ASSETS. Permanent investments, Current investments, Current Fund: Bank balances, $3.363.55, $353.00, Contributions to Continental Hall. King's Mountain Chapter, Valley Forge Chapter, $38.935 76 2,232 50 3,716 55 4.573 10 $49,457 91 $5.00 50 00 $55.00 SARAH H. HATCH, Treasurer General. American Monthly Magazine VOL. XIV. WASHINGTON, D. C., MAY, 1899. ANNUAL REPORTS OF STATE REGENTS. NO. 5 PRESENTED AT THE EIGHTH CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND ORDERED PRINTED. ARKANSAS. Madam President and Members of the Eighth Continental Congress: Statistics are considered tiresome, but I would be willing to have my report considered most dull if I could run more largely to figures and show greater results. Our growth as "Daughters" is slow. The Helena and Van Buren Regents report nine members each, with an earnest desire to complete. the Chapters. The Little Rock Chapter, under the guidance of Mrs. Ada M. Norton, has reached a membership of thirty-five, and has contributed funds for charitable purposes, and for the Lafayette Monument Fund. Its members engaged in the War Relief work, being especially interested in providing comforts for the thousand Arkansas troops. The social and literary features of the Chapter are always most enjoyable. We have on our State roll one daughter of a revolutionary patriot, Mrs. Catherine Robard Stirman, of Fayetteville, a member of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. A bill has been introduced in Congress, asking for a pension for this most estimable lady. It is hoped that the National Society will use its influence for this worthy purpose. There is one Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution, the Frances Marion Society, composed of young Americans, in whom the fires of patriotism have been early kindled. The year has been so full of international interests and national results, that the patriotism that was caught, coddled, and cradled by the charter Daughters in 1890, has grown to cover the whole country and the islands of the sea. At the close of my second term as State Regent I wish to thank the National Officers for the many kind courtesies received and to wish success to my successor. Respectfully submitted, FRANCES MARION HANGER, ALABAMA. Madam President and Members of the Eighth Continental Congress: Though I cannot report a large increase in the membership of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Alabama during the past year, yet the information which comes to me shows a steady growth, and a degree of interest which is greatly encouraging and is an earnest of the results we may naturally hope for in the future. Chapter Regents report this the most pleasant and prosperous year of their Chapter's existence. Business meetings regular and well attended; public meetings popular and interesting; celebrations have been held commemorating historic deeds and battles of the Revolution; Fourth of July observed with appropriate and stirring ceremonies, participated in by large and patriotic assemblies; supplies sent to Daughters of the American Revolution Hospital Corps; donations to War Fund, Washington Statue, Lafayette Monument, and Walton Home in Georgia; appropriations made for medals to be given this year in the schools to pupils making the highest record in the study of American history; in all this have our Alabama Daughters shown loyalty to our organization and an earnest purpose to promote its noble and patriotic objects. I may mention here, that in several places in the State resides probably but one member of the National Society, and from the influence of these loyal, but solitary ones we look for the organization of other Chapters. In November the first State Conference was held. This meeting marked an important date in the work of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and from its deliberations our patriotic cause received new impulse and fresh zeal. Obstacles which hinder the growth of the State work and which were alluded to in my last report, still exist and will continue. Many of our people are descended from revolutionary ancestors, who served from States where records have been poorly preserved, and are meagre and incomplete; and some of our most intelligent and patriotic women, who earnestly desire to become members of the Daughters of the American Revolution cannot secure the necessary proof, though they have made diligent search, based on tradition, which has been handed down and accepted as authentic for several generations. The year 1899 opens auspiciously and hopefully for the Daughters of the American Revolution in Alabama although our gains since the last Congress added little to the numerical strength of the National Society, yet, not only is our membership more firmly and securely established, but among the people generally there is a growing feeling of sympathy and admiration for the principles and objects of our noble Society. Patriotic, earnest women are in our ranks, and there are "more to follow;" there is work to be done, but it promises good and wise results. Respectfully submitted, KATE DUNCAN SMITH, CONNECTICUT. Madam President and Members of the Eighth Continental Congress: Never in the history of the Daughters of the American Revolution has there been a year so crowded with interests and activities, which have appealed so strongly and so fittingly to us as Daughters of the American Revolution, and to the spirit of the organization which we represent, as those that have come to us during the year 1898. In presenting a brief resumé of our Chapter work for the year, interest will doubtless center in that part of it which refers to our efforts in connection with the recent war. It is the history of our share in the momentous events of the past twelve months-events which have changed the destiny of nations, and brought this Republic to the severest test it has ever known—the test of its fidelity to the vital principles of civil and religious liberty upon which our forefathers founded a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. My official report of our war relief work has been accepted by the National Board, Daughters of the American Revolution, and but little remains to add to it. I am, however, able to report to-day that since the pamphlet was printed, I have forwarded four cases of garments and other supplies to Cuba, three cases to the hospital ship "Relief," and one case to the United States General Hospital at Manila. The Mary Clap Wooster, the Mary Silliman, and the Elizabeth Clark Hull Chapters have also forwarded boxes. of literature to the "Relief" and to Camp Shippe, at Anniston, Alabama. In my printed report will be found recorded only such. sums for relief purposes as actually passed through my hands. But this sum by no means represents the entire amount of money contributed by the Connecticut Daughters. There should be added to this all that was raised and expended through local committees for legitimate relief measures which appealed directly to the sympathies and purses of certain Chapters. I am glad to be able to make this supplementary report to-day, as it is of much value in the summing up of our war work for 1898. The "Eunice Dennie Burr" Chapter reports having raised and expended $114.60; "Orford Parish," $119.80; "Hannah Woodruff," $165; "Elizabeth Porter Putnam," $100; "Elizabeth Clark Hull," $200; "Melicent Porter," $500; "Wadsworth," $158; "Sibbil Dwight Kent," $175; "Anne Wood Elderkin," $142.48; "Mary Wooster," $175; "Mary Clap Wooster." $435; "Torrington," $96; "Mary Silliman," $141.42; "Sarah Riggs Humphrey," $100.96; "Ruth Wyllys," $649; "Roger Sherman," $254.30; "Susan Carrington Clarke," $141; "Putnam Hill," $186.50; "Katherine Gaylord," $155.03; "Lucretia Shaw," $300; "Anna Warner Bailey," $135; "Dorothy Ripley," $514.80; "Ruth Hart," $88.50; Esther Stanley," $150; "Thomaston," $193.75; "Abigail Phelps," $190. As reported, the total amount of money contributed by the Connecticut Daughters of the American. Revolution for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, is $7, |