Mrs. R. C. Hemingray Regent for Muncie DAR chapter

PROCEEDINGS OF FIFTH CONTINENTAL CONGRESS,

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Morning Session, Tuesday, February 18, 1896.

THE Fifth Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution convened in Washington, District of Columbia, at the Church of Our Father, corner Thirteenth and L streets, Tuesday, February 18, 1896.

Congress was called to order by Mrs. John W. Foster, President General, at 10.25.

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Wednesday, February 19, 1896, 7.30 P. M

In the absence of the President General the evening session was called to order by Mrs. A. Howard Hinkle, Vice President General.

In accordance with the accepted order of business a soprano Solo was rendered by Miss Edna Doe.

Reports of State Regents were then submitted in the following order:

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INDIANA.

Read by Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, delegate to the Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Madam President and Ladies of the Continental Congress: I deeply regret that I was unable to present this, the second State report from Indiana, in person. Indiana has not the prestige of being one of the original Colonial States, yet within her borders was fought one of the final battles of the American Revolution, the battle of Vincennes, where the British lost Fort Sackville, February 25, 1779.

In consequence, the great territory of the northwest was gained by the Americans. This great historical event is annually celebrated on February 25 by the Sons of the American Revolution of Indiana, and is commemorated on the magnificent monument erected to the memory of the soldiers and sailors of Indiana by a grateful State. The inscription on the monument is as follows:

"War of the Revolution

Capture of Vincennes

From the British

February 25, 1779."

Indiana, the hunting ground of the Indian, whose territory was the battlefield where the Spaniard and French fought, and again the Spaniard, and where finally the British yielded to the American, has a noble history, and is proud of her share, in the War of the American Revolution.

With such an important record on the pages of history, it is fitting that Indiana's sons and daughters should be patriotic. She is also gratified that to her the Daughters of the American Revolution have twice turned for a leader. The first President General — Mrs. Harrison — and the third, our present honored President General, are daughters of Indiana. Having thus claimed two of the three Presidents General, and a share in the revolutionary record with our Eastern sister States, we feel that it is our religious duty to be, not only full of enthusiasm for patriotism ourselves, but to inspire others.

This duty the Daughters of Indiana are trying to perform in many ways. This influence is daily becoming more widely felt, far more than the apparently meager statistics would indicate.

Just two years ago, when I was appointed a Chapter Regent, I was one of the five Daughters of the American Revolution in the State of Indiana, To-day we number about 180, the number having doubled this last year. This is a small number compared to the numbers in the Eastem States, where the Daughters are numbered by the thousands.

If the difficulties in the way of rapid growth could be appreciated this number would seem as large as one to ten in the Colonial States.

Some of these difficulties are: isolation in sparsely settled districts, scarcity of libraries, no access to State records, no family records, all proofs to be secured by correspondence.

It requires a burning enthusiasm to overcome such difficulties and to persevere till eligibility is secured. The youth of the State precludes the possession of many records, and most of the pioneers were younger sons who emigrated to the West in search of fortunes, leaving all family records at the old homesteads. With such hindrances to encounter I have thought it best to pursue the second method for the formation of Chapters given in the constitution. That is, to appoint a Chapter Regent first in order that there may be one Daughter accessible to give assistance and instruction, to endorse those who are eligible, and as soon as possible to organize Chapters. For the present, one Regent for each county. So far, this plan has worked successfully. I am daily receiving letters from all parts of the State, and have correspondence with Daughters in twenty-five counties.

The Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of, the Daughters of the American Revolution began the year from February, 1895, with a membership of 26. We begin this year with our number increased to 58. We have had during the year four regular and two called meetings of all the members. The entertainment provided has been in the line of papers and conversations on historical subjects relating to the revolutionary period, and the enjoyment enhanced by the singing of patriotic songs. We have had the misfortune to lose one member by death, Miss Anna Churchman, who died August 7, 1895. Two removals from the city have been replaced by two transfers from other Chapters. The interest grows space and the coming year promises a large advance in every direction.

