E. Boothby was unanimously elected regent for the coming year. January 27th the state council meeting was held, eleven of the thirteen chapters of the state being present. Mrs. Boothby, regent of resident chapter, entertained visiting Daughters. All anticipated the coming of the Maine, for which full preparation had been made. January 28, shortly after 10 o'clock it was announced that the ship was steaming toward port. After the ceremonial visit of the mayor, the ship was thrown open to the Daughters of the American Revolution, to the number of three hundred or more, with their guests. They came to present a banner to the ship which bears the name of that state. The exercises took place on the quarter deck, where the officers stood with uncovered heads. The services opened with the rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" by the band of the ship, after which the Rev. Joseph Battell Shephard, chaplain of the Sons of the American Revolution, read the service appropriate for the occasion from the book of common prayer. Mrs. W. E. Youland, ex-state regent, spoke of the efforts 'that have been made by the women of Maine as represented by the Daughters of the American Revolution to present this banner to the ship and closed with these words: The Daughters of the American Revolution of Maine are proud to be here to-day as guests of this noble ship, anchored in Portland's beautiful bay, gemmed with its myriads of islands, Portland the home of the Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter, and the birthplace of Maine's immortal poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And out of the fullness of true hearts the Daughters of Maine extend to you the beloved poet's words: "Take thy banner, and beneath The battle cloud's encircling wreath, His right hand will shield thee then." Mrs. Frank W. York, Miss Delia Collins and Miss Charlotte Baldwin came forward, and at the same time the banner itself was brought up. Mrs. F. W. York gracefully expressed the committee's compliments and formally transferred to Mrs. Kendall, the present state regent, the custody of the banner. Mrs. Kendall then said: Officers and Men of the United States Navy and Daughters of the American Revolution and Guests: Our long expected day has at length arrived, and while we would have gladly welcomed you with a smiling sea, the blue skies and a summer sun, we appreciate none the less the great honor conferred upon the Daughters of the American Revolution by the department in permitting this namesake of our state to rest for a time midst the environments of its god-mother. We, the Daughters of the American Revolution, are proud to be permitted to pay tribute to this grand fighting machine, the triumph of the inventor's art, which bears the name so significant to us. We also contribute our praise to her officers, well worthy the commissions they carry and to our American sailors and marines, especially the men of the Maine, who though they may not be united to us by ties of blood, have a claim upon our kinship. It is with pride we have learned that the Maine has been selected as the flagship of the squadron under Admiral Evans. It seems fitting that the banner which we give into your keeping should bear the fateful words, "I lead." May she ever lead in all that is glorious and best. We give into your keeping to-day the banner which carries the deepest sentiment from all our hearts. We ask you to place that sentiment in your own hearts, close to the old flag, which has never been struck to a foe. We trust it may ever be a bond which shall unite Daughters of the American Revolution with the defenders of our country upon whom we may depend in future as we have in the past. Remember wherever the fates may call upon you to follow the flag, the kind thoughts, the good wishes and the prayers of the Daughters of the American Revolution will follow the Maine. The banner of white silk with the state seal and the name of the organization that gave it, embroidered in colors, was then placed upon the capstan for inspection. Captain Hutchins in a brief speech assumed the gift in behalf of the ship and her officers. The banquet arranged for the evening in honor of the Maine was one of the finest entertainments ever given in Portland. The committee on presentation ceremonies, Mrs. A. A. Kendall, chairman; Mrs. W. B. Arnold, Waterville; Miss C. H. Baldwin, Bangor; Miss Cora B. Bickford, Biddeford; Mrs. W. E. Youland, Biddeford; Mrs. Frank W. York, and Mrs. O. R. Legrow, have reason to congratulate themselves upon the manner in which the affairs in connection with this event have been carried out. The Maine, Portland and the Daughters of the American Revolution, will not forget the ceremonies and festivities of the eventful day.-ISABELLE S. MERRILL, Historian. Baltimore Chapter (Baltimore, Maryland).-Washington's wedding day was celebrated by the Baltimore Chapter with the most brilliant reception ever held by the Maryland Daughters. Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, president general of the National Society, and Governor and Mrs. Warfield were the guests of honor. The reception was held in the drawing room suite of the Hotel Belvidere, from 3 till 5 o'clock on January 17th. Those in line were Mrs. A. Leo Knott, regent of the Baltimore Chapter; Mrs. Fairbanks; Mrs. Edwin Warfield, viceregent; Mrs. J. Pembroke Thom, state regent. Governor Warfield escorted Mrs. Fairbanks to the dining-room in time to the wedding march, where the president general cut the great wedding cake which is annually reproduced in honor of the occasion. The program was informal and consisted of addresses and music. Mrs. Albert L. Richardson, historian of the chapter, opened the program with a brief account of Washington's courtship and wedding, in which she said that as history had perpetuated Washington's many victories, it remained for the Daughters of the American Revolution to celebrate his one unconditional surrender, that to the widow, Martha Custis! Mrs. Fairbanks followed with an interesting account of Continental Hall and the progress the Daughters are making towards its completion. "Erected as a temple of liberty in memory of the heroic deeds of the fathers and mothers of the Revolution, Continental Hall may be regarded as an epitome of what the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution stands for. "We build it that liberty may not die from the land, and that the mighty struggles of men and women of the Revolution may be fittingly remembered. "In erecting the memorial the Daughters are paying some share of the debt of gratitude which all Americans owe to those who helped to found the republic." Mrs. Fairbanks expressed much pleasure in being the guest of the Baltimore Chapter, and said that the memory of Martha Washington would be revered so long as that of George Washington was remembered, not only because of her marriage to him, but because of the beauty, strength and magnanimity of her own character. Governor Warfield reserved his address until the cutting of the wedding cake by Mrs. Fairbanks, which he prefaced with a most felicitous little speech. On May 18th the chapter held its last meeting of the season at Colonial Hall and elected delegates to the state conference to be held at Annapolis next autumn. This will be the first state conference ever held by the Maryland Daughters and much interest is felt, particularly as the date fixed is the 19th of October, which is the anniversary of the burning of the Peggy Stewart, and the day on which the remains of John Paul Jones will be interred. The delegates elected, and who with the regent, Mrs. A. Leo Knott, will represent the Baltimore Chapter, are Mrs. Edwin Warfield, wife of Governor Warfield; Mrs. Martin Gillet Gill, Mrs. Albert Levin Richardson, Mrs. Neilson Poe, Jr., Mrs. James Mercer Garnett, Mrs. James D. Iglehart, Mrs. Robert C. Barry, Miss Elizabeth Brown, Miss Sarah Custis, Miss G. Selby Williamson, Miss Whitehead. Mrs. Knott gave an interesting report reviewing the work of the Baltimore Chapter for Memorial Continental Hall. The other officers also gave reports for the year, all of which demonstrated the growing strength and influence of the Baltimore Chapter. Mrs. Donald McLean, President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was the guest of the Baltimore Chapter on Thursday, April 27th, at a reception given in her honor at the Hotel Belvidere. The women of Maryland were much pleased that Mrs. McLean made her first official visit here, but it was the most natural thing in the world that she should pay this compliment to her native state. Indeed her visit was more of the nature of a home-coming than of a formal visit, as was charmingly emphasized in her cordial address to the Baltimore Chapter when saying: "I do not come to you as Mrs. Donald McLean, President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution but as Emily Ritchie, returning to those she loves." An interesting incident of the afternoon was the photographing of Mrs. McLean surrounded by some of the officers of the Maryland Chapter. This was done at the request of General Felix Agnus, the editor and proprietor of the Baltimore American, who with other friends of the president general are proud of Maryland's distinguished Daughter. Mrs. A. Leo Knott, of the Baltimore Chapter, in her address congratulated the chapter on its contribution of $1,000 for the Maryland column in Memorial Continental Hall. Seven hundred of this amount had been raised through the efforts of the young members of the chapter, who, on March 29th, gave a Chinese musical comedy, which under the direction of the play committee, Miss Gay Selby Williamson, Miss Sarah Horsey Custis, and Miss Laura Legmeyer Crown, was a brilliant social and financial success. Mrs. Robert C. Barry, delegate to the Fourteenth Congress, read her report at the meeting on April 27th. In this she referred to Mrs. Knott's urgent plea that the memorial columns of the thirteen original states be made from the beautiful white Maryland marble, which was very favorably received by the congress. Mrs. James Mercer Garnett, registrar, reported the membership of the Baltimore chapter as 228. Miss Willie Ritchie, a sister of Mrs. McLean, made a brief address and invited the Baltimore Chapter to join the Frederick Chapter in a pilgrimage to Mount Vernon on May 20th. The business and addresses over, the members of the chapter and their guests paid their respects to the president general who seemed happy and pleased to receive the hearty congratulations of her friends. Those who composed the reception com |