USA > Massachusetts > The Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution with the National and State Constitutions 1893 > Part 2
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" The Sons of the American Revolution showed finely in the parade," says the Memorial volume, page 165, " numbering one hundred, including the officers of the
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National organization and representatives from Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut in carriages." The representatives of the several State societies met at the Soldiers' Home after the ceremonies ; the Hon. Edwin S. Barrett was elected chairman, and Luther L. Tarbell, secretary. It was voted to prepare a testimonial to be presented to the Vermont Society for the hospitality extended during their visit. President Bar- rett, in speaking for this Society at the banquet, said : " In the ranks of our Massachusetts Society are two Sons, John McClure and Joseph Hill, whose fathers fought at Bennington, and doubtless there are others here to-day who came to look upon the spot where their fathers bat- tled for liberty. May these monuments rise on every battlefield of the Revolution, and may the good work go on, until all the memorable spots made famous by the American Revolution shall have fitting and lasting em- blems of that great struggle for human liberty and the rights of man, and stand as beacon-lights for all the oppressed, to the last syllable of recorded time !"
The third semi-annual meeting was held, October 16, 1891, in Faneuil Hall, Boston. The President and Messrs. Appleton, Green, Lincoln, and Joy were ap- pointed a committee with authority to secure a room in the new Public Library building to be used as the head- quarters of this Society.
An inspection of the objects of historic interest in the hall having been made, the entire company proceeded under escort to visit the various places of interest in the immediate vicinity. Passing Quincy Market, they en- tered North square and viewed the house which was the residence of Paul Revere when he immortalized himself by his midnight ride to Lexington and Concord, April 18, 1775. Thence they proceeded to Christ Church, Salem street, from whose belfry Sexton New- man hung a lantern as a signal to Paul Revere to start on his famous errand. Passing the house on Prince street
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used as a hospital by the British after the Bunker Hill battle, they visited the rooms of the Bostonian Society in the Old State House, where they found a very in- teresting collection of relics of old Boston. After an inspection of the Old South Meeting-house, they re- turned to Faneuil Hall for dinner, after which President Barrett made an appropriate address, calling attention to the patriotic associations of the hall in which they were assembled. He said that twenty-seven States had now formed societies of the " Sons of the American Revolu- tion," and that in numbers Massachusetts led all the rest. There were in the Society of this State twenty-seven own sons of men who fought in the Revolution. The speaker eloquently set forth the mission of this organization and the various means by which it could aid in preserving patriotic memorials. The Rev. Edward A. Horton made a fervid and patriotic speech. The Rev. B. R. Bulkeley, of Concord, read a poem in tribute to the deeds and in- spiration of the fathers.
The Hon. Stephen M. Allen was introduced as Presi- dent of the Webster Historical Society. His speech was full of patriotic sentiment and reminiscences. Capt. J. Henry Taylor, of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, made a pithy speech. Letters of regret for non-attendance were read from Private Secretary Halford, on behalf of President Harrison; from the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Mayor Matthews, the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, and others. Remarks were made by William R. Allen, of Maine; E. C. Staniels, of New Hampshire ; ex-President Saunders, and Nathan Appleton.
President Barrett called attention to Capt. Luke Smith, of Acton, the only living son of a man who fought at Concord Bridge, and he was warmly received. The meeting then adjourned.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, October 27, 1891, it was voted that all application papers be made in duplicate, the officers of the National Society having sug-
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gested that duplicates of applications for membership be sent to the Registrar of the National Society. The President and Messrs. C. M. Green, M.D., and A. Scott Harris were appointed a committee to act on all applica- tions for membership.
It was voted to inscribe on the records of the Society a memorial paper expressive of the high appreciation of this Society of the life, work, and character of the late James Fowle Baldwin Marshall.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, March 10, 1892, it was voted that this Society use the form of appli- cations for membership adopted by the National Society. Dr. Forster, of the committee on a revision of the Consti- tution and By-Laws, having reported a new draft, which was accepted, it was voted to send a printed copy of the proposed revision to each member of the Board of Managers for their inspection and criticism, and to secure such suggestions as may, in consequence, be offered.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, March 17, 1892, the President read a letter from Mr. L. L. Tarbell, tendering his resignation of the office of Registrar. It was voted to accept the resignation. Mr. Nathan Warren was thereupon elected Registrar for the remain- der of the year.