The General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Lafayette, Indiana, began its second year's work on the anniversary of General de Lafayette's birthday, September 6, 1895, with its regular monthly meeting, having then a membership of 55, and the following officers: Regent, Mrs. Georgia Stockton Hatcher; Vice Regent, Miss Mary E. Bruce; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Harriet Frances Plather; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Jessie V. Carnahan; Registrar, Miss Nellie C. Smith; Treasurer, Mrs. Annette W. Ball; Historian, Miss Geneve Reynolds.

A systematic outline of the causes which led to the American Revolution and the battles of the Revolutionary War form this year's literary programme. The papers are well prepared, and the meetings are always well attended.

The silver loving cup for the battle-ship "Indiana," made from designs selected by the Chapter, has been received and is much admired. It will soon be presented to the officers of the vessel.

Mme. de Corcelle, an own granddaughter of General de Lafayette, and an honorary member of the Lafayette Chapter, died in France during the jpast year, aged eighty-seven years. A few days ago her daughter, the Marquise de Chambrun, who is the great-granddaughter of Lafayette, and now visiting in Washington, was made an honorary member of the Central de Lafayette Chapter, and was presented by the Regent with the insignia of the National Society, which had been prepared for her mother, the late lamented Mme. de Corcelle.

The Chapter lost last year Mrs. Mary B. Wood, one of its charter members, who died in her eighty-first year.

The souvenir spoon given by the National Society to Mrs. Eliza A. Brown, an own daughter, now nearly ninety-four years old, and belonging to the Chapter, was presented to her by the Regent, and it was accepted by her with much emotion.

On New Year's day the members of the Chapter hospitably received their friends, according to the good old custom, attired in colonial garb, and assisted by the resident Sons of the American Revolution, at the homestead of the Regent, which has the distinction of being the oldest residence in the city.

The Chapter now has a membership of 77, with 10 applications pending. At a called meeting held January 31 the following ladies were elected delegates and alternates to represent the Chapter in the Fifth Continental Congress: Mrs. Edward Roby, delegate; Mrs. Frances E. Lingle, delegate; Mrs. A. W. Stahl, alternate; Mrs. A. W. Ball, alternate.

The three Chapters of Evansville, Muncie, and Renssalaer are on the eve of organizing and hoped to report their organization to-day,. The Muncie Chapter, Mrs. R. C. Hemingray, Regent, has 10 accepted members and 2 pending.

The Renssalaer Chapter, Mrs. T. McCoy, Regent, has 14 membent but the organization is not completed.

In the Fort Wayne Chapter, Mrs. S. B. Brown, Regent, the progress has been slow, there being but 4 accepted members.

The Crawfordsville Chapter, Mrs. J. T. Thomas, Regent, has 6 members accepted. This Chapter hopes soon to organize. Since the Congress of 1895, six Chapter Regents have been appointed and one nomination has not yet been confirmed. The Chapter Regents who have been appointed since the last Congress are Mrs, W. B. Hawkins, of Brazil; Mrs. Caroline M. Hays, of Lawrenceburg; Miss Mary E. Cardwill of New Albany; Mrs. V. P. Bozeman, of Poseyville; Mrs. Laura D. Worley of Ellettsville, and Mrs. L. H. Fowler, of Spencer. These Regents have been at work a short time, already they have awakened an interest in their several counties, each Regent having gained from two to four Daughters.

There is one pious duty the Daughters of Indiana hope to fulfill, that is, to rescue from oblivion and neglect the graves of revolutionary soldiers buried in Indiana. There are many such in lonely country grave-yards and in almost forgotten spots. Another duty is the collection of relics and records of historical value.

Before closing my report, I wish to express my appreciation of the courtesy, promptness, kindness, and never-failing interest of the Vice President General in Charge of Organization, Mrs. Charles Sweet Johnson; the Registrars General, Mrs. Ira Warren Dennison and Mrs. Philip Hichborn, and the Treasurer General, Mrs. Amos Draper, and the Corresponding Secretary General, Mrs. William Earle. I have had a constant correspondence with these officers, and give personal testimony to their efficiency, zeal, and executive ability.

With gratitude for the success of the past year, and confident expectation of greater results in the future, commensurate with the labors that have been devoted to this noble cause, this report is

Respectfully submitted,

HARRIET MACINTIRE FOSTER,

State Regent.

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