Massachusetts (Continued)

There were thirty-nine delegates present at the meeting; one hundred and sixteen proxies were held, thus making the representation one hundred and fifty-five.

Mrs. Platoff Zane, Regent of the West Virginia Society, then gave an address of welcome, which conveyed to every one present the warmest greetings from West Virginia to her visitors.

Mrs. Zane spoke as follows:

THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME TO THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION.

MADAM PRESIDENT, HONORED Officers and MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION:

"The dignity of this honor, conferred upon me, of addressing the members of the General Society with assured words of hearty greeting-almost overpowers me. The time for your coming, which a year ago seemed an endless future, has arrived, and I voice the sentiments of each Daughter of the Revolution of the Commonweath of West Virginia, when I extend to you all a most sincere and hearty welcome.

"It was indeed with trembling lips that the Daughters extended the much courted message of invitation in Philadelphia, to be with us at this annual mecting, fearing we might suffer by contrast, Wheeling possessing so few points of historic interest.

"Fortunately we are not so occupied with business, as on the year of the bi-annual election, hence more time can be devoted to the social programme. "Our citizens all recognize this week as a National gala season, and will endeavor, by the Stars and Stripes which will wave throughout the city, to extend a hand of welcome, and we hope to make this meeting an ever memorable one."

After the applause which greeted Mrs. Zane's words had subsided Mrs. D. Phoenix Ingraham, President General, responded eloquently to this address of welcome in the following words:

ADDRESS AT CONVENTION.

MADAM REGENT, AND DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION:

It is my pleasant duty and great privilege on behalf of the Daughters of the Revolution to accept this cordial welcome, and to express the sincere appreciation of the society for the very courteous kindness and generous hospitality extended by the West Virginia Society to both officers and delegates.

In coming to Wheeling, we are still among the scenes of the historical events of our national history, and the very name of "Wheeling" brings up from the past the echo of Fort Henry, Colonel Zane, the warwhoops of the Indians, and the guns of the British; all speak of the stirring days, when, as

Fort Henry, the foundation of Wheeling was laid. This stockade fort was for the protection of all the settlers, and, while frequently attacked, its most famous fight occurred about September 26, 1777, when the fort was besieged by some five hundred Indians and a few white renegades, the defenders numbering, through recent losses, only twelve men and boys. Here, through the heroism of Betty Zane, sister of Colonel Zane, the necessary ammunition for the defense was secured and the battle won.

To-day in tranquil beauty, this settlement lies in peace beside the river, surrounded by its everlasting hills and beautiful woodland, a city throbbing with the very pulse of industrial life, the whirring of its wheels and the humming of its machinery only emblematic of the busy rushing life in America to-day-no tide too swift for our industrial pilots to cross, no time too limited for great results to be accomplished, to such an active existence have the people of this day and generation come.

I think we miss much of the sweetness and beauty of life in the swiftness of our pace, just as the rush of the train blurs the loveliness of the landscape. There seems to be no end to our desire for haste, and I tremble to think to what we may aspire in the hidden future.

This year marks a great period in our Nation's history, the anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, and the founding of our great country. Three hundred years have rolled away since then, and, from a struggling colony, we have emerged a nation that the world at large delights to honor. Our justice and humanity have won universal respect and admiration, and to this anniversary of our humble birth, the kingdoms, empires and republics of the world have sent their ships and men to do us honor, and make notable this three hundredth birthday of our country.

Goethe says: "The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves;" Goldsmith: "Those who think must govern those who toil;" but Macaulay tells us: "The end of government is the happiness of the people." Does it not seem as if that desired end was very near to the people of our own dear Land

"One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,

Our Nation evermore."

Your Board of Managers reports, through your President, another year of work, well crowned by the completion of our Gateway at Cambridge, Massachusetts, when on October 19th (a perfect autumn day), in the presence of the Governor of the State and the Mayor of the City, together with many distinguished guests, the dedication and unveiling took place amid the booming of a salute of thirteen guns for the thirteen original States, and the unfurling of our Flag, a day of patriotic inspiration that stands side by side with our dedication at Valley Forge, in the honorable history of our Society. We are not able to place many such memorials, but when we do work, let us work for just such monuments as we have placed at Valley Forge and Cambridge-memorials that reflect credit on the patriotism of our Society and make us proud that we are Daughters.

A little rest is due and well deserved by our ardent workers, but I trust before my term as your President is ended that you will be actively engaged in another work, probably to the glory of New York, that will shed equal honor on our Society. For in united work do we obtain the practical benefit of organization; the combined interest in our work and in each other blends patriotism and friendship into a union of heart and hand that brings out our most enthusiastic devotion to our friend and Country.

The safeguarded fireside and the freedom of the hills and valleys have made our patriot sons and daughters examples of what freedom and liberty can do for the race of a God-given Republic.

The year has brought to your Board of Managers many perplexing questions to answer, and many difficult matters to adjust, but every question has been met with a unanimous desire to assist the well-being of our Society

with the best in us, and, in that beautiful way, the questions have been answered and the matters settled, the interest and earnest endeavors of all being the future welfare of our Society.

With this convention, we enter upon our seventeenth year as an organization. In the passing of these years I have seen many changes. The gentle hand of Time has taken away many completed lives from among us, but others have taken their places, and will bring their uncompleted work to full fruition. There is so much for us all to do, my Daughters! Every day that we live brings to some of us that "opportunity" that "comes but once" and "returns no more," and I beg you will not overlook or neglect it, but use every endeavor to keep in the hearts of the people the high standards, the great principles, and the grand patriotism that have made our Country and formed its great Constitution. It is said of the framers, that "the men who made it were probably the ablest body of lawyers, legislators, patriots and statesmen that ever met."

What better can we teach our sons and daughters than an honest pride in their American birth, exceeding any titled line? The tendency of the age is to so-called aristocratic idleness, due of course to our national prosperity, but there are too many great things in life for them to be lost through a misunderstanding of their value. Let us say with Webster: "I was born an American, I live an American, I shall die an American;" surely a grand birthright is claimed by every citizen of this fair Land.

We can look from the rugged coast of the East to the prairies of the West; from the frozen North to the sunny Southern gulf, and the spirit is the same justice, freedom and liberty for all.

It has brought forth a great people, and there should be a great future,

if we keep in honor the trust bequeathed to us.

Daughters of the Revolution: To you is given a great inheritance, bought with such a price. It demands your faithful service and devoted guardianship. Remember, "To whom much is given, much will be required."

May 2, 1907.

(Signed) F. ADELAIDE INGRAHAM.
President General.

This impressive address was listened to with grave attention by the Convention and received with the appreciation which it deserved. After a little pause Mrs. Ingraham declared the sixteenth Annual Convention of the Society of the Daughters of the Revolution formally opened for business.

Mrs. Ingraham then called on the Recording Secretary General, Mrs. Helfer, for her report, which she presented as follows:

REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY.

MADAM PRESIDENT AND DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION:

Many times since the founding of this Society has your Recording Secretary listened to the reports of former Secretaries of the Daughters of the Revolution. She now fully appreciates the honor of standing on this platform and submitting a similar report. Occasionally during the past year she has wished for the knowledge of her able predecessors when she saw the mountain of work before her, but usually that which appeared to be a mountain proved to be only a little hill, which was easily passed over.

Your Secretary entered into her office resolved to fill it to the best of her ability, honestly and with fairness to all. It is her firm intention to complete her term along these lines. Since the last Annual Meeting nine regular meetings of your Board of Managers have been held, with an average attendance of sixteen.