After a full discussion of the proposed amendments to the Constitution, it was voted that they be adopted by the Board, and referred to the Society for final action at the next annual meeting. It was then voted that the proposed By-Laws be adopted and proper notice of the same be given in the call for the next annual meeting, so that the Society may take final action.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, March 31, 1892, the committee on auditing the books and accounts of the late Registrar made a statement to the Board of Managers showing a balance paid to the committee of
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$134.45. A vote of thanks to Mr. L. L. Tarbell, the late Registrar, was passed, in recognition of his valuable ser- vices to the Society.
It was voted that the delegates from this Society to the National Society be instructed to present to the National Society the advisability and necessity of changing the colors of the rosette and ribbon from the red and white, as worn, to buff and blue, the well-recognized " Continen- tal colors," which are not liable to be mistaken for those worn by the members of the Loyal Legion (classes two and three), or by members of the Naval Veterans.
The fourth annual meeting of the Society was held April 19, 1892, in Faneuil Hall, Boston, President Bar- rett in the chair.
The Treasurer's report showed receipts for the year, $1,540.68 ; expenditures, $1,353.33 ; balance on hand, $187.35.
The Registrar reported a total membership of 511 ; joined during the year, 145; deceased, 12; withdrawn, 15 ; members who are sons of Revolutionary soldiers, 21.
The Constitution adopted by the Board of Managers was then submitted by Dr. Forster. Mr. Tarbell moved to amend Article IV. of the Constitution by adding the position of chaplain to the list of officers. After dis- cussion the motion prevailed. The Constitution, as amended, was then adopted. The By-Laws, as adopted by the Board of Managers, were then reported to the Society and adopted.
Mr. Clarke, on behalf of the nominating committee, submitted the following list of officers for the ensuing year, and they were elected: President, Edwin Shepard Barrett; Vice-Presidents, Edward Jacob Forster, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Nathan Appleton; Registrar, Nathan Warren; Secretary, William Barrett; Historian, Alfred A. Stocker; Managers, James M. Barker, Benjamin Apthorp Gould, Charles Henry Joy, A. Scott Harris, Henry Guild, Archibald Murray Howe, John Homans, 2d,
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Howard L. Porter, of Concord, N.H., William B. Clarke, Reuben L. Reed, Carlton A. Staples, Charles H. Saun- ders, Edwin F. Waters, Abijah Thompson, and Mc- Donald Ellis White. Mr. Tarbell nominated the Rev. Carlton A. Staples for the position of chaplain, and he was elected.
The President appointed the following as delegates to the National Convention: Charles M. Green, M.D., Joseph Alba Davis, Nathan Appleton, Howard L. Porter, Edward J. Forster, Nathan Warren, and Henry A. Willis. Alternates : William B. Clarke, Edwin F. Waters, William Barrett, M. E. White, C. H. Saunders, Abijah Thompson, and Moses P. Palmer. The Society then adjourned to the Old South Meeting-house. After prayer by the Chaplain, President Barrett introduced the Rev. Grindall Reynolds, of Concord, as the speaker of the day, who addressed the Society on "The 19th of April, 1775, its relation to the events which preceded it and those which succeeded it."
