9 /- . /1 'hb t ■^0 y y 7 6 SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. GENERAL SOCIETY. At the Regular Triennial Meeting of the G-eneral Society of Sons of the Revolution, held in the City of New York, on Wednesday, the nineteenth day of April, A. D. 1893, there was received a communication from the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of Maryland, embodying the Report made to it by its Delegates to the Special Meeting of the General Society held February sixteenth, A. D. 1893, to consider the question of a proposed union of the Societies of Sons of the Revolution and of Sons of the American Revolution. On Motion, it was Ordered that the said Report be placed upon the files of the General Society and be by it printed and distributed to the members of the several State Societies. The following is the Report referred to: — By Order, James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary, Extract from Minutes of Annual Meeting of Society of Sons of the Bevolution in the State of Maryland^ held March 15th, 1893. "The President requested Mr. W. Hall Harris to make some report of the action taken by the Delegates of this Society to the Special Meeting of the General Society of Sons of the Revolution held February 16th, 1893, in New York City, for the purpose of receiving, considering and acting upon a Report from the Joint Committee of Conference theretofore appointed by the General Societies of Sons of the Revolution and of the Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution, to consider the question of a union of said Societies. " The Delegation reported that the meeting of the General Society had been largely attended, embracing representatives from nearly all the State Societies, had remained in session for some eight hours, had been most earnest and conscientious in its efforts to effectuate the recommendations of the Joint Committee of Conference, but had, throughout its deliberations, been actuated by a marked and unwavering determination that by no circum- stance should the qualifications of eligibility for membership be degraded from the high standard indicated by the form of Con- stitution proposed by said Conference Committee. "It then reviewed the proceedings of the meeting of the General Society in detail, showing with particularity the whole coui"8e of the debate and stating that the Report of the Conference Committee had been received by it, not * accepted,' as had been erro- neously stated, and that the following resolution had been adopted. (2) V "' Resolved ; That this body recommend the union of the Sons , of the Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution, - and the adoption of the Constitution contained in said Report ' • (i. e. the Report of the Joint Committee of Conference.) HkT " This Resolution was transmitted to the General Society of the Sons of the American Revolution then in session in the same building and was shortly returned with the statement that it had, by that body, been adopted precisely as received. " Upon the receipt of this communication, the General Society proceeded to formulate, — what it naturally understood to be an essential prerequisite to any definite action on the part of the united Societies, — a plan by which a Committee on Credentials should be constituted to scrutinize the Application and Credentials of each member of every Society of the two organizations, in order that upon the formation of the proposed amalgamated Society it should be known to all, that it was composed of men whose eligibility measured up to the standard established, not by either of the previously existing Societies, but by that Constitution under which they would then claim to act : Such a plan was suggested by the following Recitals and Resolutions, which after full dis- cussion were adopted and transmitted to the Sister Society : " ' Whereas, the Sons of the Revolution in general meeting assembled have unanimously approved of the union of their Society and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution : "'And Whei-eas, they do approve the adoption of the Constitu- tion recommended by the Committees of Conference of both Societies, dated December 22d, 1892, and have recommended the same for adoption : "'And Whereas, such Constitution so recommended provides, in Article Third thereof, qualifications for membership therein, therefore be it "'Resolved, that a Committee of Two be appointed by each General Society from among its members, with power to select a fifth member, who shall not belong to either Society, to which Committee shall be submitted a list of the different Societies of Sons of the Revolution and of the Sons of the American Revalution, together with a list of the active members and their residences, in (3) each of said State Societies, and also the credentials and applicaiions upon which each of said members was so admitted ; and be it further '' ' Resolved, That said Committee shall examine said credentials and applications, and shall erase from the list of membership in each of said Societies the name of any member, by whose creden- tials and application it would appear that he was not entitled to membership under the requirements of Article Third of said Con- stitution ; and be it further " 'Resolved, That a list of members so revised by such Committee shall be certified to the General Presidents of the Society of Sons of the Revolution and of the Sons of the American Revolution, and that upon the receipt thereof, such General Presidents shall call a Joint Meeting of both General Societies for the adoption of said Constitution and the election of Officers thereunder ; at which meeting each State Society shall be entitled to representation accord- ing to the provisions of Article Seven of said Constitution, but upon the actual basis of membership so certified by said Committee to said General Presidents ; and be it fui'ther " 'Resolved, That said Constitution, if approved at such meeting, together with the proceedings of this Conference or meeting, shall be submitted for final ratification to the various State Societies ; and be it further " 'Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn to meet upon the call of the General Presidents, as herein provided.' " In a short time a Committee of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, headed by General Horace Porter, the President of that association, appeared before the meeting and stated that the action of the Society of Sons of the Revolution, set out in the Recitals and Resolutions just quoted, was * disapproved * by the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and further intimated that such action was not in strict accord with the Reso- lutions adopted at an earlier hour, inasmuch as having by such earlier Resolutions, ' adopted the Report of the Conference Com- mittee,' one of the recommendations of which provided for an immediate joint meeting of the two Societies, the adoption of the new Constitution and election of Officere, it was now incompetent (4) for the Society of Sons of the Revolution to depart in any par- ticular from the programme thus prescribed, *' In reply to this statement a Member called the attention of the Committee to the fact that the Resolution referred to did not, in terms or by implication, adopt the said Report or commit the Society of Sons of the Revolution to any such further proceedings as was claimed. " General Porter accepted the issue thus presented, but upon read- ing the original of said Resolutions, then in his own possession, was constrained to admit that the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution * had construed them to have a broader meaning than , upon careful reading they seemed to justify.' " The Society of Sons of the Revolution appointed, on the spot, a Special Committee to confer further with that headed by General Porter, in the effort to reach an agreement under which some form of a Committee on Credentials might be appointed, but it was found impossible to obtain the assent of the Sister Society to any form of such Committee or to any plan by which the matter of eligibility of members could in any manner be enquired into or certified; indeed that Society adjourned sine die before its Committee finally waited upon our Society and communicated its refusal to entertain any proposition looking to such enquiry and certification. " Just here is now the issue between the two Societies : Certain Members of that of the Sons of the American Revolution contend, in the public press and elsewhere, that the failure of the proposed union is chargeable to several causes, each one of which however they claim to constitute fault on the part of the Society of Sons of the Revolution ; for instance they allege, (1) " That such failure was due to the ' bad faith ' of the Society of Sons of the Revolution, in that having adopted the Report of the Conference Committee and the proposed Constitution, they then sought to evade the consequences of such action by the inter- position of a new and ' insulting ' prerequisite : It is apparent that this position is untenable, since it plainly appears from the Resolu- tions adopted unchanged by both Societies, that neither said Report nor Constitution were ever adopted by either Society, as was admit- ted by General Porter and his Committee, and as, in the case of (5) the proposed Constitution, was manifestly impossible, for the reason that its adoption could be had, not bj either Society alone, but only by the two when they should have united in joint session, and this is in fact the precise mode prescribed for such adoption by the second paragraph of the fourth recommendation of the Committee of Conference. "That a proposition to submit the credentials of each member of every Society to the examination of a Committee constituted by the Societies themselves, should be characterized as ' insulting ' is explicable upon no theory other than that of apprehension of the resnlts of such scrutiny and if so founded does grave injustice to some, if not to many, of the Stdte Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution, to which, as we telieve to be the case in our own State, such examination would be as welcome as to our own. (2) " Again it is said the »Society of Sons of the Revolution * prevented the union ' by failing to hold firmly the requirements of lineal descent and by inserting in the proposed Constitution a provision in favor of collaterals, in certain instances : " To this proposition it seems unnecessary to make further reply than merely to note that the proposed Constitution was prepared by a Joint Committee of both Societies and that, although not adopted by either of the General Societies, it was recommended by both in identically the same language; but it is submitted that the provision in the proposed Constitution relating to the admission of Collaterals is so carefully circumscribed as to present small danger of abuse and to render it objectionable in but moderate degree. (3) " Another charge and one upon which much argument is expended, is to the effect that the proposition for a Committee on Credentials was fatal to union, since it sought to deprive the State Societies of the exclusive right to judge of the qualifications of members and vested that authority in 'a central body.' " Whatever force might have attached to this objection had the State Societies been deprived of their individual rights after the adoption of a new Constitution, it scarcely applied to the then existing circumstances : The question was not how shall persons be admitted to membership under the new Constitution, but how shall (6) such new Constitution come into eifectual existence ? Oei'tainly, it could be created only by the act of persons who were qualified to form the new Association under the requirements prescribed by it. Unquestionably, no State Society had ever measured its members by this standard,{and it is equally indisputable that under the Constitutions of the existing Societies there was no tribunal competent to ascertain, not whether individuals were qualified to retain the membership they already held, but whether they were also possessed of those qualifications which were, by the proposed Constitution, made essential to the formation of a new Society under its provisions. And it is to be noted that the proposed Constitution, recommended by both Societies, while it provided in its Third and Fifth Articles for the original jurisdiction of the State Societies, had also reserved to the General Society a power to entertain and determine all questions affecting the qualification for membership in any State Society, upon their proper presentation. (Article 8.) " The position of the Sons of the Kevolution, on the other hand, is simply this : — When assembled in session of their General Society on February 16th, 1893, they received the Report of the Joint Committee of Conference ; adopted a Resolution to the effect that they were in favor of a union of the two Societies ; and another recommendation that the proposed form of Constitution be adopted. "Ascertaining that this action had met the approval of their Sister Society, by the adoption by it of said Resolution Hotidem verbis,' they proceeded to provide for the formation of a Com- mittee on Credentials to which should be submitted the qualifica- tions, under such proposed Constitution, of all who should claim a voice in its adoption and effectuation. "The necessity and propriety of such safeguard are equally apparent and no better guarantee of absolute good faith could have been devised than the provision that their own membership, as well as that of the Sister Society, should be submitted to a Com- mittee created by both, upon which each should have equal representation, and by the certification of which all should alike stand or fall. (7) " In conclusiou, the Delegation reported that throughout all the debates of this most important meeting of the General Society, the Delegates from the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of Maryland had with unswerving fidelity adhered to the proposi- tion that while clothed with authority to surrender the Charter of the Association which they represented, to a Society to be formed of " Sons of the Revolution,^' according to the standard prescribed by the proposed Constitution, they had yet deemed themselves bound in honor to reix)rt to this Society that they had so sur- rendered it to a new Society composed of persons demonstrated to be so qualified to bear that title, or to return that Charter to those who had entrusted its care to them,/<»' the wcmtof such demonsira- tion of qualiftcation. "And the Delegates asked that, having fully reported their action in the premises, their discharge of the trust confided to them receive the approval or the condemnation of this Society, according to its estimate of the fidelity with which the duties had been performed. " Dr. William Lee stated that he deemed it most fitting that, as a Member of the Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, as well as of this Society, he should move, as he did with great pleasure, that the thanks of this Society be extended to the Delegates who had just reported, for the wholly satisfactory manner in which they had discharged the duties of the office with which they had been clothed ; " And further, that this Society does now formally approve and endorse the action of its Delegates at the meeting of the General Society of Sons of the Revolution, held in New York City upon February 16th, 1893, and the action of the said General Society upon said date. " These Resolutions were greeted with applause and, being put to the vote, were unanimously adopted." By Order, ROBT. RIDDELL BROWN, Secretari/. Baltimore, April 5th, 1893. (8) ^' GENERAL SOCIETY Sons of the Revolution, April 19th, 1895. GENERAL SOCIETY Sons of the Revolution. Excerpt of the Meeting held in Boston, April 19th, 189?. PRIZE ESSAYS, U. S. Naval Academy Competition. jiic ecttcins for Securing (gertificateg of iiftemberg t)tp, AND OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL AND STATE SOCIETIES, July 4th, 1895. JOHN HUBPHT A CO., PRINTBRS, BALTIMORE. Til© Soolfi^ EXCERPT OF MEETING Faneuil Hall, Boston, Mass., APRIL igth, 1895. I-Exi.NGTOx, April 19th, 1775. Sons of the Revolution. The Society met at Faneuil Hall, Bostou, April 19th, 1895, at 11.30 A. M. It was called to order by Colonel William L. Chase, Presideut of the Massachusetts Society, who opened the proceedings by saying : OPENING REMARKS OF COL. W. L. CHASE. It becomes my pleasant duty, in behalf of the Sons of the Revolution of this Commonwealth, to extend to the delegates to this Convention a hearty welcome to Massachusetts. You know our motto : " Ense petit placidara sub libertate quietem." Now that the victorious right hand has sheathed the sword, it is extended to you, one and all, in hearty good fellowship. Wel- come to Massachusetts. And welcome to Boston, whose motto still is our prayer : " Sicut patribus, sit Deus nobis," and if God is to us as he was to our Fathers, then indeed the lines will be fallen to us in pleasant places. I have the honor to present the Honorable President of the General Society, Governor Carroll. (Applause.) 