Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
Lives to Honor Revolutionary Ancestors

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Is the pioneer sisterhood which COM
memorates her activities. Such was
Mrs. Washington's zeal in the cause OF
memorializing the heroes of the revolu-
ton that when the idea of erecting the
great hall in their honor was confirmed
she contributed the first check toward
the payment of it's erection, and ever
after, until her death in 1901. at the age
of eighty-five, she sent an annual con-
tribution to the building fund as her
tribute to those who had fought for
American liberty.
After the death of Mary Hammond
Washington, her daughter. Mrs. Bel
lamy, and her son. Judge Hugh Vernon
Washington. continued thisSnnual con-
tribution as memorial to their mother
and tribute to his revolutionary an
cestors. Judge Washington's last per-
senal gift to memorial hall was a check
for $1,000. which constituted the last
payment to the contractors of the
building. This check, in a frame. now
decor1tes one of the walls of Memorial
Continental Hall as one of its interest
ing archives.
Upon the death of this nearest rela-
tive to George Washington in 1911.
his sister. Mrs. Bellamy. added the
name of Hugh Vernon Washington to
the list of those she honored in MAX
ing her annual contribution to the me-
mortal hall, and when last April, at
the close of the continental congress.
she made the last payment which gave
the Daughters unburdened possession
of their property, she completed a
record Of generous giving worthy of
the men and women and the cause she
memoria1ized.
to Memorial Continental Hall stands
white marble bust on marble ped
estal. The inscription is as follows:
= Mary Hammond Washington. daugh-
ter of Col. Samuel Hammond, founder
of The y. s., d. A. r.. In Georgia.
:, woman mixed Of such fine elements
That were all trust and religion dead,
She'd make them newly,
Being what she was.
I'm loving appreciation of the char
acter and personality and in grateful
recognition of the faithful service in
which she led with loving wisdom and
devotion until she passed to life eter-
nal This permanent memorial bust
is given by the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
in her honor"
The other bust on its pedestal be-
nignly guarding the entrance to the
great hall is that of Hugh Vernon
Mashing.on; n, Pasriot; scholar and HUI
OF Washington. In his life, which
rounded an even half century. he be-
came distinguished lawyer and was
judge of the recorders court of Macon
at the time of his death. His genius
was essentially constructive. He
ganized the Macon Athenaeum. the
Macon Public Library. the Eibb Agri-
cultural Institute, the Bibb Humane
numerous important civic enterprises.
He was appointed by the Governor of
Georgia to represent his native state
officially at the Louisiana purchase ex-
lot -
at the jamestown tercentennial cele-
bration.
Conspicuously identified with patriot
fc orders. he was lieutenant governor
OF the Society of Colonial Wars, vice
president of the Oglethorpe Memorial
Association. vice president of the Sons
of the Revolution of Georgia. a member
of the national organization of the Sons
of the American Revolution. a charter
member of the Order of Washington,
whose lineage book is dedicated to his
memory. and in all worthy great
grandnephew OF the father of his
country. A noted orator. Judge Wash
ington was called upon by the members
of the Grand Army of the Republic to
deliver the address at the memorial 'ex-
ercises at Andersonville national ceme-
terry and also by his Confederate friends
on many occasions to be chief orator at
various Confederate memorial reunions.
But none of his formal orations sur
passed an impromptu speech he made
On po.hia Oil NSSSel WHICH pure
the Union Jack. on Independence day.
1909. as he was returning from a tour
in the old world. Mr.. Washington's
apostrophe to the Star Spangled Ban
ner on that occasion thrilled and cleo
trified even the British tars.
Mrs. Bellamy, when asked to tell
something of her many good works In
the cause of American independence.
said: MY mothers last greeting to
the National Society of the Daughters
of the American Revolution was, May
our society ever be helping hand to
our government These words came
forcib1y to my mind on the recent oc-
casion of the dedication of the great
Red Cross building, which adjoins our
own hall In Washington. and / wit
messed the offering Of our temple of
patriotism to the President of the
United States for the use of the Red
Cross throughout this war. When I
desired the privilege of making the
last payment on Memorial Continental
Hall I did not realize how fully l was
carrying out that last message of my
mother in assisting to convey it free
of debt to the government she loved
and strove to serve"
Devotion to her state and to her
country and the centennial of her
mothers birth were the inspiration
for Mrs. Bellamy's gift last year Of
$4,000 to the city of Macon for the
building of a public library. and lot
valued at $4,000 on which to place it