Taylor Henry
+. French. Charles NJ. Cooper Miss Julia Ross
Potter Miss Marian l. Potter and Mrs. Annie D.
Taylor. al Of Baltimore
Virginia and West Virginia are represented in the
organization by Mrs H. l. Valentine Alrs n l.
Hopkins Gibson. Mrs. W B. Packet. Mrs George
y. Wilson. Mrs ". W. Wilson. Mrs. NJ B. Dent
and Ms L. H. Wilson.
The present officers and members OF
board of governors OF the Descendants
OF the Signers are:
Presidezt. Albert Mcclellan Mathewson New Ha-
ven Conn; Treasurer. Henry Morris Husband NJ D.
Philadeiphias Pa; chaplain, Res George Washing
ton Dame, Baltimore, Nd: secretary William
Shields McKean. Washington, d. C.. John Quincy
Adams johnson. YOnkers y. 7; Hollins " Ran
dOlTh Atlanta, Ca; BraIton d. Gibson. Charles
town. W. Va. and John Calvert. Philhdelphia Pa.
Many Applicants for Membership.
At this afternoons meeting about sew
en.y-five applications for membership will
be considered. other business transacted
viii relate to the general welfare OF the
society. which is still in it's infancy. hav-
ing been founded at the jamestown Ex-
position, on October 10. 1907. the ami
versary Of the surrender Of CORVALLIS
TO Washington at Yorktown. in l71. This
years national convention VIII be held
in Philadelphia. on July 4. o. and 6.
Tonight Miss Mary V. WOrstel. Of
New York City. editor OF St Nicholas
magazine. will give an illustrated lecture
in the Arlington. before the members and
their friends. Her subject will be The
signers Of the Declaration Of Independ-
enceS Commissioner H. B. F. Macfar-
land will attend the lecture, and II Re
arrives in time will make an address
preceding It. The president Of the or
gan;zatIon, Alfred Mcclellan Mathewson,
of New Haven. Conn. will give a brief
talk. and there Will be musical pro-
gramme
The principal event Of the present gath
ering will take place tomorrow, when a
pilgrimage will be made to the home and
tomb of Thomas Jefferson. at Monticello
An impressive programme will be given
at the tomb. with addresses by the mayor
of Charlottesville, the regent OF Abe
marie Chapter. Daughters OF the Amer
lean Revolution. and by Judge Mathew
son. Members OF the D. A. R. will give
a musical programme. An original poem
viii be read, and the tomb viii be draped
with floral tributes.
VIII Be UnIverSIfy's Guests.
~ NAdEAVlLSSFAilcs DeIoI6 NlSlIlDE MOnIl-
cello. the descendants VIII be the guests
Of the University Of Virginia. They will
participate in the Founders Day" exer-
cises. which will be followed by a lunch
con on the university commons Martin
]. Littleton, of New York, who will be
the orator Of the day at the university
exercises. will accompany the party to
Jefferson's tomb. where he will make a
short address.
One OF the movements the descendants
OF the signers probably will inaugurate
Will be an investigation Of the condition
OF the graves Of the signers many Of
which are said 10 have been neglected.
and in some cases practically forgotten.
The governments Of several of the orig
inal States have already erected monu-
ments TO their signers. The descendants
hope 10 create a patriotic sentiment in
favor Of a more general recognition Of
the service OF the signers to the nation