5 Sons of the Mevolution. OPENING ADDBESS OP PRESIDENT JOHN LEE CARROLL. Gentlemen of the Society : — I am sure that the delegates to this meeting have heard with the sincerest pleasure the cordial welcome which has been extended to us by our Massachusetts friends and appreciate at their proper value the kindly words which have just been addressed to us by the President of the Massachusetts Society. In fact, we must feel that this is a proud day for us, to stand upon this spot which has been so aptly designated the " Cradle of American Liberty," and to hear from the descendants of those brave meu who were engaged in the first conflicts of those early days that after the lapse of one hundred and twenty years the memory of that gigantic conflict is still fresh and green, and that from one end to the other of this broad land the spirit of brother- hood was never higher or stronger than it is to-day in the hearts of the Sons of the Revolution. Gentlemen, I think we may well be proud of the progress and spirit of our Society, and before this meeting closes there will be laid before you the record of the number of States that are admitted to-day, and have been already admitted, and also the members of Societies. I think I may safely say that you will admit with me that there are several good and solid reasons for the success which we are proud of to-day. In the first place, gentlemen, we owe a great deal to the Committee on the organization of new Societies for their activity, their industry and their zeal, and they have already received the unanimous thanks of this Society, and to-day we feel that they are entitled to our continued confidence. But there is still another reason for our success. The community well knows, every community that knows anything about us, that no man can be enrolled as a member of this Society unless the record of his descent from Revolutionary ancestors is made absolutely clear (applause). The public know and feel that whatever differ- ences there may be on other points, there is no wavering or un- certainty about this, and that our pride is enlisted, one and all of us, in vouching for the correctness of the record of every man who is associated with us as a Son of the Revolution (applause). Why, Excerpt of Meeting. 7 gentlemen, it is the corner-stone of our edifice. Once break that down, and the whole fabric will be crumbled to the ground. Now, may I ask, does not this inspire a feeling of confidence among those who wish to join our body, that, coming in among us, they feel sure that they stand on equal ground with the same blood that flows in their own veins? And now, another point for one moment. I do not believe that in any branch or chapter of our Society in any portion of this country, there has ever been a single individual man who has ever even been suspected of using or turning to his own personal ends any advantage of his position or what he may obtain as a member of the Sons of the Revolution (applause). It is well known that politics, religion, sectional feeling, jealousies of all kinds, are absolutely excluded from our deliberations (applause), and the one strong feeling of brotherhood, fraternal brotherhood, extends throughout the length and the breadth of the land (applause). Now, gentlemen, with these high sentiments inscribed upon our flag, may I not add, have we not a right to ask the aid and as- sistance of every man who reveres the memories of our Revolution to come and support us in the work which we are now doing. And now, as we go along and carry out the purposes of this meeting, which we now propose to do, I have only to say, in con- clusion, that I have an absolute faith that there is not a man among us who will be willing to lower for one moment, in the slightest degree, the high standards of which we are so justly proud and which have been the cause of our undoubted success (applause). Gentlemen, I take the liberty of organizing this meeting, which we will do, by suggesting and proposing that the Reverend Chap- lain of the Massachusetts Society favor us with a prayer. PEAYER OP REVEREND LEONARD K. STORRS, D. D., Chaplain of the Massachusetts Society. Let lis pray. Almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who from Thy throne dost behold and govern all the nations of the world. We bless Thee for Thy mercy in giving us this good land in which we dwell. We adore Thee as the God Whom our Fathers trusted and by Whose goodness we have been preserved 8 Sons of the Revolidion. from nmiiiibkl and great perils even unto this present time. In- spire our souls, we beseech Thee, with grateful love. Fill us with the abundance of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may be humble and watchful in prosperity, patient and steadfast in adversity, and always enjoy the blessed confidence of that people whose God is the Lord. Call to our remembrance all Thy great mercies of old and give us grace always to seek that righteousness which exalteth a nation, and avoid those sins which are the reproach of any people. Let Thy loving kindness and mercy be over and around us at this present time. Direct us in all our doings with Thy most gracious favor and further us with Thy continued help that in this and in all our works, begun, continued and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy Holy Name and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The calling of the roll resulted as follows : John Lee Cakroll, General President. Garret Dorset Wall, Vroom, General Vice-President. .James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary. William Hall Harris, Assistant General Secretary. Richard McCall Cadwalader, General Treasurer. California. HOLDRIDGE OZRO COLLINP, JamES MoRTIMER MONTGOMERY. Connecticut. Louis J. Allen, Jesup Wakeman, Rev. N. Ellsworth Cornwall, Robert Peel Wakeman, William Freeman French, M. D. District of Columbia. Captain Daniel Morgan Taylor, U. S. A. Thomas Blagden, Cazenove G. Lee, Frank W. Hackett, Henry May. Illinois. Thomas Floyd-Jones, Samuel Clifford Payson, Arthur Leffingwell, Homer Wise. Excerpt of Meeting. 9 Iowa. Henky Cadle. Kentucky. James Duane Livingston, Wilbur R. Smith. Maeyland. Thomas William Hall, Daniel Coit Oilman, LL. D., Henky Oliver Thompson, William Bowly Wilson, Ogden a. Kikklanu. M ASSACHUSETTS. William L. Chase, Clement K. Fay, Leonard K. Storrs, D. D., Francis Ellingwood Abbott, Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D., LL. D., Henry Dexter Wakren. Minnesota. RuKARD Hurd, Luther S. Gushing, Hazen .J. Burton. Missouri. Henry Cadle. New Hampshire. Rev. Henry E. Hovey, T. E. O. Marvin, Stephen Decatur, Harry Bouton Cjlley. New Jersey. Richard Fowler Stevens, A. Q. Garretson, Malcolm Macdonald, Frank Obadiah Briggs, Hugh Henderson Hamill, Edward Robert Walker, Poster Conarroe Griffith, Barker Gummere. New York. John Hone, Robert Lenox Belknap, Robert Olyphant, William Carpender, W. G. Dominick, T. E. V. Smith, Governeur Mather Smith, M. D., Frederick Augustus Guild, Col. George B. Sanford, U. S. A. 10 Sons of the Revolidion. North Carolina. BoswoRTH Clipton Beckwith, Marshall De Lancey Haywood, George Bradburn Curtis. Ohio. Ralph Peters. Pennsylvania. Captain Richard Strader Collum, U. S. M. C, JosiAH Granville Leach, Grant Weideman, Charles Henry Jones, Ethan Allen Weaver. South Carolina. George W. Olney, Talbot Olyphant. Tennessee. Henry Hudson. West Virginia. Hon. John M. Hagans, Charles W. Brockunier, William F. Peterson, Samuel H. Brockunier. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The President. Now, the next business in order will be the admission of new societies, so that they can take part in the pro- ceedings of the meeting. M?'. Hone (New York), Chairman of the Committee on Organi- zation. I will say that since our last annual meeting, eight States have organized. I take them as I have them here. In my office yesterday, I had two gentlemen. Judge Duke, and Mr. Cabell, who are organizing the Virginia Society. Their appli- cations have been received here. They have been approved by the General Secretary in time and they have simply had to have a meeting to organize, which they will do any moment. Excerpt of Meeting. 11 Texas. Applications were returned to them approved, and they have since organized. The applications were returned on the 27th of February, 1895. State of Washington on the Pacific coast. Applications were returned about the 19th of February, or possibly a little later than that. Kentucky. January 26, organized. Kentucky is represented here to-day. Tennessee. Articles of incorporation were received on the 28th of November, 1894. Tennessee is represented here. The State of Montana. Applications were made and approved, and they have since organized, on the 23d of October, 1894, I think. Montana is not too far to send a delegate. South Carolina was organized last fall. It has delegates here, or the delegation is represented here to-day. Alabama, on the 16th of April, 1894. I think it shows, sir, that even in States where the other Society is supposed to have a very large foothold we have come in perfectly fresh, and we find no difficulty. We find a little preliminary diffi- culty, which would come to anybody making a new undertaking in any direction, but the moment that the object of the Society is understood and the organization begins, it just goes right straight along, as Mr. Cadle will tell you. Also, Illinois has gone right straight along. I feel very hopeful, sir, and I think we will have more States within a few months (applause). The President. The Chair will appoint the following committee on credentials to examine the credentials of the gentlemen who are appointed as delegates from the new Societies : Arthur Leffingwell of Illinois, Henry O. Thompson of Maryland, and Thomas Blagden of the District of Columbia Society. If these gentlemen will retire and examine the credentials of the Societies, they can be admitted at once on motion, so that they can take part in the proceedings. REPORT OP GENERAL SECRETARY. The President. The next business in order, gentlemen, is the report of the General Officers. It comes first in the report of the Secretary. 12 Sons of the Revohdion. Office of the General Secretary, 50 Wall Street (Room 5), New York, April 16, 1895. The last Report of the General Society was submitted at its meeting held April 19th, 1894, at Annapolis, Maryland. The State Societies have increased their membership, which to-dav stands as follows : STATE. Number of Members on roll, April 19, 1894. Since ailniitted. Loss by death since April 19, 1894. Loss by Resign il- tion, etc., since April 19, 1894. Total Member- ship, April 1, 1895. Alabama 12 20 38 38 185 lio 22 37 93 224 39 55 9 90 1,380 22 83 739 "9 13 26 17 23 39 "s 80 42 19 l\ 104 9 14 235 <> 47 158 42 21 "g 2 "2 "i "3 1 1 18 1 3 8 "5 i "i 3 23 25 California 46 Colorado 55 Connecticut 58 District of Columbia 217 19 Georgia 115 Illinois 102 Iowa 78 Kentucky 15 Maryland 108 Massachusetts 302 Minnesota 65 Missouri 159 New Hampshire 18 New Jersey 104 New York 1,574 North Carolina 27 Ohio 127 Pennsylvania 889 South Carolina 42 Tennessee 21 Texas 12 West Virginia 15 Washington 10 Total 3,205 1,007 43 G 33 a in for Yea 4,203 3,205 r, 998 Total number of Insignia issued to date, 1,855 Total number issued to April 19, 1894, 1,504 Gain, 351 Excei'pt of Meeting, 13 DuriDg the past year most satisfactory progress has been made, not only in the enlargement of the General Society by the formation of additional State organizations, bnt in the earnest and patriotic spirit which has everywhere been manifested, and in the steadfast determination to hold high the standard of eligibility to membership. The importance of a publication by the Government of the Archives of the Revolution has long been manifest, and it is grati- fying to report that Congress has taken action in the matter, from which it is hoped valuable results will speedily be attained. The Committee on Organization of New Societies, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Hone, has accomplished most valuable work, the number of State Societies added to the roll being con- siderable, and their organization having been perfected upon the, most careful basis. The following State Societies have been organized, or are in process of formation, since the last meeting of the General Society' : Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mon- tana, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Texas and Alabama. The Reports of the diiferent State Societies show the progress which has been made by them in various lines, including the successful offer of Prize Medals lor Essays by Scholars in the Public Schools upon subjects calculated to stimulate research and interest in matters relating to the Revolution, its causes and results. Yours very respectfully, James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary. The President. Gentlemen, a motion is in order now to accept the report of the General Secretary. Mr. Hayicood (North Carolina). I move the report be received. The motion was seconded and adopted. REPORT OP THE GENERAL TREASURER. The President. The next business in order is the report of the General Treasurer. Mr. Cadwalader, General Treasurer, road the report, as follows : 14 Sons of the Revolution. Richard M. Cadwalader, General Treasurer, in account tvUh General Society, Sons of the Revolution. 1894. Dr. Apr. 19th. Cash balance $254 49 May 12th. Assessment, 1894, New York $687 50 23cl. " " Pennsylvania 376 00 1895. Jan. 17th. " " Maryland 45 50 18th. " " Minnesota 20 00 19th. " " N. Carolina 13 50 " " " Georgia 55 00 2l8t. " " Massachusetts Ill 50 23d. " " New Jersey 45 50 31st. Interest on deposit 10 24 Feb. Ist. Assessment, 1894, Missouri 24 50 4th. " " Iowa 20 60 5th. " " N. Hampshire 5 50 " " " Colorado 19 00 6th. " " Dist. of Columbia 92 50 9th. " " Connecticut 18 50 23d. " « Ohio 41 50 Mch.l3th. " " Illinois 17 50 Apr, 10th. " " California 7 50 1,611 74 $1,866 23 1894. Ck. May 1st. J. W. Jordan, postage, express, &c $24 02 3d. Allen, Lane & Scott, printing Gen'l Treasur- er's Report 5 50 " C. W. Kelsey, engrossing, General Secretary 34 32 10th. Exchange Printing Co., printing, Gen'l Sec'ty 116 00 12lh. S. Barr, type-writing, " " 2 20 " Exchange Printing Co., printing, " " 1 75 22d. W. B. Wilson, expenses at Annapolis 250 00 2oth. Ames «fc Rollinson, Naval Acad. Certificates.. 15 00 June 26th. Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Naval Acad. Medals.. 105 00 July 9th. Jas. M. Montgomery, expenses 25 32 23d. Exchange Printing Co., printing, Gen'l Sec'ty 9 97 Aug. 7th. " " " " " " 9 00 10th. C. H. Clayton & Co., letter-book, " « 1 75 Sept. lOth. John Murphy «fe Co., printing directory 133 67 " Exchange Printing Co., envelopes, General Secretary 12 50 Oct. 11th. John Hone, Committee on Organization 36 60 Nov. 12lh. Exchange Printing Co., Com. on Organization 26 25 Dec. 26th. J. W. Jordan, postage and express 14 45 Excerpt of Meeting. 15 1895. Cb. Jan. 7th. Exchange Printing Co., printing, Gen'l Sect'y 25 10 17th. Hist. Register Publishing Co., plates for flag.. 23 00 Feb, 8th. S. V. Sykes, express, &c., Gen'l Sec'ty 8 30 13th. Exchange Printing Co., printing, Gen'l Sec'ty 74 29 Mch. 2d. E. Carroll, Jr., & Co.. copying, " " 4 30 22d. E. Bierstadt, photograph and map 6 00 27th. Down-Town Mailing Agency, Com. on Organi- zation 18 48 Apr. 2d. S. V. Sykes, postage, <&c., Gen'l Sect'y 28 36 8th. A. Ritterhoff, engraving, " " 57 90 " Exchange Printing Co., printing,Gen'l Sec'ty 105 40 13th. Wm. A. Witherup, clerk, Gen'l Treasurer... 25 00 " Henry Cadle, expense 63 00 15th. Bailey, Banks &Biddle, stationery, Gen. Sec'y 224 .SO $1,486 73 Cash balance 379 50 $1,866 23 Richard M. CAcwAiiADER, General Treasurer. April igtb, 1895. Mr. Cadwalader (General Treasurer). Mr. President, I move that the Report be accepted and ask that an Auditing Committee be appointed and the assessment for the coming year be reported. The President. At the request of the General Treasurer, gentle- men, the Chair will appoint the following Committee to audit this Report and report the result of their examination at the next meeting : Henry Dexter Warren of Massachusetts, Rukard Hurd of Minnesota, Holdridge Ozro Collins of California ; that is, three gentlemen. HEPOBT OP GENERAL REGISTRAR. The President. The next is the Report of the Registrar. Office of the General Registrar, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, April Idth, 1895. James Mortimer Montgomery, Esq., General Seci'etai'y Sons of the Revolution : Dear Sir : — I have the honor to report that there are on file in this office, the Duplicate Applications of Membership of the following State Societies. 16 Sons of the Revolution. New York, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Maryland, Illinois, Texas. New Jersey, Minnesota, A jiersonal examination of all of the Duplicates on file, warrants the expression of my opinion, that every constitutional requirement of military, naval or civil service of a hereditary ancestor has been complied with, and that the State Societies have exercised the utmost care in the admission of members. In this connection, I would especially commend the Maryland Society Duplicates for their fullness of details and authentication of claims. The preservation and arrangement for ready reference of these valuable docinnents is an important consideration. At present they are arranged in portfolios, and I would again renew my recommendation, that they be bound, by States, and properly indexed. I have the honor to be, Yours very truly, John Woolf Jordan, General Registrar. