The Washington times., 1914-06-06
By MRS. MAUD LIpSCOMB GREENAwALT.

The Society of Mayflower De-
scendants is composed of men and
women who are the lineal descend
ants ''of any passenger on the
Mayflower on the voyage which
ended at Plymouth, Mass, Decem-
Der 20. 1920"
In the quotation above from the
constitution of this patriotic soci-
ETY. one finds in the phrase "of
any passenger" equality, not only
OF sex. but of social condition. One
may enter this organization
through the female ancestor for
the women are honored, and their
memory perpetuated. as well as
ETY. differs from many others, no.
tably the d. 4. X. which only ad-
mits through descent from male
patriot
The Plymouth colony owed much
TO the women. Perhaps the claim
would not be an exaggerated one
10 make that thte success OF the
vived the terrible hardships, was
due to the fact that the women
accompanied the pilgrim band and
remained. 1t was because OF the
fraility Of their bodies and not of
their souls that death took more
than half of the women that first
winter.
Food For Thought.
The jamestown colony was a fall
ure in the early days. Success came
when the women joined the pioneers.
II this historical fact one finds food
Tor thought and for argument
The objects of The Society OF May
flower descendants are rot generally
known nor understood. 1t is often
said that we pride ourselves upon
or ancestry. and accomplish little.
Il any, patriotic work: a society
chiehy social. 1t IS true that We nave
pTide In orr ancestors: we are or
sanized for that purpose, but we so
further and have a great object.
IL IS 10 keep alive in the human
breast the proper reverence for no.
Fility OF Character. courage, and
steadfastness ot purpose, as exerr-
plifed in the lives and deeds OF the
P1lsrims. Ours rIay be called n So
clety Cor the conservation OF high
ideals. of American ideals. There is
the need today in this republic for
1rst such society. with just such
ar object. to perDetuate the men-
ofy OF the band OF Pilgrims who
landed on Plymouth Rock
Will Be of Value.
IL We accomplish tn,s. our infI-
ence Will be a valuable one to all
mankind. Their acts and example
nave been Instrumental in the es-
tabiishment of civil and religious
liberty throughout this land and il
Is the duty AMI solemn obligation of
the men ard women of this orzani-
zauon to endG1vor to perpetuatc this
memory ard nold up as ideals TO tie
american people today the steady
characters of The men and women
OF the Plymouth colony who laid the
foundation of all that is great in our
republic.
We are wandering from the sim
PIE beliefs of our forefathers We
need to be brought back to be told
frequently of the Pilgrims who were
so simple. and therefore so great.
Read again the compact written and
signed in the cabin of the Mayfiower
before the landing at Provincetown.
That stern old patriot, Elder Will
lam Brewster, is thought to be the
author. This was our first Consti-
tuition. in fact the first written Con-
stitution in the worlds history.
Another object of the Society of
Mayf1ower Descendants is the pre-
servation of historic records and
documents. THE History of Ply
mouth" written by William Brad
ford, a leading member of the May
flower expedition, and governor of
the colony for forty years, is a
classic in New England historical