Part 61 (1/2)

TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:-

It has been determined to create a Columbian Liberty Bell, to be placed by the lovers of liberty and peace in [5]

the most appropriate place in the coming World's Expo- sition at Chicago. After the close of the Exhibition this bell will pa.s.s from place to place throughout the world as a missionary of freedom, coming first to the capital of the nation under the care of our society. [10]

Then it will go to Bunker Hill or Liberty Island, to the battle-field of New Orleans (1812), to San Francisco, to the place where any great patriotic celebration is being held, until 1900, when it will be sent to the next World's Exhibition, which takes place at Paris, France. There it [15]

will continue until that Exhibition closes.

When not in use in other places, it will return to Wash- ington under the care of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Was.h.i.+ngton will be its home, and from there it will journey from place to place, fulfilling its mission [20]

throughout the world.

The following is the proposed use of the bell: It shall ring at sunrise and sunset; at nine o'clock in the morn- ing on the anniversaries of the days on which great events have occurred marking the world's progress toward liberty; [25]

at twelve o'clock on the birthdays of the ”creators of liberty;” and at four o'clock it will toll on the anniver- saries of their death. (It will always ring at nine o'clock on October 11th, in recognition of the organization on that day of the Daughters of the American Revolution.) [30]

... The responsibility of its production, and the direc- tion of its use, have been placed in the hands of a

[Page 305.]

committee of women representing each State and Ter- [1]

ritory, one representative from each Republic in the world, and a representative from the patriotic societies, -Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, the Lyceum League of America, the Society of Ger- [5]

man Patriots, the Human Freedom League, and kindred organizations.

The National Board of Management has placed upon me the responsibility of representing the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution upon the [10]

General Committee, and this circular is sent to every member of the society, asking for her personal coopera- tion in making the undertaking successful. In creating the bell it is particularly desired that the largest number of persons possible shall have a part in it. For this reason [15]

small contributions from many persons are to be asked for, rather than large contributions from a few. They are to be of two kinds:-

_First:_ Material that can be made a part of the bell; articles of historic interest will be particularly appre- [20]

ciated-gold, silver, bronze, copper, and nickel can be fused.

_Second:_ Of money with which to pay for the bell.

Each member of the society is asked to contribute one cent to be fused into the bell, and twenty-five cents to [25]

pay for it. She is also asked to collect two dollars from others, in pennies, if possible, and send with the amount the name of each contributor. In order that the bell shall be cast April 30th, the anniversary of the inaugu- ration of George Was.h.i.+ngton as the first President of [30]

the United States, we ask every one receiving this cir- cular _to act at once_.

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In forwarding material to be melted into the bell, please [1]

send fullest historical description. This will be entered carefully in a book which will accompany the bell wherever it goes.

... As the motto has not yet been decided upon, any [5]

ideas on that subject will be gratefully received; we will also welcome suggestions of events to be celebrated and names to be commemorated.

Very cordially yours, MARY DESHA, _ex-Vice-President General, D. A. R._

Contributions should be sent to the Liberty National Bank, corner Liberty and West Streets, New York, and a duplicate letter written, as a notification of the same, to Miss Mary Desha, 1505 Penna. Ave., Was.h.i.+ngton, [15]

D. C., or to Miss Minnie F. Mickley, Mickleys, Pa.

We would add, as being of interest, that Mrs. Eddy is a member of the above organization, having been made such by the special request of the late Mrs. Harrison, wife of the ex-President, who was at that time the Presi- [20]