The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-30
Sons Of the American Revolution
By Frederic J. Haskin.

~soNOAusAVhary matters. The current patriotic feeling took concrete form first in San Francisco in. the orraniza- tfon of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires
 In the shadow of the Golden Gate. s. 900 miles from the scene of the great conflict for human rights, the first modern patriotic Revolutionary society was formed. Its literature was clrcu- lated throughcut the country and some of 1t reached New York. Some people there did not think that Cali fornia should lead in a movement of that sort. Finally. In 1888, few men gathered in New York and organized the Sons of the Revolution. following an effort at organization in 1875 and again in 1876. Thus the seed planted by California had sprouted at last in the metropolis. ss
 1t was not long before the Revolu4 tionary society idea spread into other parts of the country. The New York Soicety of the Sons of the Revolution, instead of Encouraging the organiza- ton of independent or autonomous so- cieties in other states, "permitted tte organization of uxiiiargs bodies else many peopi& Nsw England wished to have Revolutionary societies. but re- fused to become "auxiiiary' to New York, which had furnished far less Revolutionary troops than New Eng land had. A society was organized in Philadelphia which refused to be aux iiary to the New York society Some New Jersey members of the New York society organized. by correspondents and personal visits. State societies in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey
 Delaware. Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, H. finois, West Virginia. Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.
 A convention of delegates from these societies, including the original caiifor- mia organization, assembled in 1889 at Fraunce's Tavern, New York City, which had been General Washington's headouarers for a time. After a thor ough canvass of the situation, 1t be- came evident that the other State so- cieties would not consent to become auxiliary to New York, and equally evident that New York would insist that they should continue as auxiliary organizations. Then a new Declara- ton of Independence was promulgat- ed. and the Society of the Sons Of the American Revolution was created, by unitine a number of State societies. lust a 6 the thirteen colonies had united to form the American Union.
 That nobody expected or wished Tor two societies was evident from the fact | that 1t was not long before enorts | were made to reunite them. After | time the New York society repealed the | eauxiliaryr clause of its constitution | A joint convention of both bodies was l held in New York in 1893, but 1t failed | to agree upon a treaty or peace and union. Again in 1897 the congresses l of the two organizations met In Gin 1 cinnati and plan was submitted Tor l ratification by a majority of the State societies. As the majority vote was | not forthcoming, the two societies con | tinued on theiR separate courses. There | is still talk of consolidation. Many
 Revolutionary descendants favor 1t, all are on friendly terms with each other | but some say there is room enough for | two organizations.
 | Both societies are prosperous. The New York Sons of the Revolution was reorganized in 1890 at Washington into
 national society with branches ID 1 various States. It's growth Is indlcat-
 ed by the fact that Tn twenty years the membership of the New York l branch has increased from seventy-tive | to nearly 5000 persons. It owns his.
 toric Fraunce's Tavern, the property 1 having been bequeathed to the organi-
 zation by a "peal' son of the Revolu. 1 ton some years ago. In that building numerous conventions and other meet ings of the society are held. The Sons of the Revolution meet every three
 years at Washington In conventions ot
 perhaps 250 or 300 delegates from vari. l ous states. The last triennial was held in 1908; the next will be In 1911.
 In essential principles and qualities
 tiong for membership the two organl,
 zations of sons" are very similar
 There has been some difference of opin-
 ion between them over the question o
 whether the descndants of collatera
 branches of the families of Revoiu
 tionary heroes should be chased a.
 sons" The present constitutions o
 the Sons of the Revolution providei
 that any male person over twenty-on,
 years of age who is descended iron
 an ancestor" who served the govern
 ment during the Revolution, shall b,
 eligible for membership. The consti
 tuition of the Sons of the American
 Revolution provides that any male per
 son twenty-one years old who "is tn,
 lineai descendant" of a Revolutionar,
 ancestor. may become member. Botl
 societies take in descendants of civi
 employees of the colonial national an,
 State governments, as well as of sol
 diers, sailors and marines.
 Each society claims from 12,0o0 t.
 1000 members, but authoritative dat
 shows that the Sons of the America
 Revolution. as an organization, Is out
 stripping the older body. having II ,0O
 members. while the Sons of the Revo lution has 7,500 members In thirt State societies and one in the pistric 1 ! of Columbia. The Sons of the Amerl