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 2%€ President. The next business in order, gentlemen, is the report on the amendments to the Constitution that were authorized last year. Mr. Harris (Assistant General Secretary). Mr. President, in obedience to the direction of the Society at its meeting held in April, 1894, the Assistant General Secretary sent to the Secretary of each existing State Society, under date of July 13th, 1894, a letter calling his attention to the action had by the Society, inclosing a copy of the proposed amendment and asking that he would have action taken by the State Society and report to the General Society in time for this meeting. All the Societies have not reported, but a very large majority of them have done so and they have, without any exception, reported that tiieir respective Societies were unani- mously in favor of the proposed amendments to the Constitution creating the offices of Second General Vice-President, General Excerpt of Meeting. 17 Registrar and General Historian. I have the package of certifi- cates here, sir, but I suppose it is scarcely necessary to read them. Action was deferred. REPOBTS OP STATE SOCIETIES. The President. The next business in order is the reports of the State Societies, which are simply to be read by their title and referred to the Secretary for printing. Mr. Harris (Assistant General Secretary). The reports, sir, which have been received are sixteen in number. Taking them at haphazard as to their sequence, they are from the States of Ten- nessee, Connecticut, New York, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia, Illinois, The District of Columbia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, North Dakota (which is not a complete report and the organization has not been approved), Iowa, Colorado, and North Carolina. THE ORGANIZATION OP CHAPTERS. The President. Gentlemen, the Secretary will now read a letter from the Montana Society in reference to forming Chapters in the different states. Great Falls, April 13, 1895. James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary Sons of the Revolution : Dear Sir: — Will you kindly advise whether the organization of divisions or branches of the State Sons of the Revolution would meet the approval of the General Society. There is no law in the Constitution forbidding this, but we desire to take no action not satisfactory to it. Our city is nearly in the centre of the state, but our sister city, Butte, is some 200 miles south of us, and as mileage on Railroad is five cents per mile this means about $20.00 fare per cap. to say nothing of other expenses, to attend any meeting of a social or business character outside of the annual meeting February 22nd. Butte City and vicinity have a large number of good men who are eligible to membership, and it is my judgment that they 2 18 Sons of the Revolution. could organize a division that would greatly increase the member- ship of the State Society. They would be able to meet in social concourse, give banquets, celebrate any day of historical interest, &c., and thus feel that they were a part of the Society and thereby build up a membership and increase interest in the work. When you consider that our state has 146,080 square miles, and is larger than New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania combined, you will appreciate the difficulty of otherwise extending the work over the whole state. If this plan has been adopted in any other state we should be pleased to learn the plan of organization. Of course it is understood that such branches if allowed would be subordinate to and a part of the State Society. I should be gratified to hear from you. Respectfully, Charles H. Benton, President Montana Society. Mr. Leach (Pennsylvania). Mr. Chairman, it might be well for me to mention what has occurred in Pennsylvania in connection with this matter of this letter. Our constitution does not permit of the organization of chapters. We simply have our State So- ciety. The same desire manifested itself in Pennsylvania, of having in different parts of the state some organization. In Pittsburg, for instance, the men said, "We cannot come on to your banquet or your annual meeting, and we would like to have some sort of an organization." It was the same way in Wilkesbarre. So we have said to them there, "We cannot authorize any chapters to be formed, as a State Society, but you can gather together in Pitts- burg and in the surrounding counties there, if you want to, and form a little organization among those members of the Society in Pennsylvania, the General Society, and then organize amongst yourselves what you please." And so in two or three places, I think in three parts of the state, they have done that. It is not recognized officially, by the State Society. They simply have a gathering among themselves, etc., and meet for social purposes, but they are members of the State Society. I think, under our consti- Excerpt of Meeting. 19 tution, that it is the only thing that can be done. It is practically a chapter, but not so called. Mr. Jones (Pennsylvania). These gentlemen understand this matter perfectly. They seem to have a greater regard for the Constitution than we seem to have. They have said they have no rights, but simply out of deference to the General Society they ask our views as to whether they can assemble in this way. In my judgment, there is only one way of disposing of it. They under- stand it themselves better than we do, apparently, because they have said, "We know we cannot organize them, but still, if we do act in this informal way, we would like to know whether the General Society has any objection." Now, it seems to me, I would like to amend that motion by saying that it is a matter which is left entirely to the State Societies, subject to the provisions of the constitution of the General Society. The President. Well, gentlemen, that is the motion that is moved and seconded, that the Secretary inform these Societies that the appointment of chapters in the States is a matter for their own management, subject, of course, to the provisions of the General Constitution. Those in favor of the adoption will say aye, those opposed no. It is a vote, and the motion is adopted. Mr. Cadle (Missouri). Mr. President, this matter of local chapters is a matter of some importance to us in Missouri, and I think that it is due to the State Societies where they desire these chapters, to acquaint them and give them all the information possible. We have found in Missouri that the organization of local chapters has been very beneficial to our State Society, as an auxiliary to it, and without any authority from the General Society, taking in view the good of the General Society and our State So- ciety, we took it upon ourselves without any authority, we assumed the matter, so to speak, to give permission to certain gentlemen in our State to organize a local chapter. We, at our last business meeting, authorized any twelve gentlemen in the State of Missouri, who were members of our state organization, that desired to have a local chapter to organize the same, with a President, Vice-Presi- dent, a Secretary, and a board of six members to belong to the local chapter. We require that the applicant must be a member in good standing of the Missouri Society, or any other Society of 20 Sons of the MevoliUion. the Sons of the Revolution, furnishing a certificate from some proper State Secretary. We have in Kansas City, where our local chapter is located, gentlemen, who are members of the Massachusetts Society, I think possibly some from Pennsylvania, though I am not positive about that. At any rate, they belong to three or four different societies and on their furnishing a certificate from the State Secretary our local chapter there has admitted them. From twelve members, organized three months ago, they have grown to twenty-five, with a prospect of another twenty-five in the next two months. So I say that it has proven very beneficial in our State and I think that in any of the large States, where they have a territory which is from two to three hundred miles square, the cities located in opposite directions, it will be very beneficial to them to allow them to organize these local chapters. I think that some instruction ought to be given to State Societies, that wherever any twelve gentlemen, members in good standing of the Sons of the Revolution, desire to organize a local chapter, they be granted permission, subject, of course, their laws, their by-laws, to the supervision of the State Society. The President. The Chair understands that the sense of the meeting has been taken on that, that it is a matter for the State Societies to have a right to determine, subject, of course, to the General Constitution of the Societv. REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. Mr. LeffingweU (Illinois). Boston, Mass., A'pril 19'Our General Officers are willing and anxious to unite with you in taking all steps, within their power, to promote the icnuch desired object of a permanent union. Yours truly, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. III. New York, June 8, 1896. ;Franklin Murphy, Esq., Secretary General Sons of the American Revolution, No. 143 Chestnut street, Newark, N. J. Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 29th of May, 1896, in reply to my letter of the 25th ultimo. I am instructed by the General Officers of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution to say that there appears to -have been a misunderstanding on the part of the Society of 8 the Sons of the American Revolution as to the meaning of the resolutions which were passed by this society on the 20tli of April last at Savannah. I take the liberty of enclos- ing a copy of those resolutions for closer examination. You will see by the terms of the first resolution, that a standing invitation is tendered to the Society of the Sons ot the American Revolution " to unite with us in a single society according to the terms of union which were unani- mously agreed upon at the separate meetings of the two existing societies in New York^ February i6, 1893, as amended by striking therefrom the third paragraph ot Article III, which provided for the admission of collaterals." The action of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in their reply of the 25th of May, 1896, was limited by the terms and scope of the resolution adopted at Savannah, and they felt that they had no power to exceed the instructions which were given to them at that meeting. They therefore ex- pressed their readiness to appoint a committee of disinter- ested gentlemen to examine the credentials of the members of both societies, as this was the only committee which they were authorized to name, I am instructed further to say, that however opinions may differ as to the value of the terms of agreement which were adopted in February, 1893, it must be remembered that those terms were the result of many conferences of the rep- resentatives of both societies, and were supposed at the time to cover every point about which in future any dispute could arise. The meeting of two committees now, as proposed by the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, to consider a " basis of union," would necessarily open up the whole subject, as to name, insignia, qualifications, etc., etc., all ot which the Society of the Sons of the Revolution looked upon as concluded by the terms of agreement adopted in 1893. This society therefore regrets very much that the union of the two societies should now be made by your society to depend upon the adoption of a " new basis," when they had considered those important questions settled in 1893. In conclusion I would respectfully repeat that the power of the General Officers of this Society is limited by the reso- lution passed at Savannah, and they have no authority to appoint any committee but that which provides for the ex- amination of the credentials of the members of both societies. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. IV. Newark, N. J., July 28, 1896. James Mortimer Montgomery, Esq., General Secretary, Sons of the Revolution. Dear Sir: I have the honor now to reply to your favor of June 8th, which I took pleasure in submitting to the General Officers of this society. They have instructed me to say that there was no mis- understanding on their part as to the wording of the resolu- tions which were passed by your society at Savannah, but the propositions expressed in our communication to you of May 29th were made in the hope that under the circum- stances, and in consideration of the general desire for prompt action in regard to union, your officers would take the re- sponsibility of acceding to the appointment of a committee to meet a committee named by this society to discuss the most important of all questions — a fair basis of union and to see whether such committees could not by mutual agreement unite upon a plan which could at least be submitted to the societies for their action. The resolutions of your society adopted at Savannah looked to the formation of a single society, upon the tenns of union set forth in the proposed constitution of February 16, 1893, with an amendment thereto. It was, therefore, naturally supposed that as your society had made an amend- ment to that document without consultation with this society, the privilege should be accorded to this society of taking steps looking to the making of other amendments in con- sultation with your society. The Savannah resolutions speak of the constitution of 1893 as having been adopted by the societies whereas the proceed- ings show that that constitution failed to be adopted. Some of the reasons for believing that it is necessary for both socie- ties to have conference committees take up the plan of reorganization anew, are as follows : The proposed constitution of 1893 was prepared when the societies were small and without large experience in the means of carrying out the purposes of a great national patriotic organization. Of the present members, one-half perhaps, of each society have joined since the proceedings of 1893 and it would seem fair that they should have a right to be heard in a matter of such importance as a constitution for the goverment of a permanent union of these organiza- tions. The proposed constitution of 1893 is so defective that it is believed that your officers will agree that a large Society could not possibly work successfully under its provision. For in- stance, the last paragraph of Article III states that the Board of Managers of each State Society shall have full and exclusive power to determine the qualifications of applicants for membership, with power to expel or reject all applica- tions. Article VIII says that the General Society shall have power to admit State Societies and determine all questions affecting the qualifications of membership which may by proper memorial be presented for consideration. This lan- guage is confusing and seems to be contradictory. Besides, that constitution makes no provision for the filing of a copy of the credentials of members with the Registrar General of the National Society and does not sufficiently de- fine his duties or give him enough power to fix his responsi- bility in passing upon the validity of credentials. It pre- scribes the form of a seal which we are informed was long ago adopted by the Washington Continental Guard of New York City, which, having used the seal for many years, would apparently be entitled to continual use of the same without infringement. It names the last Wednesday in April as the day for the annual meeting when it has been the custom of both societies to meet on some patriotic anniversary, which gives a meaning and a purpose to the occasion. It also provides that the larger Society shall take the exact name of the smaller Society, and it is assumed that that would mean coming under the charter of the latter Society, and be a complete and absolute absorption by one Society of the other, instead of a union of the two. The Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has never intimated, and does not now even suggest that its name be adopted by the joint Society, but thinks that possibly some equally good title, not the exact name of either Society, might be accept- able to both; for instance, the Society of the Revolution or the Society of the American Revolution. The adoption of some such name would be following the almost universal custom in naming patriotic Societies, among which may be named the Society of the Cincinnati ; the Society of the Col- onial Wars ; the Society of the Colonial Dames ; the Society of Foreign Wars; the Society of the Army of the Potomac, etc., etc. There are many who think there is more dignity attached to these names from the fact that they do not con- tain the word " Sons," a term which seems to suggest that the organization is composed of juveniles instead of adults, like the Junior Guards, Junior Veterans, Children of the Revolution, etc. It is advisable also to consider the subject of name for the reason that the plan of consolidation should provide for the largest possible usefulness and grandeur of the united Societies. The Sons of the American Revolution already have a Society in the new Republic of Hawaii, where no Society of this class could probably exist under the name simply of "Sons of the Revolution." It is entirely practic- able to form branch Societies in other foreign lands, if the title be specific in indicating that it is the American Revolu- tion, from which eligibility is derived. Again, the constitution of 1893 i^iakes no provision for organizing chapters in the different states. The formation of chapters is becoming a prominent feature in the Sons of the American Revolution; it does much for the convenience of the members