The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-12-07

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comes before you to plead the cause
of Southern history. And every town
and city in this state joins in this
<'iCan Of the Past It echoes in
the faint shout of a dyingherospends
ing his last breath in leading des-
perate charge; it rings in the cheers
Of the brave youths as they wave a
farewell to loving friends; it sobs in
the wall Of the women and children
left desolate, and in the last groans
Of the men martyred for deeds Of
aaroism and chivalry.
No people have ever had fairer
heritage of brave deeds done In a
righteous cause, Of noble sires sac
rifcing every good and sweet thing
in life for a cherished principle. 1t
would be a shame to US not to write
these deeds down in such words Of
fire as should warm and illumlne
forever the pages Of future history !!
The Historical Department of our
Division is doing what it can to rouse
enthusiasm in this cause-and its ef-
ferts have been crowned with some
hing Of success. In the past sonle
chapters have always responded 30
The call to be up and doing while
yet it is day. This year has shown
q deeper sense Of responsibility and
8 greater effort on the part Of sew
eral chapters more-to have but one
chapter show an earnest interest is a
great help to the chairman, and more
encouraging is it still, to have three
or four!
The great Importance Of historl-
cal work was formally recognized by
the General Convention at Atlanta
last year, by its creation Of a new
efGcer-A Historian General and
the interest and energy shown by
Mrs. Robinson in her new position,
is an inspiration to all Division His
torians. She has issued two circular
letters during the yea1, to which
your chairman would call your at:
tention, in brief, as involving ques-
tons Of interest to all chapters.
Circular Letter No. / proposes the
formation Of u. D. G. Exchange Ii
braries. The Historian General sug-
gests that all books, papers, etc.,
should be kept in the South, and pro-
poses that each Division provide a
library, adapted to its ability and
needs, to be a depository Of such
collections. In this way all the work
done by the Division would be uni
fed and it's collection made perma-
nent and useful-while at the same
time it's work could be enlarged.
This important subject merits grave
consideration by this Division-one
State has already formed such IL
brary.
In this connection the chapters
are urged not to give up valuable
data Of any kind to outsiders-and
to use their influence against any one
selling to an outside agency the
records which it should be a matter
Of state pride to keep within its bor-
ders.
Circular Letter No. 2 calls atten-
tion to the Essay by Miss Boyson,
which received the one hundred dol
lar prize given by the U. D. c. It
cites instances of misstatement and
eentortion Of southern history, which
it claims defeats the purpose for
which the prize was given-viz: to
secure the truth regarding Southern
history-and therefore begs the
chapters to use their influence to
abolish this annual prize.
This last letter, at the request Of
the Historian General, your chair
man sent, in copy, to all chapters. In
reply three chapters sent notices that
they had passed resolutions con-
demning the continuation Of this
prize. Though only three notiica-
tlons Of formal action were received
there is no doubt that there is wide
spread sentiment against its presen-
tation. This whole affair was most
unfortunate. The object Of our or
ganlzation is to keep alive, in every
way, among our people, the memory
OF noble deeds performed under the
inspiration Of great principle. This
memorial flame is too pure and sa-
cred to be dimmed by any sectional
anlmo>lties or revengeful bitterness.
And yet there are soma in other sec-