The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-22
TO ORGANIZE THE JOHN PAUL!
; JONES MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
Mrs Edwin Clark Gregory Endeavoring to Save Home
Porter to Head the Society,"
1ya shington Star.

Washington ce"i'
II am too devoted in American"
.,fd Mrs. Edwin Clark Gregory of
c,lisbury. n. c., ''to admit our coun-
NV is more ungrateful than republics j
ara generally, but l do wish we had
shown more appreciation OF John
p,ul Jones. The intrepid naval COM
,oander. dead or alive, should give
.he national conscience a twinge when
.rar the time we study the history
ff the war Of independence.
"Of course the splendid service of
Zen Horace Porter in large meas
,re made reparation for the century
~ neglect. but it is almost humiliat-
in 10 reflect that this service was
The work of love of one generous
spirited public man rather than the
Drompting Of the nation. Still, we
have the reveTed remains of John
Paul Jones reposing in a stately mau-
soleum at Annapolis, and every en-
lryo naval hero going forth from the |
baIlowed shades of the Naval Acad- |
emy is stepped in reverence to his |
memory.
For this we are all very grateful. |
Eut down in the old colonial capital
of North Carolina. Halifax, the splen-
did old home where John Paul Jones
spent his happy days, the only home
he ever knew or loved, is crumbling
10 decay avery North Carolina wo
man with a grain of patriotism has
been saddened at the picture of ruin
the old Jones mansion presents and
we tried many means to rescue it be-
fore we came before the nation with
our plea. John Paul Jones is a ma
tonal hero. and not altogether
North Carolina celebrity, so it seems
proper to have the entire nation take
up the work we have been vainly
urging in the state, in the local d. A.
A.. and afterward at the Continental
Congress.
To Found Society.
1T is our promise to found a So
ciety similar to that which has pre-
served Mount Vernon; to have regents
and vice regents from every state,
with as large membership as we may.
The financial obligation will be al
most negligible, and the glory of hav-
ing accomplished something of splen-
did. patriotic usefulness will be great
Our president is to be Gen. Horace
Porter and the honorary presidents
will be Mrs. Marshall, all of the cabi-
net ladies, Mrs. George Dewey, Mrs.
Donald Mclean and Mrs. Matthew I.
Scott. There will also be q list of
honorary presidents selected from
eminent naval officers, of whom Ad-
miral Dewey is typical.
Vice presidents will be selected
from every state, with the central au-
tnOrlty vested In the DOdTu IeSiOenS II
Washington. Just now all we have
decided to do is to organize this me-
smorial society to preserve the home
Later we will decide to what use W.
will put the venerable mansion. 4
nome for aged women has been sug
Eested. Or, again, a school wherein
patriotism will be the inspiration, bu
where boys and girls will be equip
ped for the battle Of life, the boys II
technical pursuits, the girls along do
nestle economic lines.
ut Is also proposed simply to re
store the old home, furnished "a
nearly as 1t was in the days when tn
sad-eyed, youthful Scotch sailor, Johl
Paul, accepted the CHEEKY Invitation
Grove, and to Keep Il n perpetuity a
a memorial of our greatest revolu
Lonary naval hero. Personally.
mony with historic traditions.
know of it even specifically that t
spread this knowledge Is of itself !.
useful propaganda. The benefacto
of John Pay, 3,,t figures in pdSs,h,n the anna a
name was william, but he lived be
fore the days Of the Little Willie
Jokes and he signs all documents wit
the endearing title of Willie. He wa
the son of that Robin Jones, High
lander Of gentle blood who was a.
torney general of North Carolina VI
der royal rule His manorfal estat
called the Grove, was renowned
pre-revolutionary days for hospitalit
and for the distinguished guests Ell
tertained there.
Mansion Still Beautiful.
Allen Jones, brother Of Will
Jones. became general in the patri'
Tic army and later served his sta
fignally in the legislature. The JON
mansion, though now in pathet
fuins. retains much Of its form
heauty. All the wood, carved al
richly stained, came from Englan
NO home in the south can show mo
stately halls and drawing room
whlie the stairways are marvelS ev'
yet. The daintiest of parQuetry, st