and is important as a means of enlarging membership. It therefore seems beyond dispute that the proposed constitution of 1893, in its present form, is seriously defective and obsolete. It seems to be of paramount im- portance that an instrument which is to form the organic law of a large and influential Society should be prepared be- forehand so that the present Societies will know exactly what provisions are to govern the new organization. It may be said that after the adoption of the constitution it could be amended at pleasure by the joint Society, but your officers will probably agree with ours that it would be most unfor- tunate to have a feeling pervade the minds of the members of the Societies that after adopting a constitution embody- ing a basis of union there were to be immediate changes made in it. In union, upon a comprehensive and complete basis, we would hope to adjust all differences and put an end to con- troversy, whereas a union upon a basis which would call for immediate changes in the Constitution would precipitate dis- cussion and sow the seeds of discord. It would also look as if a majority might want to overrule the will of a minority, would manifest a disposition to continue the idea that there had existed two separate Societies and might jeopardize the success of the contemplated union. While the committee on credentials is performing its work, there will be ample time for conference committees to discuss a proper and permanent basis of union. If these committees could not agree upon a satisfactory plan, there would be no harm done, except the loss of time to the in- dividuals composing the committee. You will observe that this Society is instructed to take such a course by the resolu- tions passed at Richmond, and while your General Society may not have authorized your committee to proceed so far, doubtless if such a course has the approval of your General Officers a committee would be willing to discuss the whole question in the hope that an agreement for union might be reached; in which case such an agreement could be sub- mitted to the Congresses of both Societies next Spring, unless special Congresses should be called sooner, and, if accepted, union could then be had almost at once. It is only proper to say that in the opinion of our officers the feeling of our Society is that — earnestly and sincerely desir- ing union as it does, it nevertheless feels that such a union should be upon a basis that would be deemed fair after con- sidering all that there is to be presented from the points of view and experience of both Societies, and which would in the judgment of our most dispassionate and well informed 13 members, promote the highest usefulness of the united Societies. If, however, your Officers decline even to appoint the con- ference committee proposed we would be glad to be in- formed whether they will under the circumstances wish to proceed with the work of scrutinizing the credentials of the members in both Societies. If so, our General Officers in- struct me to say that they will be most happy to enter at once upon that branch of the subject in the hope that the eliminating of one point of dispute will bring the two organ- izations that much nearer to a union so much desired by all. In the present temper of the membership of both Societies, it is likely that union will go on piece-meal by the uniting of the various state Societies, and it would seem desirable that the National Societies should take the matter up more com- prehensively and submit some definite plan to the State Societies, which, if adopted, would be the means of forming a union that would be harmonious, permanent and com- plete, and calculated to ensure the highest usefulness of the Societies. Yours very truly, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. V. New York, August nth, 1896. Franklin Murphy, Esq., Secretary General Sons of the American Revolution, No. 143 Chestnut street, Newark, N. J. Dear Sir: I have submitted your communication of the 28th of July to our General President, and in reply I am in- structed to say, that whatever may be the views of the members of the two societies upon the question of framing a new Constitution for a great National United Society, the General Officers of the Sons of the Revolution are bound to consider their power as limited by the resolutions passed at Savannah in April last, and have tendered to the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution a cordial invitation to 14 unite with them upon terms wholly within their instruc- tions. This invitation, we now consider, has been rejected by your society, and in its place a totally new proposition has been submitted to us, upon which yoiir society has been authorized to act, and we are invited to co-operate withotU the authority of our members. It would be impossible for us to take this action, and inasmuch as the examination of the credentials of the members of both societies could only be of value in case of prospective union, we cannot appre- ciate the importance of the appointment of a committee un- less we were assured that further steps would be taken by your society to correspond to the invitation which has been tendered to you. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, Gkneral Secretary. VI. Newark, N. J., September 21, 1896. James Mortimer Montgomery, Esq., General Secretary, Sons of the Revolution. Dear Sir : I received your communication of August nth, and have submitted it to our General Officers. I am instructed by them to say in reply that they greatly regret that your communication seems to take it for granted that on account of a conflict of instructions under which the General Officers of our respected Societies are acting, there has been reached a condition of affairs in our negotiations which leads your Officers to terminate them without an effort to procure a wider authority from the members of your Society, and with- out deeming it of sufficient importance to proceed with the ex- amination of the credentials of the members of both Societies with a view to taking the preliminary steps looking to a union of the Societies. It is true that the Congress of the Sons of the American Revolution gave to its General Officers a more extended authority than the Congress of the Sons of the Revolution 15 gave to its Officers, but in a matter of so much importance to both organizations, and regarding which there is such an earnest feeling on the part of the members, it was trusted that your Officers would discuss through conference commit- tees, a fair and equitable basis of union, and would mean- while proceed with the scrutinizing of the credentials of the members of both Societies, a work which will require a con- siderable time. The results reached by such committees would, of course, have no binding force without the sanction of your Congress, but they would bring the representatives of the two organizations into intimate communication, secure a free interchange of views and lead perhaps to a joint under- standing which would assist our respective Congresses in reaching a harmonious action. We understand, however, that your Society by corres- pondence and without the holding of a personal conference between your Officers and ours, rejects all our propositions looking to bringing about such action, and instead of co- operating with us with a view to forming a basis of union by mutual agreement, insist upon an absorption of our Society into yours, by taking your name, acting under your charter and conducting the business under a constitution which has been shown in a previous letter, to be seriously defective, obsolete and practically impossible for both. We can only, therefore, express our extreme regret that in spite of the earnest efforts made by this Society both in 1893 ^^^^ i^ ^^^ present year, the much desired negotiations for union have been brought to a stand-still. Yours very truly, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. 16 COPY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT, DECEMBER 22, 1892. To General Horace Porter, President General of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hon. John Lee Carroll, President General of the Sons of the Revolution. The Committees of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution, to whom was entrusted by their respective societies the duty of conferring upon the ques- tion of union of the two societies, beg leave to present this their joint Report. First: They desire to express their gratification at the cordiality, harmony and enthusiasm that have marked their deliberations, and the unanimity which has attended their conclusions. Second : The desirability of effecting a union being con- curred in by all, the Committees of Conference addressed themselves at once to the consideration of the questions essential to the accomplishment of the desired result. These were : 1. Name. 2. Colors. 3. Insignia. 4. New Constitution. Third: The Committees unanimously decided and do now recommend : 1. That the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution do unite in one organization. 2. That the society so constituted be named Sons of the Revolution. 17 3- That its colors be buff and blue. 4. That its insignia be, in its general features, that of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ; that its seal be of the form hereinafter described. 5. That its Constitution be as follows : The Constitution of the General Society Sons of the Revolution. ARTICLE I. The name of the Society shall be the "Sons of the Revolution." article ii. The objects of this society are, to perpetuate the memory of the men who, in the military, naval or civil service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress, by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the country ; to fur- ther the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birth- day of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the War of the Revolution ; to collect and secure for preser- vation the rolls, records and other documents relating to that period ; to mark by appropriate monuments historic places ; to impress upon the present and future generations the pa- triotic spirit which actuated our ancestors and established the Republic of the United States, and to promote the feeling of friendship among its members. ARTICLE III. Any man is eligible for membership who is of the age of twenty-one years and who is lineally descended from an ancestor who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid 18 to the cause of American Independence as a military officer, minute-man, soldier, sailor or marine, or a civil officer in the service of any of the several colonies or states, or of the United Colonies or States, whose services as such official shall appear by public official record made at the time, and provided such man be found worthy. Provided further, that when the claim of eligibility is based on the service of an ancestor as a civil official, such service must have been performed in the civil service of the United States, or of one of the thirteen original States, and must have been sufficiently important in character to have rendered the official specially liable to arrest and imprison- ment, the same as a combatant, if captured by the enemy, as well as liable to conviction of treason against the Govern- ment of Great Britain. And provided further, that when there shall be no sur- viving issue in direct lineal succession from an officer, min- ute-man, soldier, sailor, or marine, who died or was killed in actual service, or from an officer who received by formal resolve the approbation of the Continental Congress for Revolutionary services, or from a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the claim of eligibility shall descend and be limited to one representative at a time in the nearest collat- eral line of descent from such ancestor, to be designated by the State Society ; and no other descendants in collateral lines shall be admitted in right of any services whatever. The Board of Managers of each State Society shall have full and exclusive power to determine the qualifications as to worthiness and eligibility of applicants for membership under this Article, with power to accept or reject all appli- cations. ARTICLE IV. The General Society shall be divided into State Societies,, which shall meet annually on the day appointed therefor in their respective by-laws, and oftener, if found expedient. The Secretary of each State Society shall transmit to the General Secretary a list of its members, together with the names and official designations of those from whom such 19 members claim membership, with a list of officers elected at each annual meeting. ARTICLE V. The State Societies shall regulute all matters respecting their own affairs consistent with the general good of the Society, judge of the qualifications of their members and of those proposed for membership, subject, however, to the provisions of this Constitution, and may expel any member who, by conduct unbecoming a gentleman or man of honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the community in general, or of the society in particular, may render himself unworthy to continue in membership. ARTICLE VI. The expenses of the General Society shall be borne by the State Societies by assessment pro rata according to mem- bership. ARTICLE VII. The regular meeting of the General Society shall be held every year on the last Wednesday of April in the city of New York, unless otherwise designated, and special meetings may be held upon the order of the General President, or upon the request of two of the State Societies, and such meetings shall consist of the General Officers and a represen- tation from each State Society not exceeding one delegate from each one hundred members of such State Society and every fraction of one hundred over fifty, and, ex-officio^ the President, Secretary, Registrar and Historian of each State Society, and two delegates-at-large from each State Society. The expenses attending the annual meetings of the Gen- eral Society shall be borne by the General Society. ARTICLE VIII. At the regular meeting a General President, Vice-Presi- dent, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Registrar and Historian shall be chosen by a majority of the votes present, to serve until the next regular general meeting or until their succes- sors are duly chosen. The General Society shall have power at any meeting to admit State Societies thereto, and to entertain and determine all questions afifecting the qualification for membership in, or the welfare of, any State Society, which may by proper memorial be presented by such State Society for considera- tion. ARTICLE IX. The insignia of the General Society shall be a cross sur- mounted by an eagle in gold or silver, and a rosette. The cross shall be of silver, with four arms, and eight white enamelled points, same size as Chevalier's Cross of the Legion of Honor of France, with a gold medallion in the centre, bearing on the obverse a bust of Washington in pro- file, and on the reverse the figure of a minute-man sur- rounded by a ribbon enamelled buff and blue, with the motto, " Ivibertas et Patria," on the obverse, and the legend, " Sons of the Revolution," on the reverse, both in letters of gold» The cross shall be surmounted by an eagle in gold or silver, and the whole decoration suspended from a ring of gold by a ribbon of dark blue, ribbed and watered, edged with buflf, one and one-quarter inches wide and one and one-half inches in displayed length, and may be worn by any member of the Society on ceremonial occasions only, and shall be carried on the left breast, or, if an officer, on the collar, and shall never be worn as an article of jewelry. The custodian of this insignia shall be the General Secretary, who shall issue the same to the members of the society under such proper rules as may be formulated by the General Society, and he shall keep a register of such issues, wherein each insignia issued may be identified by the number thereof. The rosettes shall be seven-sixteenths of an inch in diam- eter, of usual pattern, displaying the colors of the Society, and may be worn by all members at discretion in the upper left hand button-hole of the coat. ARTICLE X. The seal of the General Society of the Sons of the Revolu- tion shall be one and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, and shall consist of the figure of a minute-man in Continen- tal uniform standing on a ladder leading to a belfry and holding in his left hand a musket and an olive branch, and grasping in his right hand a bell rope ; above, the cracked ^' Liberty Bell ;" issuing therefrom a ribbon, bearing the motto of the Sons of the Revolution, " Exegi Momimentum y^re Pereftnius ;'''' across the top of the ladder, on a ribbon, the figures " 1775," and at the left of the minute-man, and also on a ribbon, the figures " 1783 ;" the whole encircled by a band three-eighths of an inch wide, thereon at the top thir- teen stars of five points each, and at the bottom the legend, *' Sons of the Revolution ;" the following being a fac-simile thereof : The custodian of the seal shall be the General Secretary. ARTICLE XI. This Constitution may be amended, provided two-thirds of the members of the General Society present at any gen- •eral meeting or special meeting shall approve, and provided further, that notice of such motion to amend, specifying such proposed amendment in full, shall be given in writing to the presiding officer of the General Society and of each State Society at least sixty days before such motion is to be con- sidered. Fourth : That this proposed union may be made effectual this Committee further recommends : 1. The presentation of its report to the respective Na- tional Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution at meetings to be called for that pur- pose on Thursday, the i6th day of February, 1893, ^^ ^^ City of New York, and the adoption at such meetings of a resolution recommending the union of the two societies and the adoption of the proposed Constitution. 