The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-09

with Confederate banners hung from
the gallery and on the four walls. WITH
the brilliant silk flags of their Common
weelths marking the sections set apart
for the delegates from each of the
thirty-two States represented: with the
stage banked with palms and lowers
and glorious with red and white strram-
ers, and with 600 tastefully gowned and
eager women crowding the large hall
10 the doors, the opening session Of tho
eighteenth annual convention of the
United Daughters OF the Confederacy
Yesterday morning lacked nothing in
color and brilliancy. The Jefferson
auditorium has held in its long and
tied gathering, but hardly one more
saily bedfght and inspiring than the
one tnat hushed It's noisy chatter at
the sound OF the presidents gavel.
~ was By all odds the most represent
alive assembly of Southern women that
mas ever gathered In Richmond They
were present from as far west as CAL
ifornin and as far to the south as the
southernmost tip OF Florida, with n
large number from The Yankee states
north of the @Muson IND Dixon fine
BUT even the delegates from the North
ern states spoke in the musical low
pitched tones of the cotton country
leaving no doubt that earlier In their
history their homes. like those of their
sisters who greatly outnumbered them,
were somewhere between the southern
bank of the Patapsco and the northern
shore of the Rio Grande. The spirit of
the old Confedcracy was in the arr.
and 100 banners and 500 of tho South.s
resident and cNiled daughters conspired
together to make the aston a happy
and memorable one.
business Was Routine
Routine matters and important pre-
iiminaries was the order of business a.
the opening meeting. Accordingly in
who filled the large hall, the proceed
ings of the first day were almost en-
tirely without feature to the general
news reader. Minutes OF the last
meeting. roll call of States. memorial
services reports of president and sec
rotary, and lively discussion on the
subject of the rules submitted by the
committee for the conduct of the con-
ventton took up completely the two
business sessions OF the day
Adjournment was taken at 1:30 p. Nj.
Tor luncheon rendered the delegates
by the r L. Lee Camp Soldiers' Home.
1t was served ut Lee Camp Hail. which
was taxed to its capacity 10 hold the
invited guests.
At the conclusion OF the afternoon
business session. at o'clock, the DEL
egates repaired in a body to the Con-
federate Museum to attend the exer-
cises Incident to the presentation to
the museum of a portrait OF Mrs. JEFF
ferson Davis. The activities of the day
ended ct night with IL reception at the
Jefferson, rendered to officers of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy,
Virginia Division and Richmond Chap
ter. delegates, visiting Daughters and
invited guests.
Formal Opening.
The convention opened formally at
II o'clock with an invocation by Rev,
j. Power Smith. D. d. 1t was followed
by the reading OF the ritual and the
minutes of the last meeting. Memorial
services were then made the order of
business, supplanting for the time be-
ing the roll call OF States, which should
have preceded 1t on the program.
The prayer was followed with the
singing of the hymn, The Strife Is
Ger" By the entire assembly. Reso-
lutions of respect were then read by
various delegates for members of the
United Daughters and prominent Con-
federate soldiers, who had died during
the past year Among these was
beautiful tribute to Mrs. Sarah Il.
Gabbett the originator and designer
of the Cross of Honor, who died this
year. 1t was offered by Mrs. Irving
Mrs. Young. of the Tennessee delega.
ton. euloGized the life and work Of
the lamented General George w. Cor
don. commandment of the Con-
federate Veterans. Resolutions of re-
spect upon the death of Mrs. Edgar
James. of Alabama. designer of the
Confederate zeal. were offered by Mrs.
G. a. Lanier. sister-in-law of Sidney
Lanier. the poet. Mrs. Lizzie George
Henderson. of Mississippi, ex-president-
General OF the Daughters. followed
with an eloquent appreciation OF tho
large number Of members and Civil
War veterans, who had departed this
life since the last meeting. She read
the necrolosic record State by State,
giving the names of the departed mem-
Continued on Seventh Pager