Mr. Reynolds began by saying that he was a son of the Revolution by virtue of his fighting ancestors, who were present at Lexington and Concord. "The 19th of April was," he said, "one of the great decisive days of the world's history. There had been uprisings among the American colonists before, but at Lexington and Concord, for the first time, there was armed resist- ance based upon legal authority. There was not a shot fired, not a step taken on that day, which was not based upon the belief of our fathers that they were acting in accordance with their legal rights, and that King George and General Gage were really rebels against these rights. From the time of the first colonization the grand charac- teristic of the first settlers was obedience to law. When King Charles sent to the colonists for a return of the patent which had been granted to them, they displayed their allegiance to law by refusing to send it. Later, they arose and put Andros in prison as a purely legal transaction. The history of those times is a story of
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struggle between the Government and the colonists for what the latter believed to be their legal rights. The stubborn courage also of these men is remarkable. But allegiance to law and stubborn courage, alone, will not save a people; and so in addition to these we find a sagacity truly wonderful. It was the display of these three qualities which made the day of Lexington and Concord so notable. And they played an equally important part later, at the siege of Boston, and on other critical occasions." Alluding to Washington, the speaker remarked that if there was ever a man who combined in his character these qualities of allegiance to law, desper- ate courage, and far-sighted wisdom, it was that great leader. "We were apt to mistake his character, and not give him sufficient credit for courage and vigor. Tren- ton and Princeton showed that back of the Fabian man was the prompt, decisive warrior. These qualities, then, - respect of law, courage, and wisdom, - which had been spoken of, had distinguished the character of our people in their history; and they must be our safeguard in the years that are to come."
After-dinner speeches were made by President Barrett, the Rev. Grindall Reynolds, the Rev. C. A. Staples, the Rev. Mr. Holmes, the Rev. Mr. George, Nathan Apple- ton, Dr. Green, Nathan Warren, and others. The attend- ance was 125.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, May 9, 1892, it was voted that all sons of Revolutionary soldiers, in- cluding present members, be made Honorary Members of the Society, without payment of dues, and that dues of any that may be in arrears be remitted.
A committee was appointed to agitate the matter of making the 19th of April a general holiday, in case Fast Day is abolished.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, June 8, 1892, a committee, consisting of the President and Messrs.
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Clarke and Gould, was appointed to confer with a com- mittee of the Sons of the Revolution.
At a meeting of the Board, September 12, 1892, President Barrett gave an account of the conference be- tween the committees of the Massachusetts S. R. and the Massachusetts S. A. R., on the 29th of July, at which the following resolution was passed : " Resolved, That we earnestly recommend that the societies be consolidated, the details to be arranged by the National and general committees." President Barrett then gave an account of the conference in New York.
At a meeting of the Board, October 7, 1892, President Barrett made a report of the result of the meeting in New York between the committees of the Society of S. R. and the Society of S. A. R., regarding their con- solidation, in which it was agreed to recommend to the State societies a consolidation under the name of "Sons of the Revolution," with the " Minute-man " as insignia, and a button of buff and blue, the Continental colors.
The fourth semi-annual meeting of the Society was held, October 19, 1892, at Salem. The party numbered upwards of one hundred. Carriages were provided, and the company drove to several places of historic interest, including North bridge, the scene of Colonel Leslie's re- treat, February 26, 1775. Many of the public buildings were inspected, including the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, at No. 21 Union street; the ancient Roger Williams house, corner of North and Essex streets; and the Peabody Academy of Science. Dinner was served in Fraternity Hall. After the dinner, President Barrett made interesting remarks, in which he referred to notable events in the War of Independence. Mayor Rantoul de- livered an address replete with historic incidents. After giving a cordial welcome to the visitors, and a reference to some local matters, he spoke of the former commerce of
.
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Salem, its prominent men, its literary and other insti- tutions, and concluded by inviting the Society to visit the City Hall for the purpose of inspecting the famous Indian deed of sale of the present territory to the Puritan settlers, also the portraits of Governor John Endicott and other noted men.
Professor Edward S. Morse spoke at length of the part Salem had played in commerce, and gave an interesting account of the inception and growth of the Salem Marine Society, and the Peabody Academy of Science, Essex Institute, and other Salem institutions. Major George M. Whipple and Edwin O. Foster, both of Salem, spoke of several matters of local interest. Remarks were also made by Capt. Nathan Appleton, Col. David P. Muzzey, and Col. Daniel S. Lamson.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, November 21, 1892, the President, Registrar, Historian, and Secretary were appointed to revise and print the doings of the Society since its organization, together with the State and national constitutions, list of members, line of de- scent, and such other matters as in their judgment may seem for the best interests of the Society, the cost not to exceed five hundred dollars of the Society's funds.