2. At a joint meeting immediately thereafter, of the two General Societies, the adoption of the new Constitution and election of officers, to serve until the last Wednesday of April, 1894, or until their successors are elected. All of which is respectfully submitted. New York, December 22, 1892. FRED'K S. TALLMADGE, President of the Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, President of the Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution. CHAS. H. WOODRUFF, Delegate New York Sons of the Revolution. HORACE PORTER, President General Society Sons of the American Revolution and Chairman General Conference Committee. JOHN LEE CARROLL, General President Society of Sons of the Revo- lution. 23 BRADIvEY T. JOHNSON, President Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution. EDWIN SHEPARD BARRETT, President Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution. JOHN WHITEHEAD, President New Jersey Sons of the American Revolution. O. H. ERNST, Delegate from District of Columbia Sons of the Revolution. WM. RIDGLEY GRIFFITH, Delegate from Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution. THOMAS W. HALI., Delegate from Maryland Society Sons of the Revolution. SAM. W. PENNYPACKER, Delegate Sons of the Revolution of Pennsylvania. RICHARD McCALI^ CADWALADER, vice-President and Delegate Sons of the Revolu- tion of Pennsylvania. CHARLES HENRY JONES, Delegate Sons of the Revolution of Pennsylvania ROBERT LENOX BELKNAP, Delegate New York Society Sons of the Revolution. JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, Secretary of Committee of Conference. General Secretary Sons of the Revolution. Secretary of Sons of the Revolution State of New York. NATHAN WARREN, Registrar Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution, 24 LETTER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY Sons of the Revolution OCTOBER, 1896 PART FIRST. COMPLETE Official Correspondence IN THE MATTER OF THE Proposed Consolidation OF THE Sons ef the Revolution AND THE Sons of the American Revolution. "'he Sooloty 09 In the matter of the Proposed Consolidation of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution: NOTE OF EXPLANATION. The following correspondence, read in connection with the resolution passed by the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution at their meeting held in Savannah on the 20th of April, 1896, will in a great measure explain itself. It is proper, however, to state that your General Presi- dent, before sending any reply to the first communication of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, con- sulted in New York a number of the General OflScers of our society as to the character of such a reply, and they were unanimously of the opinion that the answer herewith sub- mitted and marked No. i, was entirely within the instruc- tions given to us in Savannah, and contained/ everything which we were authorized to say. The replies to the second and third communications were, after consultation, naturally based upon the first, and having once concluded that we could not exceed our instructions, it was impossible for us afterwards to appoint committees who would enter upon the wide field of discussion for the forma- tion of a new Constitution without the express authority or consent of our Society. JOHN LEE CARROLL, General President. September, 1S96. The General Secretary of the Sons of the Revolution transmitted to the Secretary General of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution the following preample and resolutions, pro- posed by Mr. Francis Ellingwood Abbott, Massachusetts Society, seconded by Mr. Robert Olyphant, New York Society, which were adopted at the meeting of the former Society, held April 20, 1896 : Wliereas^ The existence of two separate societies, with identical objects and nearly identical names, where one strong society alone ought to exist — to wit : Sons of the Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution — is an anomaly which perplexes the public mind, excites distrust of both societies, provokes injurious comment, alienates the sympathy of very many descendants of Revolutionary an- cestors whose aid is needed, and seriously interferes with the patriotic work to which both these societies are sincerely and equally devoted ; and Whereas^ Consolidation of these two societies in a single society, on the basis of a Constitution and Plan of Union which had been previously agreed upon at separate meet- ings of the General Society of Sons of the Revolution and the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution in the City of New York, February 16, 1893, failed on account of disagreement as to the submission of the original creden- tials and applications of all the members of all their respec- tive State Societies to a fresh examination and revision, in accordance with the provisions of the new Constitution agreed upon, as a necessary preliminary to enrolling mem- bers of the new consolidated society; and Wliereas^ The necessity of this preliminary examination and revision, if the proposed new society is to be exclusively composed, and known to be exclusively composed, of actual descendants of Revolutionary ancestors, ought to be self evident; therefore, Resolved, That we, the General Society of Sons of the Revolution, convened in Savannah on the 20th of April 1896, hereby proffer, sincerely and fraternally, a standing invitation to the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution to unite with us in a single General Society, ac- cording to the terms of union which were harmoniously agreed upon at the separate meetings of the two existing Societies in New York, February i6, 1893, as amended by striking therefrom the third paragraph of Article III, which provi-ded for the admission of collaterals ; provided^ that prior to such actual union, the membership rolls of all the State Societies of both the existing societies, together with all the original credentials and applications on which mem- bership has been granted, shall be submitted for fresh ex- amination and revision to a competent and disinterested committee, so constituted by mutual agreement of the gene- ral ofHcers as to command the entire confidence of both the uniting societies; dcvA provided^ further, that this committee shall be empowered and instructed to erase the name of any member, on the roll of any State Society, by whose creden- tials and application it would appear that he is not entitled to membership under such requirements of Article III of the Constitution agreed upon at New York, February 16, 1893, as relate to direct lineal descendants ; to the end that mem- bership in the Consolidated Society shall be indubitable proof of descent from one or more revolutionary ancestors. Resolved^ That the Secretary of the General Society of Sons of the Revolution be instructed to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the Secretary of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, with an expression of our hope that they will be received in the same frank and kindly spirit in which they are sent. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of the original. JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, Generai. Secretary. In reply thereto the General Secretary Sons of the Revo- lution received from the Secretary General Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution the following preamble and resolutions^ adopted by the last named Society at its meeting held April 30, 1896: Whereas^ the National Society of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution note, with sincere gratification, the growing; 3 sentiment in favor of a union witli the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, upon terms which shall be well considered and equitable, and which shall tend to promote the honor, dignity, and largest usefulness of the societies and the patriotic and public spirited objects for which both are organized ; and WJiereas^ the General Society of the Sons of the Revolu- tion, in triennial meeting assembled in the City of Savannah, Ga., April 20th Instant, did adopt resolutions extending a sincere and fraternal invitation to the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution to unite with them in a single society ; and Whereas^ the National Society of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution is heartily, sincerely, and fraternally desirous of a consolidation of the two societies, upon a well-considered basis, and is anxious to submit its rolls of membership to a most rigorous and searching examination by a competent and disinterested tribunal, in order that it may, once for all, in the eyes of all men, supply the indubitable proof of the eligibility of all its members, as lineal descendants of revolu- tionary ancestors ; now, therefore, be it Resolved^ by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, in annual congress assembled in the city of Richmond, Va., April 30th, 1896. That we do hereby send our most fraternal and cordial greetings to the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and declare without reservation our strong, sincere desire for a consolidation of the two societies into a single society upon a well-considered basis of union. Resolved^ That we do hereby instruct the general officers of this society to submit the membership rolls and the original credentials and applications, on which membership has been granted, for a fresh examination to a competent and disinterested committee, so constituted by mutual agree- :ment of the general officers of both societies as to com- mand the entire confidence of both societies, said committee vlo indicate the person or persons in each society who shall mot have indubitable proof of lineal descent from a revolu- tionary ancestor, in accordance with the plan of consolida- tion, agreed to by the committees of conference in 1893, but now voluntarily amended by the Society of the Sons of the Revolution by omitting the paragraph which provides for the admission of collaterals ; and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution does hereby pledge itselt to erase from its rolls of membership the names of all per- sons indicated by said committee as not having indubitable proof of lineal descent. Resolved^ That we hereby empower the general officers of this society to appoint a committee of able, competent, and disinterested men, who shall confer with a like committee of equal size, appointed by the general officers of the Sons of the Revolution, to agree upon a basis for the union of the two societies ; to the end that said plan of union, together with the report of the Committee on Revision of the Mem- bership Rolls, may promptly be transmitted by the general officers of both societies to their respective State societies for approval, so that when a majority of the State societies of each organization shall have approved the same, said general officers may cause a special congress of the united societies to be elected upon the basis of the new constitution to form a national organization. And, further, we do hereby pledge the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution heartily and sincerely, to labor for the removal ol every possible cause of disagreement between the two socie- ties and to effect a satisfactory union at the earliest possible date. Resolved^ That the President General and the Secretary General of this society are instructed immediately to com- municate this preamble and accompanying resolutions to the officers of the General Society of the Sons of the Revo- lution, with the assurance of our fraternal regard, and our desire that a union of the two societies may speedily be effected. HORACE PORTER, (Seal.) President General, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of the original. FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. The following correspondence has also been had : I. 146 Broadway, New York, May 25, 1896. Franklin Murphy, Esq., Secretary General Sons of the American Revolution, No. 143 Chestnut Street, Newark, N. J. Sir: I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of May 9th, enclosing certain resolutions which were unanimously adopted by the congress of the Sons of the American Revolution, assembled in Richmond, Va., on the 30th day of April, 1896. In reply to your communication I have been instructed by the General Officers of the Society of Sons of the Revolution to say, that they appreciate most highly the earnest desire for a fraternal union of the two societies as expressed by the resolutions of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and that the General Officers of the Society of Sons of the Revolution, under the authority of the resolu- tions adopted by that society at its meeting held April 20th ultimo, (a copy of which is enclosed) are prepared to appoint an able and disinterested committee to examine the creden- tials of the members of both societies. I am instructed further to say that when this committee has completed its work as to the revision of the lists, and when the names of those in either society who have been found disqualified for membership have been erased from the rolls, the General Officers of this society will be prepared to unite in a call for a congress of the two societies, so that they may form one great national organization upon the basis of union and by the adoption of the Constitution agreed upon by the representatives of both societies on February 16, 1893, as amended by the General Society of Sons of the Revolution at its triennial meeting in Savannah, on the 20th day of April, 1896. I have the honour to remain your obedient servant, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. 11. Newark, May 29, 1896. James M. Montgomery, Esq., General Secretary, Sons of the Revolution, 56 Wall Street, Room 5, New York. Dear Sir : I have already had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of May 25, 1896, which I took pleasure in submitting to the General Officers of this Society. They instruct me to say in reply that they will be happy to meet the General Officers of your Society at the Waldorf hotel, at 3.30 p. M., on Wednesday, June 3, or any other afternoon of next week which your Officers may find more convenient, for the purpose of selecting by mutual agree- ment a committee to examine the credentials of the mem- bers of both Societies as contemplated in the resolutions adopted by the two bodies ; that upon receiving its report they will strike from the rolls the names of those who may be found to be disqualified for membership, and that they will be prepared to form one organization upon a basis of union to be mutually agreed upon by a new conference com- mittee as proposed in the resolutions adopted by the Sons of the American Revolution, at Richmond, Va. I am instructed further to call attention to the fact that no mention is made in your communication of the provision embodied in the resolutions of this Society for the appoint- ment of " A committee of able, competent and disinterested men, who shall confer with a like committee of equal size, ap- pointed by the General Officers of the Sons of the Revolution to agree upon said basis of union." Our officers would be glad to be informed whether it is the intention of the Officers of your Society to appoint such a committee. It is thought that the constitution prepared and submitted by the committees of the two Societies on February 16, 1893, and which failed of adoption, may be made more satisfactory by new committees, considering the fact that both Societies have undergone changes, contain many new members un- familiar with the proceedings of 1893, and have learned much from experience since that time as to the requirements which should be embodied in an instrument so important as 7 that which is to constitute the organic law of a large and im- portant consolidated society. Strength is given to this belief by the fact that your society has already suggested an im- portant amendment, namely, prohibiting the admission of collaterals, which will be accepted gladly by this society, as such a prohibition has always existed in the constitution of the Sons of the American Revolution, and by the further fact that the proposed constitution of 1893 contained con- flicting language and provisions which neither society pre- sumably would now want to have incorporated in the per- manent law which is to govern the joint society. The provision for the appointment of such committees by the two societies was embodied in the resolutions passed by this society, for the reason that it was supposed that it would be more satisfactory to both societies to have a full discussion of the subject and ascertain whether there are not advan- tageous changes which could be made that would meet with the assent of the two organizations. I am further instructed to convey to you the assurance that our General Officers are willing and anxious to unite with you in taking all steps, within their power, to promote the much desired object of a permanent union. Yours truly, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary General. III. New York, June 8, 1896. Franklin Murphy, Esq., Secretary General Sons of the American Revolution, No. 143 Chestnut street, Newark, N. J. Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 29th of May, 1896, in reply to my letter of the 25th ultimo. I am instructed by the General Officers of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution to say that there appears to have been a misunderstanding on the part of the Society of 8 the Sons of the American Revolution as to the meaning of the resolutions which were passed by this society on the 2oth of April last at Savannah. I take the liberty of enclos- ing a copy of those resolutions for closer examination. You will see by the terms of the first resolution, that a standing invitation is tendered to the Society of the Sons ot the American Revolution "to unite with us in a single society according to the terms of union which were unani- mously agreed tcpoft at the separate meetings of the two existhig societies in New York^ February i6, 1893, as amended by striking therefrom the third paragraph ot Article III, which provided for the admission of collaterals." The action of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in their reply of the 25th of May, 1896, was limited by the terms and scope of the resolution adopted at Savannah, and they felt that they had no power to exceed the instructions which were given to them at that meeting. They therefore ex- pressed their readiness to appoint a committee of disinter- ested gentlemen to examine the credentials of the members of both societies, as this was the only committee which they were authorized to name. I am instructed further to say, that however opinions may differ as to the value of the terms of agreement which were adopted in February, 1893, it must be remembered that those terms were the result of many conferences of the rep- resentatives of both societies, and were supposed at the time to cover every point about which in future any dispute could arise. The meeting of two committees now, as proposed by the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, to consider a " basis of union," would necessarily open up the whole subject, as to name, insignia, qualifications, etc., etc., all ot which the Society of the Sons of the Revolution looked upon as concluded by the terms of agreement adopted in 1893. This society therefore regrets very much that the union of the two societies should now be made by your society to depend upon the adoption of a " new basis," when they had considered those important questions settled in 1893. In conclusion I would respectfully repeat that the power of the General Officers of this Society is limited by the reso- lution passed at Savannah, and they have no authority to appoint any committee but that which provides for the ex- amination of the credentials of the members of both societies. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. IV. Newark, N. J., July 28, 1896. James Mortimer Montgomery, Esq., General Secretary, Sons of the Revolution. Dear Sir: I have the honor now to reply to your favor of June 8th, which I took pleasure in submitting to the General Officers of this society. They have instructed me to say that there was no mis- understanding on their part as to the wording of the resolu- tions which were passed by your society at Savannah, but the propositions expressed in our communication to you of May 29th were made in the hope that under the circum- stances, and in consideration of the general desire for prompt action in regard to union, your officers would take the re- sponsibility of acceding to the appointment of a committee to meet a committee named by this society to discuss the most important of all questions — a fair basis of union and to see whether such committees could not by mutual agreement unite upon a plan which could at least be submitted to the societies for their action. The resolutions of your society adopted at Savannah looked to the formation of a single society, upon the terms of union set forth in the proposed constitution of February 16, 1893, with an amendment thereto. It was, therefore, naturally supposed that as your society had made an amend- ment to that document without consultation with this society, the privilege should be accorded to this society of taking steps looking to the making of other amendments in con- sultation with your society. The Savannah resolutions speak of the constitution of 1893 as having been adopted by the societies whereas the proceed- ings show that that constitution failed to be adopted. Some of the reasons for believing that it is necessary for both socie- ties to have conference committees take up the plan of reorganization anew, are as follows : The proposed constitution of 1893 was prepared when the societies were small and without large experience in the means of carrying out the purposes of a great national patriotic organization. Of the present members, one-half perhaps, of each society have joined since the proceedings of 1893 and it would seem fair that they should have a right to be heard in a matter of such importance as a constitution for the goverment of a permanent union of these organiza- tions. The proposed constitution of 1893 is so defective that it is believed that your officers will agree that a large Society could not possibly work successfully under its provision. For in- stance, the last paragraph of Article III states that the Board of Managers of each State Society shall have full and exclusive power to determine the qualifications of applicants for membership, with power to expel or reject all applica- tions. Article VIII says that the General Society shall have power to admit State Societies and determine all questions afiecting the qualifications of membership which may by proper memorial be presented for consideration. This lan- guage is confusing and seems to be contradictory. Besides, that constitution makes no provision for the filing of a copy of the credentials of members with the Registrar General of the National Society and does not sufficiently de- fine his duties or give him enough power to fix his responsi- bility in passing upon the validity of credentials. It pre- scribes the form of a seal which we are informed was long ago adopted by the Washington Continental Guard of New York City, which, having used the seal for many years, would apparently be entitled to continual use of the same without infringement. It names the last Wednesday in April as the day for the annual meeting when it has been the custom of both societies to meet on some patriotic anniversary, which gives a meaning and a purpose to the occasion. It also provides that the larger Society shall take the exact name of the smaller Society, and it is assumed that that would mean coming under the charter of the latter Society, and be a complete and absolute absorption by one Society of the other, instead of a union of the two. The Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has never intimated, and does not now even suggest that its name be adopted by the joint Society, but thinks that possibly some equally good title, not the exact name of either Society, might be accept- able to both; for instance, the Society of the Revolution or the Society of the American Revolution. The adoption ot some such name would be following the almost universal custom in naming patriotic Societies, among which may be named the Society of the Cincinnati ; the Society of the Col- onial Wars ; the Society of the Colonial Dames ; the Society of Foreign Wars; the Society of the Army of the Potomac, etc., etc. There are many who think there is more dignity attached to these names from the fact that they do not con- tain the word " Sons," a term which seems to suggest that the organization is composed of juveniles instead of adults, like the Junior Guards, Junior Veterans, Children of the Revolution, etc. It is advisable also to consider the subject of name for the reason that the plan of consolidation should provide for the largest possible usefulness and grandeur of the united Societies. The Sons of the American Revolution already have a Society in the new Republic of Hawaii, where no Society of this class could probably exist under the name simply of "Sons of the Revolution." It is entirely practic- able to form branch Societies in other foreign lands, if the title be specific in indicating that it is the American Revolu- tion, from which eligibility is derived. Again, the constitution of 1893 n^akes no provision for organizing chapters in the different states. The formation of chapters is becoming a prominent feature in the Sons of the American Revolution; it does much for the convenience of the members and is important as a means of enlarging membership. It therefore seems beyond dispute that the proposed constitution of 1893, ^^ i^^ present form, is seriously defective and obsolete. It seems to be of paramount im- portance that an instrument which is to form the organic law of a large and influential Society should be prepared be- 12 forehand so that the present Societies will know exactly what provisions are to govern the new organization. It may be said that after the adoption of the constitution it could be amended at pleasure by the joint Society, but your officers will probably agree with ours that it would be most unfor- tunate to have a feeling pervade the minds of the members of the Societies that after adopting a constitution embody- ing a basis of union there were to be immediate changes made in it. In union, upon a comprehensive and complete basis, we would hope to adjust all differences and put an end to con- troversy, whereas a union upon a basis which would call for immediate changes in the Constitution would precipitate dis- cussion and sow the seeds of discord. It would also look as if a majority might want to overrule the will of a minority, would manifest a disposition to continue the idea that there had existed two separate Societies and might jeopardize the success of the contemplated union. While the committee on credentials is performing its work, there will be ample time for conference committees to discuss a proper and permanent basis of union. If these committees could not agree upon a satisfactory plan, there would be no harm done, except the loss of time to the in- dividuals composing the committee. You will observe that this Society is instructed to take such a course by the resolu- tions passed at Richmond, and while your General Society may not have authorized your committee to proceed so far, doubtless if such a course has the approval of your General Officers a committee would be willing to discuss the whole question in the hope that an agreement for union might be reached; in which case such an agreement could be sub- mitted to the Congresses of both Societies next Spring, unless special Congresses should be called sooner, and, if accepted, union could then be had almost at once. It is only proper to say that in the opinion of our officers the feeling of our Society is that — earnestly and sincerely desir- ing union as it does, it nevertheless feels that such a union should be upon a basis that would be deemed fair after con- sidering all that there is to be presented from the points of view and experience of both Societies, and which would in the judgment of our most dispassionate and well informed 13 members, promote the highest usefulness of the united Societies. If, however, your Officers decline even to appoint the con- ference committee proposed we would be glad to be in- formed whether they will under the circumstances wish to proceed with the work of scrutinizing the credentials of the members in both Societies. If so, our General Officers in- struct me to say that they will be most happy to enter at once upon that branch of the subject in the hope that the eliminating of one point of dispute will bring the two organ- izations that much nearer to a union so much desired by all. In the present temper of the membership of both Societies, it is likely that union will go on piece-meal by the uniting of the various state Societies, and it would seem desirable that the National Societies should take the matter up more com- prehensively and submit some definite plan to the State Societies, which, if adopted, would be the means of forming a union that would be harmonious, permanent and com- plete, and calculated to ensure the highest usefulness of the Societies. Yours very truly, FRANKUN MURPHY, Secrktary General. V. New York, August nth, 1896. Franklin Murphy, Esq., Secretary General Sons of the American Revolution, No. 143 Chestnut street, Newark, N. J. Dear Sir: I have submitted your communication of the 28th of July to our General President, and in reply I am in- structed to say, that whatever may be the views of the members of the two societies upon the question of framing a new Constitution for a great National United Society, the General Officers of the Sons of the Revolution are bound to consider their power as limited by the resolutions passed at Savannah in April last, and have tendered to the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution a cordial invitation to 14 unite with them upon terms wholly within their instruc- tions. This invitation, we now consider, has been rejected by your society, and in its place a totally new proposition has been submitted to us, upon which your society has been authorized to act, and we are invited to co-operate without the authority of our members. It would be impossible for us to take this action, and inasmuch as the examination of the credentials of the members of both societies could only be of value in case of prospective union, we cannot appre- ciate the importance of the appointment of a committee un- less we were assured that further steps would be taken by your society to correspond to the invitation which has been tendered to you. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. VL Newark, N. J., September 21, 1896. James Mortimer Montgomery, Esq., General Secretary, Sons of the Revolution. Dear Sir : I received your communication of August nth, and have submitted it to our General Officers. I am instructed by them to say in reply that they greatly regret that your communication seems to take it for granted that on account of a conflict of instructions under which the General Officers of our respected Societies are acting, there has been reached a condition of affairs in our negotiations which leads your Officers to terminate them without an effort to procure a wider authority from the members of your Society, and with- out deeming it of sufficient importance to proceed with the ex- amination of the credentials of the members of both Societies with a view to taking the preliminary steps looking to a union of the Societies. It is true that the Congress of the Sons of the American Revolution gave to its General Officers a more extended authority than the Congress of the Sons of the Revolution 15 gave to its Officers, but in a mattei of so much importance to both organizations, and regarding which there is such an earnest feeling on the part of the members, it was trusted that your Officers would discuss through conference commit- tees, a fair and equitable basis of union, and would mean- while proceed with the scrutinizing of the credentials of the members of both Societies, a work which will require a con- siderable time. The results reached by such committees would, of course, have no binding force without the sanction of your Congress, but they would bring the representatives of the two organizations into intimate communication, secure a free interchange of views and lead perhaps to a joint under- standing which would assist our respective Congresses in reaching a harmonious action. We understand, however, that your Society by corres- pondence and without the holding of a personal conference between your Officers and ours, rejects all our propositions looking to bringing about such action, and instead of co- operating with us with a view to forming a basis of union by mutual agreement, insist upon an absorption of our Society into yours, by taking your name, acting under your charter and conducting the business under a constitution which has been shown in a previous letter, to be seriously defective, obsolete and practically impossible for both. We can only, therefore, express our extreme regret that in spite of the earnest effi)rts made by this Society both in 1893 and in the present year, the much desired negotiations for union have been brought to a stand-still. Yours very truly, FRANKLIN MURPHY, Secretary Generai.. 16 COPY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT, DECEMBER 22, 1892. To General Horace Porter, President General of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hon. John Lee Carroll, President General of the Sons of the Revolution. The Committees of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution, to whom was entrusted by their respective societies the duty of conferring upon the ques- tion of union of the two societies, beg leave to present this their joint Report. First: They desire to express their gratification at the cordiality, harmony and enthusiasm that have marked their deliberations, and the unanimity which has attended their conclusions. Second : The desirability of effecting a union being con- curred in by all, the Committees of Conference addressed themselves at once to the consideration of the questions essential to the accomplishment of the desired result. These were : 1. Name. 2. Colors. 