Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-01-23
Report OF The Proceedings OF The
U. d, G. National Convention Held
At New Orleans During The
Second Week OF November,
1919
Madam President and United Daughters
of the Confederacy:
1918.

ror the third time it has been my prouC
privilege to attend the general U. D. C
convention as delegate from the Ridgely
Brown Chapter, and l thank you, one anC
all, for giving me that honor.
Leaving Washington at 1890 after 6
sunshiny day, you can imagine the sur.
prise when we peeped from our berths next
morning to find we were in fierce snow
storm, which lasted almost throughout the
day. But Louisiana greeted us with sun.
shine; gigantic live oaks, from which hung
in long festoons the famous Southern moss
immense trees decked in mistletoe that
looked like pearls. and in quantities Of
which we had never dreamed, and now
and then an orange tree with its golden
fruit. A six-mile ride over beautiful lake
Ponchartrain, then PLAN trees and we knew
we were marching on Orleans. And surely
the city was turned over to us, for our
comfort and our pleasure.
On Tuesday afternoon the first entertain
ment feature was provided, two-and-a-
half-hour boat ride over the harbor. which
is today the finest example of port admin
istration on the Western Hemisphere. There
is to be seen the largest floating dry docks
in the world. In the distance can be seen
the American Sugar Refinery, the largest
in the world. with capacity of $4,000
barrels of sugar daily, with many other
points of interest.
That evening in Convention Hall of the
Grunewall Hotel the goth annual conven-
ton of the United Daughters Of the Con-
federcy was opened, amid bower of Con-
federate flags, organization colors, pictures
of famous Confederate leaders. festoons of
Southern moss and tall stalks of sugar
cane.
After sweet music and brilliant addresses
of welcome, Mrs. Vaueht, president of the
hostess chapter introduced Mrs. Alexander
B. White as the most patient, the most
earnest and the wisest of Presidents Gen.
eral. Among many other things Mrs.
White spoke of our membership of 10000.
every one of Confederate lineage, making
ours the only strictly Southern organiza-
ton. And in speaking of the great work she
said, first and foremost we have held out
the hand of hope to our dear old veterans
by showing our pride in the chaplet of
fame they made for the South. And that
she hopes and expects everyone of the
1900 chapters to contribute each year to
the relief fund. And that few have any
idea of the extent of our educational work,
that 10000 Crosses of Honor have been
bestowed upon the veterans; that few
women's organizations can equal the record
of bringing into being at one time two of
the most imposing military monuments in
the whole country, that of Arlington. which
will breathe the spirit of the South. and
the one to be erected at Shiloh to commem-
crate the valor of the entire Confederate
army.
During the evening Mrs. Schuyler, Of
New York. gave the audience happy sur
prise. After recounting the efforts through
which she had come into possession of a
document, without price, far. far beyond
the power Of money to buy, she held aloft
a little envelope which she said contained
Order No. 8, the farewell address Of Gen.
Robert E. Lee, which. for half century,
had been considered lost to history. She
had obtained the document from Henry An
drews, War Governor of Massachusetts,, in
whose possession it had been all these
years. And now it is to be placed in the
Solid South room in the museum at Rich
mond.
On Wednesday morning the convention
was ushered into full swing. After read
ing the ritual. came roll call of the States
and presentation of flags, followed by sing
ing the Bonnie Blue Flag and Maryland,
My Maryland.
The rest of the morning was taken up
with reports Of the various committees,
Virginia receiving the certificate of merit,
as she did last year. The President Gen
eral in her report insisted that application
papers be changed so as to require fuller
and authentic record also the line of de-
scent and relationship of the applicant to
the veteran. She also recommended that
the u. d. C. badge be patented so that
dealers could not sell it promscuously. The
early part of the afternoon session was
taken up by Memorial Hour. followed by a
delightful talk from Miss Rutherford, His
torian General She urged that "Daugh-
tiers" watch the teaching Of the text books
used in our schools; that all we want is
the truth. and we must see that the whole
truth is brought out. Mrs Mckinney. who
has made such SPLENDID Recording Sec
rotary for several years. reported the or
ganization to be in a fiourishing condition,
having issued 32l7 certificates of member
ship since the last convention.
That evening at the atheneum was
given a reception. which opened with most
beautiful tableaux. recalling the spirit OF
81. when the men of the South shouldered
arms to fight for States Rights and Con.
stitutional liberty. A stage filed with
women and children clad In the quaint
fashion Of so years ago. then the approach
Of band of heroes. a wartime leave tax
ing, when fathers. brothers, sons and sweet
hearts took the privilege of the occasion
Then second curtain was raised showing
the soldiers marching along country road
Then broke forth the real Rebel Yell
from the veterans in the audience. Really
these tableaux gave to me better idea o.
those days than anything have ever seen
At Thursdays session a very importan
subject was INTRODUCED by Mrs. Thoma
Owen. of Alabama, daughter of Senate
Bankhead. Of that State. She stated tina
the Secretary Of War Of the United State
is empowered with the naming Of all mill
tary posts. and that the five posts and 1!
batteries designed for the defense Of tn