The Washington herald., 1912-02-23
MUST FIGHT AS
DID FORBFATHERS
Patriotism Extolled to District So
ciety Sons Of American
Revolution.

The annual meeting Of the District Of
Columbia Society OF the Sons Of the
American Revolution took place rester.
day at noon at Rauscher's in the presence
Of a large membership, William b
Thompson presiding.
! The officers read their annual reports
that OF Selden Marvin Ely, the historian
OF the society, attracting much attention
He said:
Patriotism, now as ever before, IS
good citizenship. Pride and patriotic
forefathers do not necessarily make us
good citizens. though they certainly ex-
ert deep influence Boileau said: But
even though you be sprung in a direct
line from Hercules. IL you show a low
born meanness. that long succession OF
ancestors whom you disgrace are Sc
many witnesses against you, and this
grand display of their tarnished glory
but serves to make your ignominy more
evident
Fortunately, however," continued Prof
Ely, the character Of the membership
in the Sons of the American Revolution
shows that though We do not have the
conditions that obtained at the time OF
Washington and Adame, we have their
SplEll yet anu llDtTllet
are being fought for to-day as never be-
fore, and 1t is largely because we have
been faithful TO the trust granted to us.
Notwithstanding some failures in
stewardship. our government is the ex-
ample of the world, and must continue
to be- The test of our patriotism is our
zeal In fighting the enemies of to-day
as the Continentals fought the enemies
Of their day. but with more intelligence,
for our opportunities are greater. We
must reach even higher than our fore
fathers. and they would have it so, for
we stand upon the foundations which they
built"
Historian Ely read the roll of members
who died during the last year. including
Philip Key Reilly, Tristan Burgess john
son. Charles Ravenscroft Greenleaf,
William Eleroy Curtis, Henry Alfred
Robbins. Robert John Walker. Charles
Albert Erney. abraham Lincoln Swart-
wout. and James Lyman Belknap. The
members arose from their seats as a
mark Of proper respect while this list
was read.
After luncheon the members reassem-
bled and listened to the reading Of Wash
ington>s Farewell Address by Barry
Bulkley. DR.. Edward NJ. Gallaudet, a
former president of the society. ad-
dressed the meeting and received a
hearty welcome.
Resolutions were adopted thanking the
retiring president, Col. Thompson, and
the other officers for their services dur
ing the last year.
New Officers Elected.
The result of the election OF officers
was announced as follows: William V.
Cox, president; Sidney !. Besselievrs,
Col. Frederick c. Bryan, and DR.. Edwin
A. Hill, vice presidents: Paul Brockett,
treasurer; Philip F. Larner, assistant
treasurer; Albert d. Spangler. registrar;
John E. Fenwick, assistant registrar:
Selden NJ. Ely. historians Charles w.
Stewart, librarian: Rev. Thomas s.
Childs, chaplain. and the following board
Of management: James L. Davenport.
Col, William B. Thompson, John Mason
Brown, zebina Moses, and Albert J.
Gore.
As delegates to the National Congress
at Boston May 20 to - next were elect
ed Admiral George w. Baird. Paul
Brockett, Rev. Thomas S. Childs, Will
lam V. Cox. William A. De Caindry,
John Paul Earnest. Col. Gilbert c. Kniffin,
Philip F. I.arner. Albert d. spangler. and
Col. William B. Thompson. As a'ternates
were elected John Barrett, John Mason
Brown. Chester NJ. Clark. James l. Da-
venport, DIR. Edwin A. Hill, Francis E.
Leupp, Col. Charles Lyman. Lee Nc
Chung, George c. Maynard, and Zebina
Moses.
The following new members were ad-
mitted: John Lester Barr. Herford Tynes
Cowling. Thomas Harrison, James Will
lam Hart, Hiram Belford Jones, Thomas
Sim Lee. Benjamin Martin, Rev. Charles
Lewis Neibel, Harry Bristol Pitts, Alfred
Ernest Rogers, Carmi Alderman ThOmp-
son. and Bayard Wyman.