Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-17
D. A. R. CONGRESS.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The twentieth continental congress
Of the Daughters Of the American Rev
olution today will DO able to congratu-
late itself upon q constantly increas-
ing growth which will place its mem-
bership very near a hundred thousand
names before the organization COM
pletes its majority. The society Of the
Daughters OF tho American Revolution
will really pass It's twenty-irst birth
day this year. as the first meeting for
the purpose Of organization was hold
in Washington in December. 1890, al
though the more formal congress was
not arranged until the following
spring. Certainly no similar society
can show SO rapid q growth In 50 short
time.
The magnificent building known as
Memorial Continental Hall, erected by
the Daughters Of the American Revo-
luton for their permanent headQuar-
tiers, is q fitting monument to the work
Of these women, as well as a notable
addition to the buildings Of the Ma
tional Capital. In this hall are being
collected historic relics Of many kinds.
a library OF rare value and a quantity
Of historic manuscripts and documents
arranged with every possible precau-
ton for their preservation and useful
ness. In less than i've years this beau
tiful building has been erected and
furnished. and during tho past two
years the debt Of 5000. 900 upon 1t has
been reduced by $4,000. This in itself
speaks we'll for the financial ability Of
the ladies having matters in charge.
-.
While the amount Of money required
for the payment upon their building
would be .
Every State Shares heavy tax
D. A. r. Benefactions. orx.ni "a
tions. 1t does not interfere with the
generosity OF the Daughters a. dis
pensed through their various chapters
in the different states in the Union.
No other body Of women has ever
raised and expended SO much money
for philanthropic work. During the
past year the public in every state has
benefited By d. A. r. benefactions. Some
Of these amounts TO thousands Of
dollars in single town. as in
Herkimer, n. T.. whore a twenty
thousand dollar bronze statue OF
Gen. Spinner was given to his ma
tive town. Several different chapters
are expanding hundreds Of dollars each
year upon scholarships in schools and
colleges. 4 number OF night schools
for immigrants have had their teach
ers' salaries paid by the Daughters Of
the Revolution. and appropriations
have been made aiding practically
every philanthropic work in the coun-
try not included in their own Tine Of
activities.
AS generally understand, the Society Of
the Daughters OF the American RevoIu-
ton is a conservative. narrow organixa-
ton doing little for public good excepting
10 erect a few monuments to mark his
toric spots and occasionally providing a
patriotic program for some public school.
These views are erroneous, for the or
canixation deserves credit fer much prac-
teal work. The full history Of all the
work Of the order will never be written
because It is not known to any one MEM
Der or officer. Each branch and chapter
has its individual activities, which are
briefly reported upon at the annual gath
ering. These include substantial aid
toward the improvement Of every com
munity In which chapter Ii located.
eve are patriotic body first and last