The Wilson Times

DAUGHTERS
AT ROCKY MT.

Annual State Convention Now in Session

ROYALLY
WELCOMED

Rocky Mount, Oct. 13.-At 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning, State President Mrs. F. M. Williams, of Newton, rapped the assemblage to order and the fourteenth annual convention of the North Carolina Daughters of the Confederacy began. There are present from all over the State delegates representing the various chapters, and every chapter has one or more delegates in attendance. There were over three hundred Daughters, their friends and persons interested, present when order was called this morning and there has seldom, if ever, been a more august assemblage in this city than this one. There were present in the audience representative citizens, while with the hundred or more delegates is included women in the foremost ranks of every great movement that the State has attempted, while there is numbered among the "unhonored heroines of the Confederacy" who remained at home and fought hard to keep body and soul together with the small band of children left in her care.

At the Ricks Hotel Tuesday night the Bethel Heroes Chapter, the hostess chapter of the convention, entertained the delegates and their friends at an informal reception and from eight until 11 o'clock formalities were ignored and the delegates, officers and friends mingled together and the hours were pleasantly whiled away by meeting friends, discussing this item and that, appertaining to the betterment of this, a common cause. During the evening refreshments were served and the spirit of welcome as comes from the heart of every one in the city was firmly established with the many visitors present.

The sessions are being held in the armory in the Rose building which has been fitted out for the accommodation of the convention, a rostrum having been built and folding chairs put into position, making an assembly hall the better of which might not be asked. The entire quarters have been tastily decorated throughout, the conventional red and white prevailing, though a hanging of pictures of prominent Confederates and an abundant use of the green plant life of the season has brought forth many remarks relative to the tasty decoration of the headquarters of the convention.

At 10:30 o'clock the session was opened with prayer by the chaplain of the State Division, Miss Hettie James, of Wilmington. This was followed by the song, "The Old North State" by the choir. Mayor Thorne, of Rocky Mount, was then introduced by the president of the local chapter, Mrs. M. O. Winstead, to deliver the address of welcome on behalf of the city. Mayor Thorne's address was most pleasing and appropriate. The keys of the city were delivered to the ladies for as long as they could be induced to remain.

The fraternal orders of Elks and Pythians were represented by Mr. Jos. B. Ramsey whose address was followed by the singing of the stirring old song that cheered the Southern soldiers to battle in the sixties, "The Bonnie Blue Flag."

"On behalf of the Tobacco Board of Trade and the business men of the city Capt. J. O. W. Gravely was introduced, and in a very happy effort he informed the ladies that everything belongs to them. I learned what it was to disobey a woman," said Captain Gravely, "when I was so high and I have been cautious

When Mrs. Winstead, the honored president of the local chapter, told me I must come before this body of beautiful women, I told her I wouldn't do it, taking care, however, to tell her this over the telephone at a distance of over two miles. But she repeated that I had to do it, so you see that I am here."

At the conclusion of Captain Gravely's address, Mrs. Winstead in a sweet and splendid talk, welcomed the Daughters to our homes and firesides and hearts. The president of the North Carolina division, Mrs. F. M. Williams, of Newton, responded for the Daughters, expressing their pleasure and gratification at such a cordial reception.