3. Insignia. 4. New Constitution. Third: The Committees unanimously decided and do now recommend : 1. That the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution do unite in one organization. 2. That the society so constituted be named Sons of the Revolution. 17 3- That its colors be buff and blue. 4. That its insignia be, in its general features, that of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ; that its seal be of the form hereinafter described. 5. That its Constitution be as follows : The Constitution of the General Society Sons of the Revolution. ARTICLE I. The name of the Society shall be the "Sons of the Revolution." article ii. The objects of this society are, to perpetuate the memory of the men who, in the military, naval or civil service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress, by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the country ; to fur- ther the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birth- day of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the War of the Revolution ; to collect and secure for preser- vation the rolls, records and other documents relating to that period ; to mark by appropriate monuments historic places ; to impress upon the present and future generations the pa- triotic spirit which actuated our ancestors and established the Republic of the United States, and to promote the feeling of friendship among its members. ARTICLE III. Any man is eligible for membership who is of the age of twenty-one years and who is lineally descended from an ancestor who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid 18 to the cause of American Independence as a military officer, minute-man, soldier, sailor or marine, or a civil officer in the service of any of the several colonies or states, or of the United Colonies or States, whose services as such official shall appear by public official record made at the time, and provided such man be found worthy. Provided further, that when the claim of eligibility is based on the service of an ancestor as a civil official, such service must have been performed in the civil service of the United States, or of one of the thirteen original States, and must have been sufficiently important in character to have rendered the official specially liable to arrest and imprison- ment, the same as a combatant, if captured by the enemy, as well as liable to conviction of treason against the Govern- ment of Great Britain. And provided further, that when there shall be no sur- viving issue in direct lineal succession from an officer, min- ute-man, soldier, sailor, or marine, who died or was killed in actual service, or from an officer who received by formal resolve the approbation of the Continental Congress for Revolutionary services, or from a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the claim of eligibility shall descend and be limited to one representative at a time in the nearest collat- eral line of descent from such ancestor, to be designated by the State Society ; and no other descendants in collateral lines shall be admitted in right of any services whatever. The Board of Managers of each State Society shall have full and exclusive power to determine the qualifications as to worthiness and eligibility of applicants for membership under this Article, with power to accept or reject all appli- cations. ARTICLE IV. The General Society shall be divided into State Societies, which shall meet annually on the day appointed therefor in their respective by-laws, and oftener, if found expedient. The Secretary of each State Society shall transmit to the General Secretary a list of its members, together with the names and official designations of those from whom such 19 members claim membership, with a list of ofl&cers elected at each annual meeting. ARTICLE V. The State Societies shall regulute all matters respecting their own affairs consistent with the general good of the Society, judge of the qualifications of their members and of those proposed for membership, subject, however, to the provisions of this Constitution, and may expel any member who, by conduct unbecoming a gentleman or man of honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the community in general, or of the society in particular, may render himself unworthy to continue in membership. ARTICLE VI. The expenses of the General Society shall be borne by the State Societies by assessment pro rata according to mem- bership. ARTICLE VII. The regular meeting of the General Society shall be held every year on the last Wednesday of April in the city of New York, unless otherwise designated, and special meetings may be held upon the order of the General President, or upon the request of two of the State Societies, and such meetings shall consist of the General Officers and a represen- tation from each State Society not exceeding one delegate from each one hundred members of such State Society and every fraction of one hundred over fifty, and, ex-officio^ the President, Secretary, Registrar and Historian of each State Society, and two delegates-at-large from each State Society. The expenses attending the annual meetings of the Gen- eral Society shall be borne by the General Society. ARTICLE VIII, At the regular meeting a General President, Vice-Presi- dent, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Registrar and Historian shall be chosen by a majority of the votes present, to serve until the next regular general meeting or until their succes- sors are duly chosen. The General Society shall have power at any meeting to admit State Societies thereto, and to entertain and determine all questions affecting the qualification for membership in, or the welfare of, any State Society, which may by proper memorial be presented by such State Society for considera- tion. ARTICLE IX. The insignia of the General Society shall be a cross sur- mounted by an eagle in gold or silver, and a rosette. The cross shall be of silver, with four arms, and eight white enamelled points, same size as Chevalier's Cross of the Legion of Honor of France, with a gold medallion in the centre, bearing on the obverse a bust of Washington in pro- file, and on the reverse the figure of a minute-man sur- rounded by a ribbon enamelled buiBf and blue, with the motto, " lyibertas et Patria," on the obverse, and the legend, " Sons of the Revolution," on the reverse, both in letters of gold. The cross shall be surmounted by an eagle in gold or silver, and the whole decoration suspended from a ring of gold by a ribbon of dark blue, ribbed and watered, edged with bufi", one and one-quarter inches wide and one and one-half inches in displayed length, and may be worn by any member of the Society on ceremonial occasions only, and shall be carried on the left breast, or, if an officer, on the collar, and shall never be worn as an article of jewelry. The custodian of this insignia shall be the General Secretary, who shall issue the same to the members of the society under such proper rules as may be formulated by the General Society, and he shall keep a register of such issues, wherein each insignia issued may be identified by the number thereof. The rosettes shall be seven-sixteenths of an inch in diam- eter, of usual pattern, displaying the colors of the Society, and may be worn by all members at discretion in the upper left hand button-hole of the coat. ARTICLE X. The seal of the General Society of the Sons of the Revolu- tion shall be one and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, and shall consist of the figure of a minute-man in Continen- tal uniform standing on a ladder leading to a belfry and holding in his left hand a musket and an olive branch, and grasping in his right hand a bell rope ; above, the cracked " Liberty Bell ;" issuing therefrom a ribbon, bearing the motto of the Sons of the Revolution, " Exegi Monuinentum ^re Perennius f'' across the top of the ladder, on a ribbon, the figures " 1775," and at the left of the minute-man, and also on a ribbon, the figures " 1783 ;" the whole encircled by a band three-eighths of an inch wide, thereon at the top thir-' teen stars of five points each, and at the bottom the legend, " Sons of the Revolution ;" the following being a fac-simile thereof : The custodian of the seal shall be the General Secretary. ARTICLE XI. This Constitution may be amended, provided two-thirds of the members of the General Society present at any gen- eral meeting or special meeting shall approve, and provided further, that notice of such motion to amend, specifying such proposed amendment in full, shall be given in writing to the presiding officer of the General Society and of each State Society at least sixty days before such motion is to be con- sidered. Fourth : That this proposed union may be made eflfectual this Committee further recommends : 1. The presentation of its report to the respective Na- tional Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Revolution at meetings to be called for that pur- pose on Thursday, the i6th day of February, 1893, in the City of New York, and the adoption at such meetings of a resolution recommending the union of the two societies and the adoption of the proposed Constitution. 2. At a joint meeting immediately thereafter, of the two General Societies, the adoption of the new Constitution and election of officers, to serve until the last Wednesday of April, 1894, or until their successors are elected. All of which is respectfully submitted. New York, December 22, 1892. FRED'K S. TALLMADGE, President of the Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, President of the Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution. CHAS. H. WOODRUFF, Delegate New York Sons of the Revolution. HORACE PORTER, President General Society Sons of the America Revolution and Chairman General Conference Committee. JOHN LEE CARROLL, General President Society of Sons of the Revo- lution. 23 BRADLEY T. JOHNSON, President Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution. EDWIN SHEPARD BARRETT, President Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution. JOHN WHITEHEAD, President New Jersey Sons of the American Revolution. O. H. ERNST, Delegate from District of Columbia Sons of the Revolution. WM. RIDGLEY GRIFFITH, Delegate from Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution. THOMAS W. HALL, Delegate from Maryland Society Sons of the Revolution. SAM. W. PENNYPACKER, Delegate Sons of the Revolution of Pennsylvania. RICHARD McCALL CADWALADER, vice-President and Delegate Sons of the Revolu- tion of Pennsylvania. CHARLES HENRY JONES, Delegate Sons of the Revolution of Pennsylvania ROBERT LENOX BELKNAP, Delegate New York Society Sons of the Revolution. JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, Secretary of Committee of Conference. General Secretary Sons of the Revolution. Secretary of Sons of the Revolution State of New York. NATHAN WARREN, Registrar Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution. 24 PART SECOND. Letter OF THE Massachusetts Society TO THE VARIOUS OTHER State Societies OF THE Sons of the Revolution OCTOBER 26, 1896 Massachusetts Society Sons of the Revolution. Officers Elected April 20, 1896. President, Clement Kelsey Fay. Vice-President, George Silsbee Hale. Secretary, Henry Dexter Warren. Treasurer, Andrew Robeson. Registrar, James Atkins Noyes. Historian, Francis Ellingwood Abbot. Chaplain, Rev. Leonard Kip Storrs. BOARD OF MANAGERS. Frank Harrison Briggs, Arthur Briggs Denny, Walter Oilman Page, Frank Merriam, William Curtis Capelle, Edward Tobey Barker, Frederick Banker Carpenter, Howard Eaton Hayden, Francis Apthorp Foster. DELEGATES TO GENERAL SOCIETY, '97. Francis Ellingwood Abbot, Henry Dexter Warren, Francis Rollin Spalding, Philip Remade, U. S. A., Winthrop Wetherbee. ALTERNATES. Hon. William Eustis Russell (deceased), Hon. William Franklin Draper, Rev. Edward Everett Hale, Benjamin Franklin Stevens, John Hoffman Collamore (deceased). Letter OF THE Massachusetts Society. Boston, October 26, 1896. To Our Brother State Societies, Greeting : In the foregoing pages will be found the complete official correspondence growing out of the standing invitation which, at Savannah, April 20, 1896, the Sons of the Revolution unanimously extended to the Sons of the American Revolution to unite with them in a single national organization. This correspondence as it stands is the record of a mortifying failure — a failure especially mortifying to you and to us, since the correspondence itself cannot but create a general impression, which we must all regret, that the representatives of the Sons of the Revolution have been diplomatically de- feated, and put apparently in the wrong, by the representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution. It reveals, to be sure, a transparently honest purpose in our representatives to obey the instructions of the General Society, and to abide scrupulously by the letter of these instructions ; but it also reveals a failure on their part to understand the true character of the Richmond resolutions, and a consequent failure to keep out of a trap which, whether intentionally or unintentionally placed there, actually opened before them. Interpreting the Richmond resolutions as a general acceptance of the Savannah invitation, wtien in truth they were a simple evasion of it, our representatives allowed themselves to be drawn into a discus- sion which has ended in their being held responsible them- selves for the absolutely inevitable result of this evasion. Not only is the union so earnestly desired by the vast majority in both societies completely defeated for the present, but — what is extremely unjust and injurious to us — the blame for this defeat seems to be thrown at last upon our own shoulders. By this correspondence, we ourselves are adroitly made to appear responsible for the continuance of that very disunion which we were doing our honest best to heal ; for, when we ourselves, in our own invitation, amended the Constitution agreed on by both societies in 1893, yet without consulting the other society, with what face can we refuse to recognize the right of that society to discuss further amendments to it in courteous consultation ? Manifestly, if we stiffly decline even to consider the proposition of the Sons of the American Revolution for further amendments of that Constitution, and make acceptance of it just as it stands our absolute ultimatum (which was certainly not the intention or the spirit of the Savannah invitation), how can we complain, if the cool com- mon sense of the community condemns us at last to bear the whole burden of responsibility for a schism which all the best men in both societies deeply deplore ? That is the forlorn predicament in which you and we now find ourselves left, as the outcome of this unfortunate official correspondence. The situation is so undignified, so discredit- able, so unendurable, that we of the Massachusetts Society now invite you, our brethren in the other States, to unite with us in calling a special meeting of the General Society, in order to extricate ourselves from the mortifying position in which the correspondence leaves us. A thorough understanding of the facts is necessary to a thorough understanding of the correspondence and its results. In the first place, the Savannah resolutions were nothing but a "standing invitation." This simple fact, kept steadily in mind, would have obviated the confusion on both sides. In strictness of propriety, an invitation cannot be argued or debated ; it cannot be made a source of controversy ; it can- not be modified by the recipient ; it can only be accepted or rejected. When Mr. Smith invites Mr. Brown to dine with him on Thursday, it would not be considered " good form " for Mr. Brown to reply that he will be happy to dine with Mr. Smith on Friday. It is not easy to see why the same rules of courtesy which obtain between individuals should not equally obtain between societies. Now the Richmond resolutions were not intended or understood at the time to be an acceptance of the Savannah invitation without change. This fact is evident in the report of the proceedings, as published in the " Spirit of '"j^ " for May. The Richmond resolutions (printed in full in the correspond- ence above) were introduced by the Hon. Ebenezer J. Hill, representing an "informal and unpremeditated conference," in the parlor of the President-General, on the previous evening. The Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, however, moved the following as a substitute for Mr. Hill's resolutions: — "// is Resolved, That the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution cordially accepts the proposition for the consolidation of the two societies on the terms indicated, it having been always opposed to the admission of any but lineal descendants of Revolutionary ancestors ; and the Presi- dent is hereby authorized to appoint a committee of five to meet a similar committee of the Sons of the Revolution, with full power to agree upon terms for carrying into effect the foregoing resolution." This would have been a cordial and unambiguous accept- ance of the Savannah invitation. But objections to it were urged by Mr. Hill, the President-General, and Mr. Avery; in consequence of which, " Mr. Roosevelt withdrew his resolution with a few pleasant remarks, and