Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-11
Descendants Of Signers of
Declaration Of independence

On Easter Monday. April u. there
will be notable gathering at the Ma
tional Capital of descendants Of the
signers of the American Declaration OF
Independence. This will be the first
event Of it's kind at Washington city
therefore especially interesting and
historical. The occasion will be the
quarterly meeting of the board OF gov.
errors Of the youngest Of our national
patriotic orsanizations-"The De-
scendants of the Signers
of lineal descendants of the men who.
in 1916. created the most important
epoch in the history Of the United
States.
To this quarterly meeting have been
invited the members Of the organiza'
ton generally, for conference as to
the best methods for promoting its
welfare and making 1t a practical pa
triotic movement in every particular.
as it's founders contemplated. In ad-
dition to the usual and the special
business incident to this meeting OF
the board of governors an interesting
program of entertainment has been ar
ranged by the local members OF the
organization. which includes a visit to
the Department Of State to see the
Immortal Document" which was
enunciated on July 4, 1776. by their
illustrious ancestors. along with other
interesting relics of that great event
at Philadelphia.
From the Department OF State the
distinguished men and women will go
to the White House. where they will
be received by President and Mrs.
Taft. who have evinced great interest
in the new OF organization.
Several other social features have
also lpen arranged for the afternoon.
At night the descendants and hosts OF
their friends are to be entertained at
the Arlington Hotel by an illustrated
lecture entitled The Signers OF the
Declaration of Independence present.
ed by Miss Mary v. worstell. of New
York City. editor of st. Nicholas Mag
azine. This lady has won considerable
distinction rs lecturer upon historl-
cal subjects the one to be delivered al
Washington being acknowledged as
her masterpiece" In attendance up
on this lecture. which will be preceded
by an attractive program Of music and
brief addresses, will be members Of
the Presidents Cabinet, United States
Senators and Representatives. army
and navy officers. foreign diplomats.
and other distinguished men and wo-
men,
The meetings of the board Of COVER
nors of the Descendants of the Sign
ers will be held in the Arlington Hotel.
Pilgrimage to Monticello.
The day following the above men
toned events in Washington. April ID.
will also be a notable one in the his
tory of the new organization. 1t will
be the one hundredth and seventy
sixth birthday anniversary of the au-
thor of the Declaration OF Independ-
ence, and as an appropriate recognl-
ton of the same the menters OF the
Descendants of the Signers will make
a pilgrimage to the home and tomb
of Thomas Jefferson.
After arriving at Charlottesville.
and prior to visiting Monticello. the
descendants will be the guests of the
University of Virginia, participating in
the usual Founders Day" exercises.
followed bv a luncheon at the Univer-
sity Commons
At 2 o'clock the pilgrimage" will
start from the campus OF the Univeri
sity. escorted by committee from the
faculty and students of the University
and Albemarle Chapter. Daughters OF
the American Revolution. The home
and tomb of Jefferson being about
three miles from the University por-
ton of the pilgrimage" will have to
be made BY carriages, which have
been generously rendered by the may
or ami other citizens Of Charlottes-
vile, who have displayed intense in
terest in the coming Of the descend
ants of ill1strious sires.
An impressive program will be rem
dered at the tomb of Jefferson. con-
sisting Of short addresses by the may
or of Charlottesville, the regent OF A.
bemarle Chapter. and by the president
of the Descendants Of the Signers:
vocal music by members OF the D. A.
r. Chapter. reading Of an original
poem and the strewing Of flowers and
Placing Of wreaths.
Mr.. Jefferson Levy, of New York,
GuIer of Monticello, will accompany
the descendants, and has assured
them Of every possible attention. The
cid home viii be visited after the cer-
cmonies at the tomb.
OriQin 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 he'd at the
jamestown Exposition on Jsly 4. 1891
as part Of the celebration OF "Inie-
pendence Day" by the Thomas Jeher-
son Memorial Association q the Uni
ted States. the late Grover Cleveland
impressively wrote:
"It seems TO me that q reunion OF
the Descendants Of the Sisners OF the
Declaration Of Independence on or
about the date when this immortal
document was signed would be most
ix,eiAna4 In cnnnocii0a nth