Page:Confederate Veteran volume 31.djvu/117

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CONFEDERATE VETERAN.
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changed, and three application blanks were required, not only for the newly registered members, but for those who had been previously registered with the Chapters and Divisions. A period of two years was allowed in which to complete this registration, as it was recognized it would be a most difficult task, the full labor of which was not grasped at the time.

"I thoroughly appreciate what you say in regard to the work that it entails. The time limit, however, expired at our last convention, and those Division Presidents who were not fully registered found that their voting strength was greatly reduced, and grasped the necessity of conforming to the law, which had been made by the representatives of their respective Divisions at the convention in Tampa. I felt sorry for the different Divisions which came with large representations and found that their registration had not been completed; but I must congratulate the women for their wonderful response to the enforcement of this law; they arc now fully aware of the necessity of having in the possession of our Registrar General an application blank for every member who has been registered with a Chapter and Division. If our records are to be of any value in the future, there must be a central place from which to secure information.

"The former Registrar General ruled that she would accept one copy, provided the member was registered with the Chapter and Division. I have no doubt that the new Registrar General, Miss Powell, will accept this ruling."

A distinct contribution to the South's history has been made by the "Life and Letters of Jefferson Davis," compiled by Dr. Dunbar Rowland, of Mississippi. It is to be hoped that the U. D. C. may be influential in placing this work in the universities and libraries of their respective States, as they could do nothing better to promote true history. Faithfully and fraternally,

Leonora St. George Rogers Schuyler.




DIVISION NOTES.

Newspaper reports during January brought tidings from far and near of continued love and reverence for Confederate heroes wherever beats a Southern heart—Lee, Jackson, Maury, the three great Southerners whose birthdays cluster in the month. In many places it was made the occasion for calling especial attention to the work now occupying, in a great measure, the thoughts of the United Daughters of the Confederacy—that is, the enlargement and fireproofing of the chapel at Washington and Lee University that it may be a memorial worthy the name and character of the great Southerner.

The day called forth no more beautiful tribute than that given by Commander Owsley of the American Legion, a tribute deeply appreciated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

South Carolina, Miss Edythe Loryea, St. Matthews.—The Sue M. Abney prize of a $5 gold piece, offered by Mrs. A. A. Woodson through the Edgefield Chapter for the best poem on Robert E. Lee, was won by Miss Katherine Simons, of the C. Irvine Walker Chapter, Summerville, S. C, and it was read on Historical Evening during the convention of the South Carolina Division.

General Lee's birthday was generally observed by Chapters throughout the State, and in a number of instances the prize poem on General Lee, by Miss Simons, was read. Besides the literary and musical features of the celebration, medals and pictures were presented to several schools and colleges. At the Confederate Home in Columbia the veterans of the sixties had a happy day through the kindness of Capt. W. H. Stewart, Superintendent of the Home. At the sumptuous dinner, prepared and served by a committee from the three local Chapters and the "Girls of the Sixties," there were, besides the veterans in the Home, the members of Camp Hampton, U. C. V., Gov. and Mrs. T. G. McLeod, and several members of the legislature with their wives. A splendid address was made by Governor McLeod on the Confederate soldier and "the heritage that has come to the present generation from him." Short talks were made by others present. During the afternoon an enjoyable program was carried out, the exercises being presided over by Mrs. W. B. Burney, President of the Wade Hampton Chapter.

Louisiana, Mrs. Fred C. Kolman, New Orleans.—One of the most beautiful affairs of U. D. C. circles in recent years was the Robert E. Lee luncheon given at the Grunewald Hotel, New Orleans, on January 19, under the auspices of the Louisiana Division, with Mrs. Fred C. Kolman, President of the Division and State Director of the Lee Memorial Chapter Committee, presiding. This entertainment was not only in honor of the day, but to bring before the public the work assumed by the Daughters of the Confederacy in the enlargement and fireproofing of the Lee Memorial Chapel at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va. Chapters throughout the State were represented, and representatives from the Washington and Lee alumni of Louisana, the American Legion Auxiliary of the State, and other patriotic organizations were in attendance, all cooperating with the Daughters. The following program was presented by Mrs. Florence Tompkins, Chairman of Education, Louisana Division:

"Lee, the Man," by Dr. William McF. Alexander, President of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association of Louisiana.

"The Washington and Lee University and Lee's Chapel," by Hon. L. P. Bryant, Jr., an alumnus, and Assistant United States District Attorney.

"The After Life of Lee," by Mrs. P. J. Friedrich, Past State President and President New Orleans Federation of Clubs.

"The Example of Lee to the Young Manhood of America," by Mrs. J. Pinckney Smith, Honorary President General U. D. C.

B. B. Shively, also an alumnus of Washington and Lee, but coming direct from the University, brought a message concerning the necessary improvements to the chapel.

"Lee as an American Citizen," by Mrs. S. E. Smith, representing the American Legion, was given as a message from a younger organization to the older.

Gen. A. B. Booth, Confederate veteran, touched on General Lee as he knew him and as commander of the Southern army.

Mrs. H. R. Macleod (formerly Mollie Blanchard, the "Dixie Girl"), sang many beautiful Southern airs between the talks.

A telegram from the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University, Dr. H. L. Smith, President, and Judge William A. Bell, congratulating the Louisiana Division on its splendid efforts in behalf of the Lee Memorial, was read; also greetings from the Director General, Mis. Roy W. McKinney, were extended by the Division Director.

The Grunewald Cave, where the luncheon was given, was decorated with flowers and flags, making a setting of wondrous beauty.

The one hundred and sixteenth anniversary of the birth of Gen. Robert E. Lee was especially observed by the veterans, Daughters of the Confederacy, and Sons of Confederate Veterans at Memorial Hall in New Orleans on the evening of January 19. The New Orleans Chapter No. 72, the Stonewall Jackson Chapter, and Fitzhugh Lee Chapter were joint hostesses in the bestowal of Crosses of Honor on J. C. Dockery