The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-27
BIC FACTOR
IN CITY {.
LIFE
District Branch Organized in
1So8-1OO to Attend An
nuaI Meeting Tonight.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

4AO@A4S0AA~@ANS
Descendants of the Pilgrim
Fathers, members of the Society
of Mayflower Descendants in the
District Of Columbia, to the num-
Der of q hundred or more, will
celebrate the annual meeting OF
the society tonight at dinner
ut the Franklin Square Hotel.
According to the program. as
announced, the meeting promises
to be one of the most interesting
in the history Of the society. A
number of speakers will deliver
addresses, while other appropriate
features. will mark the event.
Surprise Is Promised.
Among those who will address
the society will be Governor Gen
eral John p. Tilden, representing
the national headquarters, and
James M. Beck. Solicitor Cen raj OF
the United States, who will deliver
It is understood that Solicitor
General Beck's address viii prove
q. surprise, although its nature has
not been made public.
The District Of Columbia Society
Is regarded as one or the strongest
1pnits making up the national So
ciety. It has a membership or
more than $780, At this season OF
the year, however, considerable
number Of the members are out or
the city. OF those who have been
absent a number will return to the
city to attend tonight's annual
function.
Among the guests who win be
present viii be Major General
Greeley. the Arctic explorer. 1t
had been expected that Chief JUS
tice Taft would attend, as he Is q
descendant of Mayf1ower ancestry
and q member of the society. but
it was learned this morning that
the Chief Justice would be unable
TO be present. A number Of Con-
Rressmen will be among the guests.
An idea of the importance OF the
District Of Columbia Society's re-
lation to the national organization
IN. seen in the election of two OF
its members to the post Of governor
general. Local society members
who have held that office are
Thomas s. Hopkins and General
Leonard Wood.
Organized in April, 1893.
The Society Of Mayflower De-
scendants in the District Of Column
bia was organized April %, 1898,
with twenty-five charter members.
Included were William Lowery
Marsh, William Wallace Case, Ma
thaniel Emmons Robinson, Hattie
L. Alden, Sherburne G. Hopkins,
Thomas Smell Hopkins. William +.
Alden, James Bowen Johnson,
Henry P r. Holt. Algernon A. AS
pinwall, Isabel g. Chamberlin. Mary
L. Robinson, Emily e. Robinson,
Marcus Benjamin, John Louis
Ewell, George Congdon Gorham,
Frank Birge Smith. Alonzo Howard
Flark, Harry Weston Van Dyke,
William Park Metcalf, Edwin Ais
ton Hill and Ellen Hamilton Smith.
A majority of the charter members
are still members of the society.
William Lowery Marsh is con-
ceded to be the founder of the So
ciety. He was three times elected
TO the office Of governor, covering
the period 1S98-1901.
When organized it was not ex-
pected a membership of more than
fifty would be secured for several
years. The society, however, made
a strong appeal TO those who re-
garded themselves as eligible to
membership. 1t now numbers ap-
proximately $50 active members.
The location of the society at the
National Capital has resulted in its
enrolling a large number Of persons
in the South who were eligible to
membership, but had no State So
cieties of their own. AS the later
units are organized they naturally
claim as their own such of the
members Of the local society as live
within their several provinces.
OF something more than local in
terest Is the fact that five Presi-
dents of the United States traced
their ancestry to Pilgrim fore
fathers. They were John Adams
and John Quincy Adams, Zachary
Taylor, Ulysses s. Grant and Will
liam Howard Taft.
Gavel Has Interesting History.
The gaveI used by Governor Car