was rewarded with applause. The resolutions [of Mr. Hill] were then unanimously adopted by a standing vote, amid much applause." The four Richmond resolutions, then, were certainly neither an acceptance nor a rejection of the Savannah invita- tion, but rather a fundamental change of it. The first was an expression of fraternal sentiments. The second was an ac- ceptance, not of the invitation, but merely of its two provisos, relating to the appointment of a Joint-Committee of Revision and the dropping of any member of either society whom they should report to be ineligible. The third, however, was a radi- cal change of the invitation itself, the very essence of which was to unite under the Constitution and Plan of Union already agreed to in 1893 ; whereas this resolution, ignoring the basis proposed, called for another "basis of union," to be agreed on hereafter by a new Joint-Committee of Conference. Clearly, then, the Richmond resolutions were a seeming acceptance, and yet a real evasion, of the substance of the Savannah invitation. They apparently deceived the Richmond convention itself, in which the general desire for union was undoubtedly as genuine and strong as it was in our own con- vention at Savannah. They certainly deceived our own representatives, as proved by the letter of May 25, printed above in the official correspondence. For this letter proposes, first, to go on with the appointment of a Joint-Committee of Revision, and, secondly, to go on with the calling of a Joint- Congress of the two societies, on the basis of the report of this Joint-Committee of Revision and the Constitution already agreed to in 1893, but now ignored ; while it takes no notice of the proposal to appoint a Joint-Committee of Conference for the purpose of arriving at a new and "well-considered basis of union." It thus treats the Richmond resolutions as a general acceptance of the Savannah invitation, whereas they were in fact a mere evasion of it. By thus misunderstanding these resolutions, it unconsciously invited the diplomatic defeat which followed. For there is no possibility of denying suc- cessfully the justice of Secretary Murphy's courteous but crushing retort, when he says in his letter of July 28 : — " It was, therefore, naturally supposed that, as your society had made an amendment to that document without consultation with this society, the privilege should be accorded to this society of taking steps looking to the making of other amend- ments in consultation with your society." This grave charge of inconsistency on our part cannot be successfully repelled, as the case has been left by this official correspondence. It was a capital error, therefore, even from a merely diplomatic point of view (to say nothing of equity or equal rights), when the letter of May 25 construed the Rich- mond resolutions as a general acceptance of the Savannah invitation. For it failed altogether to provide any way by which further minor amendments of the Constitution of 1893 might be jointly effected, yet without abandoning that Con- stitution as, on the whole, a " well-considered basis of union." The mischievous effects of this error in diplomacy at the start appear too plainly in Secretary Murphy's final letter of Sep- tember 21, by which the blame for the lamentable failure of all these negotiations is so adroitly shifted from the evasiveness of the Richmond resolutions to the insinuated unwillingness of our own officers to have any union at all on any terms. The fact is that, those resolutions being what they are, no other outcome of the negotiations could have been reasonably ex- pected ; for they neither accepted nor rejected our invitation, but evaded it, and, under cover of discussing it, though dis- cussion of an invitation is clearly out of place, pressed upon our officers a proposition for the appointment of a Joint-Com- mittee of Conference which, of course, exceeded their powers. If the framers of the Richmond resolutions had themselves really wanted union, they could have had it with ease by simply accepting Mr. Roosevelt's resolution as a substitute for their own. There would have been no difficulty in securing, by mutual consent, whatever further amendments of the Con- stitution of 1893 are really needed. But the real reason for the failure to effect consolidation at this time lies in the evasive character of the Richmond resolutions, and the official correspondence ought to have made this fact plain to all the world. At the very meeting of May 21 which authorized the sending of the unfortunate letter of May 25, our Massachusetts representative. Dr. Abbot, submitted the following resolutions as a proper reply to Secretary Murphy's communication of the Richmond resolutions : — Whereas, We have received with pleasure the very friendly resolutions of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, adopted at Richmond, Va., April 30, 1896, in response to the invitation of the General Society of Sons of the Revolution to unite with us in a single society on the well considered basis of the Plan of Union separately approved and harmoniously agreed upon by both societies at New York, February 16, 1893; and Whereas, We unfeignedly rejoice that the only point of dis- agreement which prevented consolidation of the two societies at their conference of February 16, 1893, namely, disagreement as to a fresh examination and revision of the membership rolls of both societies alike, has now been very handsomely removed by the frank and cordial consent of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution to join with us in effecting such fresh examination and revision, as a necessary preliminary step to actual consolidation of the two societies ; and Whereas, No basis or plan of union could possibly have a better title to the epithet "well considered" than the plan which was separately and deliberately debated at length, and then independently adopted, by each of the two societies at New York, February i6, 1893 ; and Whereas, The only possible result of appointing new and unnecessary committees of conference would be to reopen vexed questions now happily closed forever, to revive old con- troversies or provoke new ones, and to postpone indefinitely, if not to defeat altogether, that harmonious and complete organic union which both societies have so much at heart ; and Whereas, The general officers of the Sons of the Revolu- tion have no authority whatever to reconsider, much less to alter, the terms of an invitation extended by the General Society itself, but must patiently wait until the invitation has been honored with a distinct acceptance or rejection by the party invited : therefore, Resolved, That we send our most cordial greetings to the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and thank them for having magnanimously removed the original and only important cause of disagreement in the past, by voting at Richmond in favor of fresh examination and revision of the membership rolls, as a condition precedent to actual consolidation of the two societies. Resolved, That the sole remaining obstacle to such consoli- dation will have been removed, whenever the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution shall signify its willing- ness to unite with us in a single general society in accordance with the eminently fair and equal terms of our invitation, and to proceed without delay to carry out the well considered Plan of Union already approved by both societies at their conference of February 16, 1893. Resolved, That the invitation extended at Savannah is a standing invitation, as cordial as it is sincere ; and we earnestly hope it will yet be accepted without reservation, to the end that a schism which should never have existed may be healed for all time to come, on terms which are conspicuously honorable and practicable, just, equal and fair to all concerned. Resolved, That, if the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution desire now to amend or to strike out any particular provisions of the Constitution and Plan of Union which both societies unanimously agreed to in 1893, we fra- ternally suggest that they formulate all such desired changes, together with the reasons for them, and transmit to us a certi- fied copy of the same ; and we pledge ourselves to secure a full, candid and generous consideration of them at the next General Assembly of the Sons of the Revolution, with a view to arriving at last at a perfect mutual understanding and a satisfactory, firm, and lasting basis of union. No action whatever was taken upon these resolutions. In our opinion, if our General Officers had made them their answer to the resolutions adopted at Richmond, there could have been no complaint of their unwillingness to have any union at all, no complaint of their inconsistency, no complaint whatever of their arbitrariness or want of a conciliatory spirit. Yet they would have maintained with firmness the impreg- nable position taken at Savannah, and constrained the Sons of the American Revolution either to accept our invitation explicitly, or else to accept for themselves the responsibility of explicity rejecting it. For, without wavering or weakening in our contention that the Constitution of 1893 is on the whole a "well considered basis of union," they would yet have offered a practicable method of effecting conjointly whatever further amendments may be inherently reasonable or just. Such an answer would have rendered it ridiculous that' we should be charged, as we now find ourselves charged, with secret unwillingness to effect consolidation on fair, equal, and consistent terms. This is the charge now brought against us as a Society, if not in distinct language, at least by necessary and obvious implication ; and it seriously affects our dignity, our self-respect, and our honorable standing before the world. Shall we submit to it in silence, or shall we make a determined effort to set ourselves right, not only in our own eyes, but equally in the eyes of all ? We believe that you, as well as we, feel the moral necessity of prompt action in our own behalf, in order to vindi- cate the now impugned sincerity of our Savannah invitation, and in order to extricate ourselves from the undignified situa- tion in which we have been left by this official correspond- ence. We ask you, therefore, to join with us in convening a special meeting of the General Society at the earliest practi- cable date. According to our General Constitution, such a meeting may be held " upon the order of the General President or upon the request of two of the State Societies." The more numerous the States are that join in the request, so much greater will be its weight, influence, and importance. We hope, therefore, that you will all unite with us in requesting the General Officers to summon a special business meeting of the General Society, at some place and time to be fixed by them, but, if possible, not later than January or February, for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following resolutions, which will be, and hereby are, submitted to the General Society by the Massachusetts Society : — Whereas, We are unable to consider the resolutions adopted by the Sons of the American Revolution at Richmond, April 30, 1896, as either a definite acceptance or a definite re- jection of the invitation extended by us to them at Savannah, April 20, 1896 ; and Whereas, We have been officially informed that the Sons of the American Revolution object now to certain particulars of the Constitution and Plan of Union which, having been harmoniously agreed to by both societies in 1893, was for that reason, with a slight amendment of our own, made the basis of the Savannah invitation : therefore. Resolved, That the invitation which we extended at Savannah was, by its own express terms, a "standing invita- tion," and remains, therefore, in full force today, notwithstand- ing the disappointing failure of the official correspondence founded upon it — a failure, however, which resulted inevitably and solely from the undecided character of the answer given to the invitation itself. Resolved, That, undiscouraged by this failure, we now renew our invitation unchanged ; but that, in order to meet courteously and fairly the expressed desire of the Sons of the American Revolution for further modifications of its basis, we now fraternally suggest that they formulate with precision all such desired changes, together with the reasons for them, and transmit to us a certified copy of the same ; and we pledge 10 ourselves to secure a full, candid and generous consideration of them at the next General Assembly of the Sons of the Revolution, with a view to arriving at last at a perfect mutual understanding and a satisfactory, solid, and lasting basis of union. Resolved^ That our General Secretary be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the General Secretary of the Sons of the American Revolution, with assurance of our sincere desire for a speedy and successful issue of these pro- tracted negotiations. Believing that the method here proposed for reaching mutual agreement is not only more democratic, but also more likely to prove effective, than the method of secret conference committees, which has hitherto signally failed, we respectfully propose these measures for your thoughtful consideration. By unanimous order of the Board of Officers and Managers of the Massachusetts Society of Sons of the Revolution, at its regular monthly meeting held at Bo stony October 26, 1 896. GENERAL SOCIETY Sons of the Revolution APRIL J 9th, 1897. Digest of the Proceedings OF MEETING OF THE GENERAL SOCIETY, HELD IN THE HALL OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENMSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA, PA., APRIIv iQthi, 1897, TOGETHER WITH IvISX OF OFFICKRS General and State Societies. PRESS OF RXCHANGE PRINTING COMPANY, 47 Broad Street. NEW YORK. Gift '"he> Society ABSTRACT OF MEETING OF THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, IN THE HALL OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, No. 1300 LOCUST STREET, PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 19, 1897. G. D. W. VROOM, Esq., First General Vice-President, Presidiiig, The following additional General Officers were present, viz. : Mr. John Screven, Second General Vice-President. Mr. James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary. Mr. William Hall Harris, Assistant General Secretary. Mr. Richard M. Cadwalader, General Treasurer. Mr. Henry Cadle, Assistant General Treasurer. Dr. Francis EUingwood Abbott, General Registrar. Mr. Gaillard Hunt, General Historian. Mr. Vroom : In the absence of the General President, it becomes my duty as General Vice-President to call this meet- ing of the General Society to order. The meeting will be opened with prayer by the Rev. Brockholst Morgan of New York. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Morgan, New York Society. The General Secretary, at the direction of the Chair, read the notice of meeting. 3 No. 146 Broadway, New York City. Office ok General Secretary, Society of Sons of THE Revolution. December 21, 1896. Secretary of the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of " Upon the request of the State Societies in the District of Cohimbia, Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts," a special meeting of the General Society, Sons of the Revolution, is called under the provisions of the Seventh Clause of the Constitution. Respectfully, G. D. W. VROOM, First General Vice-President. JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. By direction of the First General Vice-President (ihe General President being absent from the country and not expected to return until April) the Special Meeting so called will be held in the City of Philadelphia, on Monday, April the nineteenth, A. D. 1897. Due notice of the time and place of said meeting will be sent to you later. Respectfully, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. Under date of March 20, 1897, the notice referred to was sent. Office of the General Secretary, No. 146 Broadway. New York, March 20, 1897. Dear Sir : Through the courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Meeting of the General Society (notice of which was sent to you under date December 21, 1896, and copy of 4 which is attached), will be held in the Hall of the Historical Society, No. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, on Monday, April 19, 1897, at eleven o'clock A. M. The Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, will entertain the General Society at the Hotel Stratford, at luncheon at two o'clock in the afternoon and at dinner at half-past seven o'clock in the evening. Rooms may be se- cured at the Hotel Stratford, at prices ranging from one to four dollars per day. You will confer a favor by returning the enclosed postal cards on or before April 7, 1897, stating whether you do or do not expect to be present. Yours faithfully, JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY, General Secretary. The General Secretary then called the roll, the fol- lowing officers and delegates responding, viz. : OFFICERS. Garret Dorset Wall Vroom, General Vice-President. John Screven, Second General Vice-President. James Mortimer Montgomery, General Secretary. William Hall Harris, Assistant General Secretary. Richard McCall Cadwalader, General Treasurer. Henry Cadle, Assistant General Treasurer. Francis Ellingwood Abbott, General Registrar. Gaillard Hunt, General Historian. DELEGATES. Alabama. Connecticut, j