Evening star., 1926-08-22
UTHCAROL|N|ANS|
HAVE BUSY SOCIETY,"
One of Last States to Organ
iZe Club Here Has Good
Representation.
BY MARGARET II. DOWNING.


South Carolina. one of the original
IL States. was among the last to have
an organized society for its citizens
resident in Washington.
From the opening years of the
nineteenth century. when the learned
sons of South Carolina played domi-
nant part in the new Capital, it's citi-
ZenS engaged in public duties or as
part Of the higher governmental per
sonnel formed q compact and brilliant
social body. From the time social
news WAS recorded in Washington
South Carolina clubs and prandial
coteries have figured in the annals,
but it remained for the daughters of
Daniel {. Roper, then Assistant Post
master General. to organize the pres
ent fiourishing State society here.
Miss Grace Roper, with a group of
girls who had been graduated with
her in the Winthrop State College, in
October. 1919. called together the
South Carolnians here and prelim-
mary steps were taken to organize
after the lines of Older State clubs.
The constitution and bylaws were an
nounced and both were ratified at
banquet given May ]. 1920. at Ward
man Park Hotel
At the first meeting, which was
attended by Gov. Robert A. Cooper
Of South Carolina. Senator Ellison d.
Smith was elected president. B. II.
DOdd was first vice president and
George +. Mitchell was second vice
president. Miss Harriet Godfrey was
the first secretary and Miss Grace
Roper the trtaSHrcr-both graduates
nf Winthrop. The local alumnae Of
this State college Joined the new So
,s.0k,Y l. l.
active of these early workers was
Miss Pearl Clark. who was chairman
Of the committee which arranged
one of the most successful banquets.
The South CaIolinians have one of
the best regulated and most cohesive
constitutions. and their programs, ar
ranged annually in advance, 80 for
ward with precision.
Three Classes of Members.
With the definite slogan that South
Carolinians should know each other
and maintain n common interest in
all that relate to the State, the so
Ciety has divided it's members into
three distinct classes and thus counts
every citizen on it's roster. Active
members who govern the society must
live in Washington at least part Of
the year, but any South Carolinian
who resides more than 25 miles from
II can become a nonresident member
and participate in all its functions.
Honorary membership is conferred
for eminent service to either the State
or the society when the nominee for
good reasons cannot figure either as
active or resident. But three
honorary members can he elected in
one year and it has been customary
20 NIo Nf
ate and louise or those in the govern
mental service about 10 leave the city.
After the first year "a historian was
added to the list of officers and n
council of seven. composed of the sec
retary and treasurer and five mem
hers not officers. was added to the
governing board. The annual meet
ing is held in January and the usual
routine sof business is followed by a
banquet, which is the most formal
and brilliant function OF the Winter.
There ale dances. card parties and
literary and musical evenings given
about eight times during the season.
and these are announced at the an
nual meetings. with the date and place
Of assembly. Wardman Park Hotel
has been selected for the banquet,
and larger dances. but smaller halls
have been utilized for lesser occasions
The first officers served for year
and We're succeeded in January, 1921.
by Daniel c. Roper as president;
Quincy r. Newman, vice president:
Miss Pearl Clark, secretary. and
George f.. Mitchell. treasurer. Patrick
III. MCGOWAN was the first historian.
The council. besides the secretary and
treasurer. was Mrs. Alexander MAJ
yok Bull Miss Jessie Wilson. u. II.
Stamford. and r. II. Ball. The Demo
cratic administration having drawn
to Il close. many prominent members
OF the South Carolina Society retired
TO private llfc and loft tho city. The
affairs of the society were somewhat
quieter than during the previous
year. but there were two dances given
at the Washington Club during April
and December.
Quickened i'm 1929.
In the social sense, the South Caro-
lnians enlivened n little in the Win
scr oe 1922 AT a banquet Col. T. q.
Donaldson was chosen president:
George L. Mitchell. vice president;
Mrs Alexander NJ. Bull. secretary;
Paul II. Tomplet. treasurer. and Miss
NJ. Willoughby. historian. There were
many dances at the Washington 1Io-
tel and lively and hospitable programs
along other lines The 1928 officers
were Comdr. Quincy r. Newman,
l. :. n. president; Col. Robert Car
michael. vice president; Mrs. Bull was
reelected secretary. with Leslie T..
Boykin. treasurer. and Miss Anne
Hicha rdson. historian.
The present officers OF the South
Carolina Society include: Mrs. Alex
ander Bull. who has been such an
efficient and loyal member since its IN
ception. She is the first woman eXecu-
tive Of the club and is at present the
only woman president of a Southern
state society. Horace G. Smith is vice
president: Mrs. Allard II. Gasque,
wife OF tho EcpreSe Seutative from Flor
enCe, is secretary. August Johnson is
trea Surer. and Miss Grace Roper, his
torian. The banquet this year was
postponed from January until April %
and a brilliant feature of 1t was the
appearance of well known singer
from the State. Miss Lucille Nelson,
who had been a pupil of Nine. CalVe
and who has since sung in New York
and other cities. AT this April meet
ing the officers for the ensuing sea
which viii now begin in No
vember instead of ,Ianuarv--were an.
These who will no ;Q,li,rfed