zation. The object was not to organize a separate society, but to see if differences could not be harmonized. This convention met in New York, April 30, 1889, the hundredth anniversary of Washington's inauguration as President. Every existing society was invited and delegates from thirteen were present, including California. The New York society refused to recognize the others except as auxiliary branches, and took no further part in the convention. Pennsylvania affiliated with New York. The other States, after careful consideration, formed a national society, based upon the equality of the States, and chose the name of "The Sons of the American Revolution." The "Sons of the American Revolution" began their independent existence with eighteen States, the "Sons of the Revolution" had two. Several years later the "Sons of the Revolution," repealed the clause in their constitution which had made the breach, and began organizing State societies, and now have such State societies in many of the States, and later they repealed the clause of their constitution admitting collaterals. Henry Hall, the historian general of the Sons of the American Revolution, in a report made to the national society in 1897, from which the above facts are taken, says: "As for the Sons of the American Revolution, their popular methods, their thorough Americanism, their public spirit and incessant enterprise, their exclusion of collaterals and rigid examination of credentials have so commended them that they have won general approbation, and thousands of men of the highest professional, financial and social standing have joined their membership, and they have so stimulated patriotic sentiment that the United States is filled with hereditary associations. They have never knowingly admitted any person not of lineal descent. It is they who established the annual celebration of Flag Day, the formation of local chapters, the system of open monthly meetings and free discussion." The object of the two societies is practically the same, and within recent years

there is very little substantial difference between the two societies. In 1893 negotiations as to the consolidation of the two societies, which was greatly desired by the rank and file of both, failed by the action of the Sons of the Revolution requiring new conditions to be added to the "basis of

union" after such basis had been unanimously reported by a joint committee appointed from the two societies; and later, in 1897, negotiations looking to a union of the two societies resulted in the appointment of committees from each, which made a report that was considered by the respective national societies in Cincinnati in October, 1897, and was adopted by the Sons of the American Revolution, and also the Sons of the Revolution, with the condition that it should be submitted to the State societies for ratification. This was done, and substantially all of the State societies of the Sons of the American Revolution adopted the proposed constitution for the united societies, but the majority of the State societies of the Sons of the Revolution, under the leadership of the New York society, declined to ratify the action of their national society, and the two bodies still remain separate. This is greatly to be regretted, as it impairs the efficiency of both; keeps many eligible and patriotic descendants of Revolutionary sires out of both organizations, and greatly disparages the influence of both societies. It is to be hoped that wiser counsels will prevail, and the two societies will unite in the near future on some satisfactory basis.

The object of the society of the Sons of the American Revolution is thus stated in its national constitution: "The objects of this society shall be to perpetuate the memory of the men who by their services or sacrifices during the War of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American people; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire them. and the community at large with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire and preserve the records of the individual services of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the war; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to carry out the purposes expressed in the preamble to the Constitution of our country and the injunctions of Washington in his farewell address to the American people."

In 1898 the Sons of the American Revolution aggregated 9,141 active members. There are thirty-eight State societies, including one in the District of Columbia, one in Hawaii and one in France. Among its members are some of the most distinguished men of the times, such as the President of the United States, Senators, foreign ambassadors, members of Congress, Governors of States and many who have attained distinction in their profession or in business. The society is intensely democratic, making no test of membership save that of lineal descent from Revolutionary stock and reputable character. It is patriotic rather than social, although its annual banquets show that a spirit of comradeship exists among its members. The present officers of the national society are as follows: Honorable Edwin Shepard Barrett, of Concord, Massachusetts, president; Honorable Franklin Murphy, Newark, New Jersey; General Joseph C. Breckinridge, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.; General Thomas M. Anderson, U. S. A., Manilla; Honorable Jas. M. Richardson, Cleveland, Ohio; Honorable John Whitehead, Morristown, New Jersey, vice presidents; Captain Samuel E. Gross, Chicago, Illinois, secretary; General C. W. Haskins, New York City, treasurer; General A. Howard Clark, Washington, D. C., registrar general; Honorable Edward M. Gallondet, Washington, D. C., historian general; Rev. Rufus W. Clark, D. D., Detroit, Michigan, chaplain general.

The Missouri society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized April 23, 1889, and in that year became a member of the national society. Its first president was Josiah Fogg. It was incorporated March 10, 1891, with the Honorable Nathan Cole as president. He was succeeded by the Honorable Edward C. Cabell, and he by the Honorable George E. Leighton. The society has about 200 members, with a large chapter in Kansas City, and members in various parts of the State. Its present general officers are as follows: Honorable George H. Shields, president; Honorable E. O. Stanard, Honorable J. L. Robards, Honorable Gaius Paddock, Honorable C. H. Sampson, vice presidents; Judge Samuel Treat, Honorable Geo. E. Leighton, Honorable Nathan Cole, Honorable Josiah Fogg, honorary vice presidents; Melvin H. Stearns, secretary; I. Shreve Carter, treasurer; J. M. Fulton, reg

istrar; Horace Kephart, historian; Rev. S. J. Niccolls, D. D., chaplain.

GEORGE H. SHIELDS.

