POST-PRANDIAL EXERCISES.
At the termination of the exercises at the State House the Society and its guests proceeded to the Narragansett Hotel for luncheon. Chairman Lee acted as toastmaster, and speeches of an appropriate nature were made by the following: Gen. Charles R. Brayton, representing the National Encampment, G. A. R.; Hon. John F. O’Connell; Prof. Wilfred H. Munro of Brown University, President of the Rhode Island Historical Society; Hon. Walter H. Barney, representing the Rhode Island Bar; Judge Livingston Scott, whose wife is a direct descendant of General Sullivan; Hon. Thomas Williams Bicknell, President of the Rhode Island Citizens’ Historical Association; Mrs. Ellen Ryan Jolly, President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, A. O. H.; Gen. Elisha H. Rhodes, representing the Rhode Island G. A. R. and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion; Hon. John H. Hurley, Mayor of Salem, Mass.; and John G. Hardy, the sculptor who designed and executed the memorial.
Judge Scott during his address read the following original letter to Gen. Sullivan from President Washington:
“Sept. 30th, 1789.
“Sir: I have the pleasure to enclose to you a commission as Judge of the United States for the District of New Hampshire, to which office I have nominated, and by and with advice and consent of the Senate, appoint you. In my nomination of persons to fill office in the Judicial Department, I have been guided by the importance of the object, considering it of the first magnitude and the pillar upon which our political fabric must rest.
“I have endeavored to bring into the high offices of its administration such characters as will give stability and dignity to our national Government; and I persuade myself that they will discover a due desire to promote the happiness of our Country by a ready acceptance of their several appointments. The laws which have passed relative to your office accompany the Commission.
“I am Sir with very great esteem
“Your most obedient servant,
“GEORGE WASHINGTON.”
The Committee having in charge the erection and dedication of the memorial were: Thomas Zanslaur Lee, Chairman; Patrick J. McCarthy, Secretary; Michael F. Dooley, Treasurer; Patrick Carter, James E. Sullivan, William P. Dempsey, James Murphy, Francis I. McCanna, William J. Feeley, Bernard McCaughey, Patrick E. Hayes, John McManus, James Moran, John F. O’Connell, James H. McGann, Rev. Austin Dowling, James H. Hurley, John F. McAlevy, James T. Egan.
The entire proceedings at the dedication were reported verbatim by Miss Viola Follis, the official stenographer for the Society, and hence we are able to print the excellent orations in full.
Special Meeting.
At the conclusion of the post-prandial exercises a special meeting of the Society was held at headquarters, President-General Quinlan presiding.
A vote of thanks was tendered Col. David C. Robinson for his efficient services in behalf of the Society.
It was voted that the thanks of the Society be extended Mr. Michael W. Norton for the use of his automobiles and carriages to transport members and guests to and from the State House, and in special recognition of Mr. Norton’s kindness the President-General appointed him chairman of the Reception Committee to be on duty at the White House at Washington January 16, 1909, when President Roosevelt gives a reception to the Society.
The acting Secretary-General was directed to extend Colonel Robinson the Society’s invitation to be its guest at the Annual Dinner and President Roosevelt’s reception at Washington.
THOMAS ZANSLAUR LEE,
Acting Secretary-General.
Providence, R. I., December 16, 1908.
Following is the circular letter which was sent to members of the Society, informing them of the plans for the dedicatory exercises:
“To make better known the Irish Chapter in American History.”
THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
(Founded 1897. First President-General, Rear Admiral R. W. Meade, U. S. N.)
Office of the Secretary-General.
49 Westminster Street.
Providence, R. I., December 8, 1908.
The committee of the American Irish Historical Society having in charge the erection and dedication of the Major-General John Sullivan Memorial in Rhode Island beg to announce that the dedication will take place in the Rhode Island State House, Wednesday, December 16, 1908, at twelve o’clock noon.
The principal address will be delivered by Colonel David C. Robinson, through whose efforts an appropriation of ten thousand dollars for a monument to General Sullivan in the State of New York was obtained, and whose knowledge of historical events of the Revolutionary War is most extensive.
Delegations will be in attendance from the following organizations: Rhode Island Historical Society, Rhode Island Division Sons of Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution, Society of the Colonial Wars, Society of the Cincinnati, and Rhode Island Citizens Historical Association.
Invitations have been extended to the Department Commander and Staff of the G. A. R., General Tanner and staff of the Rhode Island National Guard, Hon. James H. Higgins, Governor of Rhode Island, Hon. Aram J. Pothier, Governor-elect of Rhode Island, and other State officers.
The Society’s headquarters will be at the Narragansett Hotel, where proper provision will be made for the reception and entertainment of members and guests during the day.
Shortly before twelve o’clock, the hour of dedication, the Society and guests will go in a body to the State House, a short distance from the hotel, where provision has been made for ample and comfortable seating of all. After the exercises, which are planned to last probably an hour and half, we will return to the Narragansett Hotel, where luncheon will be served, at which there will be several interesting addresses. Price of tickets, $1.50, which may be obtained from the Secretary-General or the Entertainment Committee.
This is an affair of great importance to the American Irish Historical Society, and we earnestly hope every member will be present.
Send back enclosed postal if you intend to be present so we will know how many to provide for.
COMMITTEE ON THE SULLIVAN MEMORIAL
Of the American Irish Historical Society.
THOMAS Z. LEE,
Chairman.
PATRICK J. McCARTHY,
Secretary.