Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-26
The Richmond U. D. C. Convention,

| from the E. " White Chapter U. D. c., at
Poolesville, to the Convention of the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, held at Rich
mond, Va, will comply.
Madam President and United Daughters
of the C0nfederacy, greetings. especially
to E. V. White Chapter of Poolesville,
Maryland:
The cry ION to Richmond" by the u. S.
troops from 81 to IS to invade the Capt.
tai of the Southern Confederacy was taken
up by the U, d. C. on November 7th, 1911,
to convention held there by body of
women who hold dear the history of the
War between the States Gas this was the
term settled on instead of Civil War;. We
reached there by rail in few hours, when
it took the Yankees four years to capture
it, but then they had Longstreet to 60
over. two Hills to mount and Stonewall
to scale and no Stuart to guide them. Our
delegates numbered about seven hundred.
and were received with open arms to this
historic city by the James that will ever
live in song and story; and before another
convention is held there those who took
part in this great conflict will have passed
over the river and rest under the shade
of the trees" Its soil is. indeed, holy, for
in Virginia lie buried more men from every
State in the Union than are buried in any
other State, men who fought for home and
right.
The opening reception was held at the
Academy of Music on the evening of No.
vember 7th. The seats of honor were given
to the old veterans from the Soldiers Home,
to their left the Richmond Blues and on
their right the Richmond Howitzers, all in
full-dress uniforms. After the remainder
of the seats were occupied by delegates,
many delegates were left standing until
Mrs. Norman Randolph. the hostess Presi-
dent, asked the Richmond ladies' to vacate
their seats. Even then there were not
seats enough, so Mrs. Randolph ordered
the Blues and Howitzers out of the hall,
which afforded seats enough. The exercises.
which were to commence at $50, began
at 9:45. The building presented beau
tiful appearance, bedecked on all sides
with Confederate banners. Prayer was
offered by Rev. j. Power Smith. Adjutant-
General OF Stonewall Jackson's staff. 1t
was my pleasure to shake hands with him
and congratulate him on his gallant defense
of Stonewall Jackson, who was so severely
attacked in the Long Roll by Mary John
son. The U. d. C. condemned this book,
and said II was unfit to be in any Southern
home.
DR.. Smith was followed by a chorus
of three hundred children. The chill
dren were arranged on the stage under
canopy OF silk forming the stars and bars.
The heads of the children came through
the flag as they sang Dixie, then at Mary
land, My Maryland, their bodies appeared,
each girl dressed in white, with red ribbons
in her hair, and the boys in white suits
with red neckties. On the stage was Mrs.
j. Z. b. Stuart, the famous cavalry soldier s
widow, who was greeted with wild applause.
Another distinguished guest was Mrs.
Story, Of New York and of the d. A. X.
Also upon the stage were the general officers
of the u. d. C.
Mrs. Eller, the retiring President of the
U. ID. c.. of Virginia. welcomed the dele
gates, and turning to the President-General
Mrs. McSherry, praised her for her able
administration. Mrs. Eller was greeted
with loud applause when she finished
Hostess President, Mrs. Norman Randolph
introduced Gov. Mann, of Virginia, who
paid glorious tribute to the women of the
Southland and hoped the day was not fal
distant when monument would be erected
to the women of the South. The Mayor o.
Richmond, ID. c. Richardson, who was ther
CdhCut oDOhC CAOluCitly vi liiC oCll-odCIl
| flee of the Southern women and of the
great work being accomplished through
them in preserving the records of that great
war that tried mems souls and showed o.
what mettle they were made. Mrs Ran
dOlph, in introducing these two speakers
said that the Governor Mayor nor police
could preserve order or seat the guests, Sc
she. woman. had to call the troops out.
The entire house arose when Mrs Nc
Sherry was introduced. She responded
with few words, and introduced Mrs
Daisy McLOren Stevens. of Mississippi
| cannot do justice to her address. Il
was delivered without notes and held the
audience spell-bound and moved them to
tears. | wish her address may be given
in full in the next annual book.
Mrs. Thompson presented the President
General with gavel made from the tree
under which Colonel Ashby breathed his
last, which. after the convention, will be
one of the relics Of the Confederate Museum.
Mrs. Story also gave her one made of
Egyptian cypress. cut from tree presented
to Napoleon by the Khedive of Egypt. This
tree was brought to America and trans
planted at WashIngtOn's headquarters on
Manhattan Island. And another gavel
from the battlefield of Culpepper was pre-
sented. With these Mrs McSherry said she
could keep the delegates in order Mrs. j. f.
B. Stuart presented two battle-hags to the
Blues and Howitzers This session closed
with singing We're Tentin9 to Night, by
the school children.
The convention opened on Wednesday
morning in the auditorium of the jefferson
Hotel. where the business meetings were
held, with prayer by Dr. Smith. The hymn,
The Strife is Der, the Battles Won, was
sung Then the roll-call AS the name of
each State was called by Mrs. Roy McKin-
ney. the State President advanced and
presented her State flag to Mrs. Frank
Anthony Wake, the custodian of flags,
who presented miniature Virginia State
flag in return, courtesy of Virginia to her
guests. Mrs. Norman Randolph received
the State flags from Mrs. Wake After
the roll-call, One Sweetly Solemn Thought
was sung. A memorial service was held
for those who had passed away since the
last convention.
Luncheon was served at O'Clock in Lee
Camp Hall (the portrait gallery Of the dis
tinguished soldiers of the C0nfederacy) The
walls were decorated with banners and red
and white bunting, the tables with Ameri-
can Beauty roses and the napkins were
pinned with flags.
Mrs, Blenner gave out the statistics of
the order-784 chapters, membership A.
$50, votes 1892, with the general officers
making it 1910.
A reception at Confederate Museum from
s to $50 P. M, when a portrait Of Mrs
Jefferson Davis was presented by the
United Daughters Of the Confederacy to the
museum. The Tennessee Chapter presented
an equestrian statue Of Gen. N. B. Forrest
for their State room. Just a word here
that visit to this museum will well repay
a visit to Richmond to see this White
House. the home Of Davis. II contains
relics Of the war from 81 to '65.
A reception TO officers and delegates was
held from 8 to II O'Clock at The Jefferson.
This was attended by the Governor and wife
and the Mayor and wife. The officers of
the Richmond Chapter received. Punch
relishes of various kinds and ices with
cake were served.
Thursday was consumed by the regular
order Of business. Luncheon at / o'clock