Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-19
ny Margaret waller Freeman.

. by Margaret Waller Freeman.
80" since the founding OF the Mt. Yer
non Ladies' Association OF the Union
in 1856. until Very recently. thei.
: liaSc been three vicc-rcgents for the
= State ~ Virginia. According To the
: >t;nstitlition Of the society. there Is
--lne resent for the whole orsaniza-
S' zion. and vicc-rcgcnt for each
''Sturc; the term of office is for life.
i TO the names of the three former
vicc-rcgcnts FOR Virginia. Mrs. Will
llu,n Ritchic. Mrs. Thompson Mason
asar Mrs. Charles d. Ball, has recently
bSgn added that of Mrs. William Ruf-
f'N-CoH. OF Richmond
Airs. Cox. who. for twelve years.
Wis the president OF the National
->S0ciety OF Colonial DANES OF Amer
!: lea, and who, upon .nsistently re-
fusinS reelection. was made homo
:. yqiry president OF that society. takes
The deepest interest in the finely
patriotic activities of the Mt. Vernon
Association.
This organization spranE from the
enthusiasm OF one woman, Ann
Pamela Cunningham. OF South Caro-
ina. who, largely through her writ
iuES, MS The Southern Natruu'
aroused the interest which cuinii-
stated IN the forming OF the present
association. After the Congress. of
~HF.s United States and the Legisla-
:. TUE of the state OF Nirri nia had
.rscls refused To purchase the rapidly
cfnnIb!!ng home OF General Wash
in.Stun. the women OF the country,
with tremendous effort. raised the
100000 asked by its owner, John
Augustine Washington.
Wiury Discusses Meeting.
In, Tho diary pf
Bet. We ind notice of the meeting
ON .luiy l.. 1851. of n Virginia group.
working with the intention of pre-
serving Mt. Vernon. which very soon.
however, on intimation that the
ladies OF other States would be
pleased 10 participate with the
indies of Virginia in the patriotic
object" was absorbed into II nation
= al association.
For. it was in 1855 that William
:. MacFarlnnd. acting as legal ad-
wiser of the Virgins, society, wrote
10 Mrs. Il. Il. Minor ana Mrs. Susan
Pcilet, indorsing the proposed plan
~ general organization, stating
that, 1T is important to preserve
throughout the Union the utmost
harmony and concert"
Thus tho Ladies' MI. Vernon AsSo-
cation OF the Union was incorporated
IN 1856 by the Legislature. Of Nir-
Sinia, from which it still holds its
,harter and is therefore,. the old
est woman's patriotic society in this
country.
Meet Yearly In May.
Once a year. In May, the heads OF
al the branches meet to spend a
week or ten days at Nj, Vernon,
where assigned variousiy 10 the
sleeping rooms Of tie old house. they
inspect the premises, overlook the ;,c-
counts and make plans for the COM
ing year. The room appointed for
the use OF the vice-rcgent Of NIr-
Sin!a Is General WashinSton's bed
room.
During these days Of gathering.
thsGovcrnor of Virginia, with a COM
I:nttee Of his own east: ing, IS en-
teTta!neG BY tic laGiea that he may
SEQ and officially report rpou the
condition in which Mt. Vernon is kent.
and so continue the granting OF The
charter.
1t is Il !amentable fact hat many
NirGininns have never seen Mt Vrr-
non, have nevci'i. climbed the long
brick walks f.rm-"tnc wharf over
looking the original deer park Lehlnd
its tai! iron fence and have never
come n; las: to the small brick maui
soieum. built on the spot selected
by Washington. according TO his
plans. You find there am old colorcd
man ever courtcously ready TO point
out The Generals Grave"
All I'm Perfect Condition.
and, looHing up over the MIL 20
the distant p!liared house. with It's
rose garden and the nearing line
81 outbu!!dings. laundry, dairy.
slupk. house Ii in, ,.,,,1y,....