Sons of the Revolution.-The centennial anniversary of American independence in 1876 led to the organization of the society of the Sons of the Revolution, in a call issued by Mr. John Austin Stevens, of New York, inviting all who were descended from officers or soldiers to meet at the rooms of the New York Historical Society, February 22, 1876, to organize a society under the name of "Sons of the Revolution." Up to this time the Society of the Cincinnati, organized in 1783 by the officers of the Revolution, had been the only society commemorating that period. The membership having always been limited to one descendant at a time in the eldest male line of an officer, had restricted its growth, and the general observance of the centennial anniversary led to a demand for a society. organized on broader lines, so as to admit all descendants, whether descended from an officer, soldier, sailor or one prominent in the civil service.

After the organization in 1876, and on account of a want of public interest, the society lay dormant until December 4, 1883, when, on

the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of Washington's farewell to his officers, the society was revived at a banquet held at Fraunces' Tavern, in New York, in the identical room where Washington had formally bade farewell to his officers. Shortly afterward the Pennsylvania society was organized, then the District of Columbia, and in 1890 a general society was formed, which is now represented in thirty-one States, with a membership of 7,000.

The society is strictly a non-political, nonpartisan, non-secret organization, but is patriotic in its broadest sense, and is organized to "keep alive among ourselves and our descendants the patriotic spirit of the men who, in military, naval or civil service, by their acts or counsel, achieved American independence; to collect and secure for preservation the manuscript rolls, records and other documents relating to the War of the Revolution, and to promote intercourse and good feeling among its members, now and hereafter."

The eligibility rules require an applicant to be a lineal male descendant, above the age of twenty-one years, from an ancestor who was

either a military, naval or marine officer, soldier or sailor, or marine or official in the service of any one of the thirteen original colonies or States, or of the national government representing or composed of those colonies or States, or States, assisted in establishing American independence during the War of the Revolution between the 19th day of April, 1775, when hostilities commenced, and the 19th day of April, 1783, when they were ordered to cease. An official in the civil service must have been of such a character as to have caused the arrest of the official for treason against Great Britain.

The society of the Sons of the Revolution in Missouri was organized in St. Louis, February 22, 1894, with forty-nine charter members. It has had a steady and remarkable growth, and now numbers 400 members. There are two local chapters auxiliary to the State society, one at Kansas City, with ninety members, and at St. Joseph, with fifty members. The State society celebrates Washington's birthday in St. Louis by a banquet, and is engaged in enlisting the attention of the pupils of the high schools and schools of equal grade in the State of Missouri in the study of the history of the Revolution by offering gold, silver and bronze medals as prizes for the most meritorious essays. The medals are presented to the successful contestants at the banquet of the society February 22d each year, and the idea has proven very popular among the scholars.

The present officers of the State society are: President, Rt. Rev. Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, D. D., S. T. D., St. Louis; vice president, Honorable Henry Hitchcock, St. Louis; second vice president, Captain Abiel Leonard Smith, U. S. A., Kansas City; third vice president, Honorable Amos Madden Thayer, St. Louis; secretary, Henry Cadle, Bethany; assistant secretary, Ewing McGready Sloan, St. Louis; registrar, Thomas James, Kansas City; treasurer, Henry Purkitt Wyman, St. Louis, 101 South Main Street; chaplain, Rev. Michael Burnham, D. D., St. Louis; historian, Professor Calvin Milton Woodward, Ph. D., St. Louis; marshal, Alfred Lee Shapleigh, St. Louis; board of managers, Rt. Rev. Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, Honorable Henry Hitchcock, Henry Cadle, William Goddin Boyd, Stoughton Walker, James Hamilton McCord, John Alexander Ross, James Lawrence Blair, Wallace Delafield, George Amos New

comb, Norris Bradford Gregg, Honorable Selden Palmer Spencer, George Oliver Carpenter, Jr., Robert Elisha Carr, William Magraw Reid; delegates to general society, Henry Cadle, Edwin McKaig Clendening, Henry Clarkson Scott, Milton Tootle, Jr., Charles Breck Adams; alternates, William Romaine Hodges, Howard Elliott, Robert McCulloch, James Lewis Lombard, Walter Bond Douglas.

HENRY CAdle.

Sons of Veterans.-The military order of Sons of Veterans owes its origin to Major A. P. Davis, who instituted the first camp in Philadelphia in 1878. A national organization was effected at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1881, and in 1897 there were in the United States 680 camps, with an aggregate membership of 33,000. Like the Society of the Cincinnati, established immediately after the Revolutionary War, it was designed to perpetuate the memory of the achievements of American patriots who had served their country on the field of battle, through the banding together in fraternal relationship of their male descendants. Those admitted to membership are the sons of officers and soldiers who served in the Union Army during the Civil War who have reached the age of eighteen years, and are of good moral character, and provision has since been made for the perpetuation of the order through successive generations. During the earlier years of its existence the membership of the order was confined mainly to the Eastern States, but in time was extended throughout all the Northern States. The first camp organized in Missouri was instituted at St. Joseph in 1883. In the same year General George H. Thomas Camp was organized in St. Louis with fifteen charter members. At the end of an existence of four years this camp surrendered its charter. In the fall of 1885 the ten camps then in existence in the State, through duly chosen representatives, formed the Missouri Division of the Sons of Veterans, electing Charles S. Crysler colonel in command of the division. The next camp organized in St. Louis was General F. Schaefer Camp, No. 28, which came into existence October 28, 1886. Since then the following camps have been instituted in the city: General John C. Fremont Camp, No. 35, February 3, 1887; Admiral Porter Camp,