Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-22
MONUMENT BODY
IN ANNUAL SESSION.
Meets at Metropolitan Club
With Maj. Gen. W. N. Black
as Presiding Officer.

OF the Washington National Monu-
ment Society was held at the Metro
politan Club at 1890 O'Clock this aft
ernoon, with Mai. Gen. William y
Black presiding
Announcement was made by the
chairman of the death during the yeaI
of Robert 7. Lincoln and Dr. Charles
~. Walcott Appropriate resolutions
of regret were adopted by the society.
William r. Harr. secretary of the
society, read several communications,
including one on the installation OF
the North Dakota memorial stone in
the Monument April 20. 1925, ut hfch
time appropriate ceremonies were held
within the shaft. In the same report
Mr., Harr declared that r. Fl. Wells,
president Of the New Mexico School of
Mines, had written letter to the So
ciety informing that body of the ship
ment to Washington OF the New
Mexico memorial stone, Mr.. Wells
letter was dated January 90. last.
Many Members Absent.
Since many Of the members Of the
society are out Of the city. no attempt
was made to elect two new members
to the vacancies created by deaths 1t
was pointed out. however, that spe-
eial meeting might he called during
the coming year for the purpose OF
electing new members.
The present officers were reelected
to membership and these include.
with President Coolidge as eX officio
president: Willis Van Devanter, first
vice president: Charles c. Glover, se>>-
ond vice president; Theodpe w.
Noyee, treasurer, and William II.
Hhrr, secretary.
Included In Mr.. Harris report was
an account of the laying of wreath
al the base of the monument this
mbrning. The wreath presentation YVES
in accordance with the societys an
nual custom, although no ceremonies
were held and no members OF the So
ciety were present.
MIR. Moves read the treasurer's r.
port.
Following the business meeting. the
members of the society were enter
tanned at luncheon in the Metropolitan
Club by Mr.. Glover.
Those who attended included. with
Mr.. Glover. DIR. Herbert Putnam. Maj.
Gen. Black, Bishop James E. Free
man, George r. Hamilton, DIR.
Charles S. Wood MIR. Moves and Mr.
Harr.
Citizens Promote Project.
The Washington Monument, as it
stands today, was completed largely
through the efforts of the Washing
ton National Monument Society: In
1888 group of Washington's leading
citizens organized themselves for the
purpose of erecting "a great nation
al monument Ito the memory of
Washington at the seat of the Fed
eral Government" and elected Chief
Justice John Marshall as their first
president.
AS early as 1899 Congress had adopt
ed resolution calling for the erection
OF marble monument" to the mem
CRY of Washington. A committee was
appointed at that time to proceed with |
the action as outlined in the resolution, |
but until 1888 nothing had been done !
toward the erection of the memorial. |
The National Intelligencer,s publica. /
ton OF the time, protested. In Septem.
Der, 1888, against the inactivity and |
called for public meeting of citizens |
to formulate plans for immediate con-
struction, and on September IS OF the |
same year meeting was held in the |
aldermen's chamber of the city hail. |
which resulted in the organization OF |
the Washington National Monument
Society.
The society sought to raise funds !
for the erection of the shaft by pop
ular subscription, hut progress In OBJ. |
tanning an adequate sum was slow. |
due to restriction imposed by the so
ciety that only 81 could be donated i
by subscriber. This limitation was |
removed. however, in 1s45 and by |,
1s47 the aggregate OF collectinos and |
accumulated interest was about |
$4,000. or an increase of over SGT. 900 |
since 1888.
Corner Stone Laid I'm 1913.
The corner stone of the Monument
was laid on July 4, 1s48, under |
auspices of the sciety, and Robert G. |
Winthrop, Speaker OF the House. de.
livered the Grafton. In 1853 the shaft |
had reached a height of l56 feet.
In 1859 Congress incorporated the !
society for the purpose of completing
the monument and in the charter
granted. IL was provided that the
President of the United States should
be the ex.officio president of the
organization. Efforts TO raise funds
. for the completion Of the memorial
were increased but the intervention
OF the Civil War considerably slowed
up the progress In this direction. AT
the annual meeting OF the society In
1885, however, President Andrew
Johnson presided and contributions
were received In rapid order there.
! aIt0i 80 tndt on august z, 1876, Con-
gress saw fit to make appropriations
for the monument. In the resolutions
by which the appropriations were
made. 1t was made clear that the
society should not be prohibited from
continuing its efforts to compIete the
shaft and they further called for
> appointment OF a commission com.
posed OF i've Senators. eight Renre-
sentafives and three members of the
society TO supervise the completion of
the memorial
Cost Was $I,187,7lO.
Eight years later The Washington
Monument was completed at a total
cost Of $1,1S7.7l0. of which the Ma.
tional Society had collected $500. coo
Under an act OF Congress, October 2
1883, the joint commission was dis
solved, but the society was continued
The Washington National Monu.
ment Society is one of the oldest or.
carnations In the District and IL is
In effect, an honor guard OF the Wash
fngton Monument. Its members have
always been composed OF representa-.
tives OF the Army and Navy. legisIs.
tive and executive departments of the
Federal Government. and business and
civic leaders. The total membership
in its enrolment Chief Justice John
Marshall, Admiral Dewey. Generals
Grant and Sherman. Prof. Langley
". w. Corcoran. Alexander Shepherd
and many others.