Evening star., 1937-09-10
GRAVESOF S|CNERS
TO Be DECORATED
Honor Planned for Abraham
Baldwin, Also Gerry, Who
Was DELEGATE.

Two graves in the old Congressional
Cemetery here-those of Abraham
Baldwin, one of the 80 who signed
the Constitution of the United States
$50 years ago, and of Elbridge Gerry,
one of the 16 other deputies to the
Constitutional Convention in Phila-
delphia who did not sign that docu-
ment-are to be decorated on Sep
tember II. anniversary of the signing.
Similar services are to be held in the
13 original States represented at the
convention. Fifty-two known graves
are to be decorated.
The central ceremony is TO be at the
Mount Vernon tomb of George WASH
fngton, who was one of the signers
from Virginia, while four other dep
uties from that State who did not
sign will also be honored in local serv-
ices at their respective graves. Rep
resentative Sol Bloom, director gen.
eral of the Constitution Sesquicenten-
NAL Commission, viii personally direct
the services at Washington's tomb
which will be broadcast over a coast
to-coast network.
Abraham Baldwin was native of
North Guilford, Conn, and graduated
from Yale both as a lawyer and
preacher. He was chaplain in the
Revolutionary Army from 1777 to
1888; practiced law in Georgia, was
author of the charter of the University
of Georgia and president Of that insti-
tuition for many years. He was a
member of the Continental Congress,
the Constitutional Convention, men,
Der Of the first four Congresses and
twice elected president pro tempore
of the United States Senate. He was
first buried in Rock Greek Cemetery.
but reinterred in the Congressional
Cemetery.
Gerry Was Senator's Ancestor.
Elbridge Gerry, great grandfather
of Senator Peter Goelet Gerry of
Rhode Island, was a native of Mar
blehead, Mass. He was a member of
the Colonial House of Representatives
and signer of the Declaration of In
dependence. As a delegate to the
Constitutional Convention he refused
to sign the instrument, insisting it
gave the President too much power,
but subsequently gave it his support.
He served in the first two Congresses,
was sent to France on a diplomatic
mission, was twice Governor of Mas
sachusetts and Vice President during
the administration of Madison. His
grandson and great grandson also
served in Congress.
Three graves. in Maryland are to
be ecorated-those of Daniel Carroll
in Forest Glen and James McHenry
In Baltimore, both of whom signed the
Constitution, and that of j. F. Mercer
In West River, Anne Arundel County,
who did not sign.
Virginia Graves TO BE Decorated.
The Virginia graves to be decorated.
IN addition to that of Washington. are:
James Madison at Montpelier and
John Blair, Williamsburg, both of
whom signed, and the deputies who
did not sign-George Wythe and
James McClurg, both in Richmond;
Edmund Randolph, Millwood, and
George Mason, Gunston Hall.
The other graves to be decorated
are distributed as follows: Connecti-
cut, 8; Delaware, 4; Georgia, /; Mas
sachusetts, 2, New Jersey, 3; sNew
York, 8; New Hampshire, 2; North
Carolina, 2. Pennsylvania, 9; South
Carolina, 4; Tennessee, /.
Two graves apparently cannot be
located, those Of Daniel of st. Thomas
Jenifer, deputy of Maryland, who
signed the Constitution, and of Will
liam Houstun, deputy from Georgia.
who did not sign. He died in Savan-
nah in 1888.
Another delegate who attended the
convention. but who did not sign. was
John Lansing of New YORK, an emf
nent Jurist. Judge Lansing left early
in the convention, considering that il
Was exceeding its powers. In 1929.
while on a visit in New York CITY
from his home In Albany, he disap-
peared, creating mystery that never
was solved.
In most instances the States where
the deputies are buried will have
charge of the ceremonies. The serv-
Ices will be attended by representatives
Of State and local governments. Off
cials of patriotic and fraternal socie-
ties and Of similar local groups