It was voted that the Legislature be petitioned by the officers and managers to substitute the 19th of April in place of Fast Day. In answer to a communication from the President, his Excellency replied as follows :
BOSTON, June 13, 1892.
MR. EDWIN SHEPARD BARRETT, President of the Massachusetts So- ciety of the Sons of the American Revolution, Concord, Mass.
MY DEAR SIR: I have received your letter of June 1Ith recom- mending that in place of Fast Day the State appoint a holiday on April 19. I find the suggestion meets with quite general approval, and I will with pleasure refer your letter to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Legislature, to whom my special message on the sub- ject has been referred.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd.)
WM. E. RUSSELL.
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At a meeting of the Board of Managers, January 23, 1893, the President made a report in regard to the joint meeting of the committees of the two National societies in New York, December 22, 1892. It was voted to call a special meeting of the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution on February 8, to choose delegates to the joint convention of the two national so- cieties to be held in New York, February 16, the place to be left with the President and Registrar.
It was voted that Mr. Howe appear before the Judi- ciary Committee of the Legislature on the 25th instant to represent the Society in favor of the establishment of the 19th day of April as a legal holiday.
It was voted that the notices for the special meeting of the Society contain the proposition for a union of the two national societies to be acted upon by the congress of the two societies in New York; and also a slip in aid of the petition for the establishment of the 19th of April as a legal holiday, to be signed and returned by the mem- bers, if deemed advisable by the Board of Managers.
A special meeting of the Society was held according to notice, February 8, 1893, in Wesleyan Hall, Boston, President Barrett in the chair. The President read the call of the National Society and the report of the joint committee on proposed union of the S. A. R. and the S. R., including the proposed new Constitution, and sig- natures of the joint committees.
Mr. Clarke offered the following motion :
Voted, That the Board of Managers be empowered to arrange all details for a union with the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, our sister society, and report the plan to this Society for their action, providing the result of the meeting of the two societies is favorable to union. The motion was adopted.
The President, under authority, appointed the follow- ing delegates to the joint congress in New York :
Delegates: Edwin Shepard Barrett, Edward Jacob
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Forster, Nathan Appleton, Charles M. Green, Edwin Forbes Waters, William Butler Clarke, William D. Richards, Henry A. Willis.
Alternates : John Quincy Bradish, Moses P. Palmer, Joseph Alba Davis, Richard Fay Barrett, Daniel S. Lamson, Henry Cabot Lodge, Allan Rogers, Robert A. Blood.
It was voted to request the towns to suitably mark the graves of all Revolutionary soldiers. Messrs. Staples, Reed, Saunders, Palmer, Warren, Appleton, and Dudley were appointed a committee on the matter.
About one hundred and fifty members were present at the meeting.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers, February 20, 1893, the President made a report of the failure of the convention of the two societies, at their meeting in New York, to adopt a form of union. On motion of Dr. Homans, a resolution of regret was adopted, with a vote of thanks to the delegates from this Society.
Mr. Edwin F. Waters was added to the Committee on Publication and Printing.
The fifth annual meeting of the Society was held at Faneuil Hall, Boston, April 19, 1893, and was called to order by the President. In the absence of the Secretary, S. Arthur Bent was chosen secretary pro tempore. The President made his second annual report, and reports were received from the Registrar, Treasurer, and Auditing Committee, which were accepted and placed on file. The report of the Committee on Memorial Tablets was presented by the chairman, the Rev. C. A. Staples, recommending that plans be secured for an appropriate tablet of iron or bronze for marking the graves of Revolutionary soldiers in this State, and that the Legis- lature be petitioned to give each town and city permission to appropriate money to defray the expense of such tablets. The report was accepted and the committee
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continued, with the addition of the President and Historian, and with power to select a design in metal, iron or bronze. The Society then elected officers for the ensuing year, a list of which will be found elsewhere. The Board of Managers was empowered to select the delegates to the conventions at New York and Chicago.
The Society then adjourned to the American House for dinner, at the conclusion of which President Barrett offered his congratulations and welcome to the members present. The principal address was made by the Rev. Edward G. Porter, who said :
You have done well to observe this " ever-memorable day " as the time for holding your annual meeting.
