Evening star., 1926-11-21
WELSH FOLK HERE
KEEP TRADITIONS
Mary NotabIes Aid Capital
Organization to Hold
Native Customs.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

being St. David, the great day IS
March l. when from all parts Of the
country ccrne loyal sons and daugh-
ters marching to the air Of The Men
Of Harlec" to meet IN social inter
course.
A Welsh society has existed in the
Capital for many years, as it has in
every portion of the country, but as
an orga nized and influential body it's
birth may be counted from September,
1924. Mr. and Mrs. David III. Edwards
called a meeting in their home Of the
prominent Welsh people, and they had
invited to meet them the president of
the Baltimore society. DR.. John A.
Evans. Fifty charter members were
written into the annals that evening,
and the first officers chosen were
Francis l. Jones. president; Mrs.
Louise Anderson, first vice president:
John F. Williams second vice presi-
dent, and Miss Edith A. Williams, Sec
yetary and treasurer. Monthly meet
3ngs were arranged in the Wilson Nor
NAL School, and the association at
once took it's place among the best
supported, useful and important of
these numerous aggregatiOns In
Washington.
So many exalted Welsh people from
all over the country joined the Wash.
ington branch that but a few names
can be given. The Secretary Of Labor,
Mrs. Davis and Jimmie, their only
son, were enrolled, and former Gov.
David j. Lewis Of Idaho. and David
r. Reese, an official Of the Lacka-
wanna Railroad, who belongs to half a
dozen Welsh societies, wrote himself
member of the Washington society
DIR. David z. Roberts of the Library
Of Congress proved an indefatigable
La- A<xN NneS
as chairman Of the executive commit
tee. arranging the banquet everv
March l. Representative and Mrs.
John w. Cooper of Ohio are prominent
members, and so is Mrs. Minnie Evans
Keves, international secretary Of the
Order OF the Eastern Star for the
United States.
Maintain Traditions.
The Welsh of the United States are
perhaps the most firmly knit Of all its
Inhabitants who maintain the tradi.
tions of the homeland They proudly
claim a major part In the proceedings
Of July I, 1875. It was the descendant
of a Welshman who wrote the Decla-
ration. The first Thomas Jefferson
came from Snowdon. Wales. and set
tied in Rivianna, in the valley of the
James in Virginia, before the May.
flower had landed it's first cargo of
Pilgrims at Plymouth, and Peter JEFF
ferson, father of the second Thomas.
was already in 1743 county magnate
of the region where Monticello Is To-
Gated, his wife being Jane Randolph
OF Tuckahoe.
Robert Morris had more Welsh blood
than English, and others in that great
company in signing the Declaration
who were sons of st. David, actually
or by direct descent, were Francis
Hopkinson Of New Jersey. Stephen
Hopkins Of Rhode Island, WILLIAM
Williams of Connecticut, Button Gwin-
nett OF Georgia, William Floyd of New
York, George Clymer of Pennsylvania,
BENJAMIN Harrison of Virginia and
Arthur Middleton of South Carolina.
Francis Lewis, who signed for New
York, was a native Welshman. Roger
Williams Is another founder Of the
nation whom the Welsh claim in ear
lier days than the Revolution. or the
Presidents of the United States there
were eight who would without doubt
have been fervent members OF the
Welsh society of Washington If 1t
existed in their day-Jefferson. JohA
Adams, John Quincy Adams, Madison.
Monroe, the two Harrisons, William
Henry and Benjamin, and James A.
Garfield
John Marshall was Welshman, and
down the line Of public servants from
the formation of the Federal Union
the sons and daughters Of st. David
have been foremost in positions or
trust Tho former Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court and later Secre-
tary of State Charles Evans Hughes
is Welsh and a member of st. Davtd's
Society Of New York City.
First Event i'm 1925.
The first banquet held by the organ
lied society was given on March /,
1926, and was one Of the last brilliant
functions staged in the demolished
Ebbitt House Former Gov. David j.
Lewis Of Idaho presided and made the
principal speech. The Secretary of
Labor and Mrs. Davis were among the
banoueters, and the former delivered
q happy address. The president of the
society, Francis /. Jones. was toast
master, and a large delegation from
the older association, led by Dr.
Evans, came from Baltimore. Wher-
ever the Welsh gather there Is always
singing and tales Of home and some
of the quaint dancing. and this first
banquet was one of the most delight
full functions of 1928.
These songs and dances we're sched-
tlled between the courses, and. the
Secretary OF Labor was among those
who sang and talked and told stirring
tales OF his recent visit to Wales with
his young son.
The monthly meetings of the Welsh
society, held at stated places, are given
over as a rule to descriptions OF visits
10 homo made by WelShmen just as
often as they can manage 1t, and to
music and discussion of affairs In the
beautiful land across the sea.
Representative and Mrs. Cooper
epent the Summer of 1925 in Wales.
and they have depicted their expert
ences to large and enthusiastic audi
ences. Mrs Cooper is a native or
Mountain Ash, and is the mother OF
seven sons. Though fervently an
American and a Buckeye. she Is a
welshwoman when it comes to con
ducting her home and providing food
for her table.
The banquet of this past March was
nrsin addressed by former Gov. Lewis
OF Idaho and by his successor. David
w. Davis, who made the long journey
from the Rocky Mountains with Mrs.
Davis to be present at the celebration
Of ST. David's day in Washington.
Dayid. f. Roberts led the guests in
singing America" and then came the
stirring Men of Harlech" and other