DELEGATES TO SPECIAL AND TRIENNIAL MEETINGS. 15 April 19, 1899, at Denver, Colorado. No election, and Kentucky Society not represented. (Wilbur R. Smith attended. No alternates elected.) April 19-20, 1905, at Washington, D. C. (Rev. Baker P. Lee and Messrs. W. W. Estill and Wilbur R. Historical Sketch of General Society. After earnest but ineffectual efforts, dating from December, 1873, by Mr. John Austin Stevens, of New York, to induce the Society of the Cincinnati, through its President-General, Hon. Hamilton Fish, to enlarge and liberalize the policy of that institution so as to admit to membership all male descendants of original subscribers, or of any officer who was entitled to membership, in the Cincinnati, provided such persons should be otherwise eligible and acceptable, Mr. Stevens was forced to seek a new medium through which to collect, disseminate and transmit the patriotic fervor and aims by which he was animated. Mr. Stevens, who is justly revered as the Founder of our Society, felt that the time was ripe for the organization of a great patriotic Society upon the broadest foundations of association, catholic as to its membership in right of ancestors of the Revolution, and which might be made a factor for good in the direction of public affairs and the inculcation of principles of honor and patriotism in the hearts of the young. With faith in the goodness of his cause, he presented the matter to those of his associates whom he knew to be in full accord with his sentiments, and on the eighteenth day of December, 1875, in the rooms of the New York Historical Society, a meeting was held to discuss the feasibility of this project. The proposition of Mr. Stevens was heartily endorsed and the name "Sons of the Revolution," was adopted at this preliminary meeting. A second meeting was had at the same place on January 15, 1876, when Mr. Stevens presented a constitution, which, after thoughtful consideration, was unanimously approved and signed by all who were present. This was the institution of the Society, Sons of the Revolution, and Mr. Stevens was requested to make such public announcement of the fact as he might think suitable. He issued the following circular letter: |