Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04
RHODE ISLANDERS
SOCIETY IS ACTIVE
Group, Specializing in States
History, Holds Many So
CiaI Events.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

AS one of the 13 original States,
Rhode Island, the colony founded by
Roger Williams, will. in a special man.
ner, commemorate the 15Oth anniver-
sary of the signing of the Declaration
of Independence. and the State society
founded in Washington about two and
a half years ago will be among
those for whom q place will be re-
served on the Mall at the great cele-
bration.
Rhode Island has. in addition to
celebrating the independence of all the
colonies on July 4, a day of its own,
May 4, when, two months in advance
of the action taken by the Continental
Congress in Carpenters Hall in Phila-
delphia, the Colonial Assembly passed
a resolution calling for complete po-
litical separation from Great Britain.
When the local society of the in
trepid little State was formed 1t was
determined to make q special feature
of State day, May 4, and these cele-
brations have proved the most inter
esting and important of the year. In
a particular manner does the meet.
ing of May 4, 1924. stand out In the
annals. for it was attended by practi-
cally the entire group of Rhode Is.
landers in Washington. and the bril-.
liant ceremonies held around the Lin
coin Memorial terminated in the plant
Ing of a little elm brought from the
State and which grows apace south
of the Monument. Or. j. Franklin
Jameson, formerly professor Of his
tory in Brown University, now the
head of the historic investigation and
research work in the Carnegie Insti-
tuition in this city, made the principal
address, and other speakers were Rep
resentatives Burdick. Aldrich and
O'Connell.
History Is Main Goal.
Rhode Islanders in Washington had,
however. before the formation Of the
present society in February, 1924.
celebrated their State day, and had
given all due attention to other out
standing events in their history. Citi-
zens Of the State have been numerous
In Washington. and always outstand.
ing in its activities. The State society
therefore took up the work already
well begun and made a study Of his.
tory. one Of the leading reasons for
forming the organization. with the
usual social and helpful aspects
which mark all the similar organiza.
tons in the Capital. The first presi.
dent was William J. Crane, an officer
In the World War. He had aided
Representative Burdick in centralizing
interest in forming a society which
would compare to others in active
existence Of the Capital. Mr.. Burdick
called the first meeting in the audi
forum OF the Interior Department
and he presided over the first sessions
However. he declined to accept the
presidency, which was urged upon him
and his aide. Mr.. Crane, was honored
A few months later Mr.. Crane presided
over the 148th anniversary of Rhode
Islands declaration of independence
Perhaps no member Of the local State
societies lays greater emphasis on the
non-political aspect Of the club. Though
there is no definite prohibition in the
constitution or bylaws. it is under
stood that Senator's. Representatives
and others holding important political
posts at the Capital will not At sc
we'll into the scheme Of things as presi
dent and other officers OF the State
society as those Rhode Islanders who
are less conspicuous IN public office.
Since the main purpose Of the or
ganization is to study the history OF
the Commonwealth. and to examine its
archives systematically with a view &c
developing their meaning and useful
ness. literary and historical criticism
have been a prominent feature Of the
social meetings. and the speakers have
been among the most scholarly resi-
dents of Washington. DIR. Jameson
has been among those who presented
several phases Of the little State s
story, which. as early as 1864, had. in
in the opinion OF its royal governor,