More and more, as the years go by, we see the significance of the 19th of April in our history. Other dates in the long period of the Revolutionary War mark greater military movements, but it was the day at Lexington and Concord that first stirred the hearts of the patriots and brought them to the high resolve of immediate and forcible resistance.
All that followed may be traced directly to the doings of Pit- cairn and Parker, of Parsons and Buttrick, of Percy and Warren and Revere and the others - many others-whose names will forever be associated with the momentous struggle which you commemorate by your festival to-day.
And our place of meeting is especially appropriate, as this hotel stands upon the site of Dr. Warren's house, and not far from the Green Dragon Tavern, where the Revolution was " hatched."
The old North End has undergone many changes in recent years, and the fathers would hardly recognize it now. But you will be glad to know that through the influence of our public schools, the children of the stranger, now swarming in these old haunts, are well indoctrinated in the lessons of American patri- otism. I am invited to address several hundred of them at the North End to-night upon the day we celebrate, and I know, from previous experience, that I shall have an attentive and en- thusiastic audience, though perhaps not a single one among them will be of New England lineage.
Here we have a field, it seems to me, for this Society to cul-
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tivate by offering prizes for proficiency in American historical studies, especially, if you please, those connected with the war for independence. You can create good patriots, believe me, out of these young Italians, and Poles, and Portuguese. They are great believers in America, already. They like their new inheritance. They are here to stay ; and many of them know the main facts of our national history as well as the scholars on the Back Bay or elsewhere.
Do you know, Mr. President, that the attention of the world is being drawn more and more to our country and to the in- stitutions we have planted here? In a recent journey through Europe and the East, I examined the text-books used in the schools, and found that a much larger space was given to our republic than formerly. In the universities of India, Hindu students are writing English essays upon the significance of 1775 in the growth of political freedom ; and some of them told me they found no chapter in history more inspiring and instructive.
In Australia I saw busts of Washington and Franklin, and also framed copies of our Declaration of Independence, with Han- cock's famous signature, exhibited in public buildings. And in Japan there is such eagerness to know all about us that I was repeatedly asked by teachers and students in colleges and nor- mal schools to address them upon topics related to our govern- ment, our educational system, our industries, our railroads, etc.
At Kyoto I was waited upon by a committee of the Doshisha University - founded by the lamented Neesima - and requested to give a lecture upon the Battle of Lexington. " But what do you know of the Battle of Lexington?" I said. " Oh !" they replied, " Mr. Neesima and the missimanis have told us about it, and we hear that Lexington is your home." So I yielded to their request, and to my surprise I found the hall filled to over- flowing with an audience, I was told, of nearly a thousand stu- dents, many of them taking notes briskly, as I spoke through an interpreter, and often interrupting me with applause. The next morning the little Japanese newspapers had full reports of the lecture, and I received many courtesies as a result of the effort.
The reason of this is evident. Those far-away people are eager for freedom. They are waking up from the lethargy and bondage of the traditions, and looking to us and to our his- tory for safe examples in their struggles for liberty.
You, gentlemen, as members of this Society, have assumed
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a responsibility which I know you are glad to recognize. You have made yourselves, in an important sense, the custodians of some of our most valued historical and political truths. I ask you now to disseminate them - here in our city and as far as may be, throughout the country and the world.
The social and festive character of such a meeting as this is delightful and appropriate. Perhaps you will see your way clear to add something in the near future for the good of mankind, by erecting tablets, decorating Revolutionary graves, offering medals, or establishing scholarships which shall directly illustrate and en- force the mighty doctrines set forth on a certain 19th of April by a few Middlesex farmers on Lexington green and at Concord bridge.
Other speakers were Mr. Hooper, of Bridgewater, who saw and talked with Lafayette; Levi S. Gould, S. Arthur Bent, Col. Daniel S. Lamson, the Hon. Moses P. Palmer, Luke Smith, the sole surviving son of a minute-man of 275, the Rev. C. A. Staples, Signor Brindisi, the Italian consul, and others.
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