The Ninth Annual Report of the Associate Committee of Women

THE NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE OF WOMEN. Mr , President , Members of the Society and Guests : Again the Committee has been compelled to enter upon the minutes of its calendar year the loss of a beloved Associate, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton, Litt.D., who died 29 July, 1928 It was in 1878 that Miss Wharton became a member of The Historical Society, having printed her most excellent “ History of the Wharton Family * in the first volume of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History in the preceding year To this Society, from its organization in 1893, Miss Wharton brought a whole hearted support to its primary object, the preservation and acquirement of genealogical records, and made frequent contributions thereto She also addressed one or more of its annual meetings In 1918 she was elected to honorary membership and in 1924 became a vice president She was a founder member of the Associate Committee and its cor responding secretary. A regular attendant at its meetings, she gave generously of herself , her time and her trained mind to the furtherance of the Committee ’s interests in the cause of history and genealogy. Within a month of her death she spoke of adding some bundles of old letters to a collection in charge of a sub-committee looking to a history of social life in Philadelphia. Her work in connection with the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames is well known An active founder, its first historian, and latex historian of the National Society, she had much to do with the framing of its early policies Genealogist, historian and litterateur, Dr Wharton was the only woman member of the Historical and Genealogical societies who, for half a century, productively pursued the historical quest and added book after book of her own making to the public weal Until a bibliography of her writings be compiled, magazine articles as well as the finished volume, the value of her contribution to literature of an historical nature cannot be estimated. It can, however, be conceded that her assiduity was only equalled by her extreme modesty. Mentally well-poised, well -read and well bred, she was a lady of rare quality, one in whose kindly humor there was neither gibe nor guile, in her bright gossip no scandal, in her constructive criticism no withering personalities She came and went so long, so graciously among us, that her undimmed memory will ever be treasured in the hearts of her friends, in this little group whom she appreciated and loved. The standards of Committee work have been maintained : Members in a considerable number have been added to the Society, as well as valuable . ’ . - . . . - P - S . . . G . - . — ( 316 ) 1929 Copyright The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania PGM Vol X No.3 £flrs. iCouia If * ^ rnsmi The stated meeting of the Associate Committee of Women of The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania was held in the Council Room of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania on Monday, May thirteenth , 1929* when the following Minute was adopted : It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow that the Committee records today the death of its greatly valued Associate, Caroline Perot Benson, wife of the Reverend Lon is F Benson, IXD , and daughter of the late E Burgess and Emma Bolton Warren* of Philadelphia* A founder member of the Committee and a life member of the Soci ety, Mrs Benson cherished in a very true sense the aims and ideals of both , since they touched a like mindedness in herself Reverence for the things of the past a disintegrating God ’s Acre, an ancient house, a time frayed record a bundle of precious heirlooms, these had * for her an appeal that bred an almost meticulous care for their preser vation . With it all she had a very human liking for the beautiful, the many-sided wonderful life of the present , its music, art and oppor tunities She took from each what she would and radiated it with joyous insouciance within the rircle of her influence as sunshine to the earth. In these respects 14 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellent them all * * i For a period of years Mrs Benson was recording secretary of the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America, during the presidency of the late Mrs Alexander J * Cassatt She was also a for mer president of the Eurydice Chorus. At the time of her decease she was a manager of the City Parks Association and held membership in many civic organizations and learned societies. Tn every organization of which site was a member her active, lively interest will be an in spiration . In The Genealogical Society, by her gay persistency, she was a moving spirit in the printing of the Ron ah Ison ’s Cemetery Inscriptions and the preservation by photostat of the burial records of that association In the Associate Committee at its meetings and as a member of the Sub Committee on Records she was invaluable She was one of those rare natures, with God as its center, for which the world is richer ; positive in her beliefs, opinions and friendships, yet so apologetic for those who differed * that it all seemed part of the warp and woof of a finely wrought pattern of life itself Those who were closely associated with her have much to be thankful for in the remembrance of her happy hearted living and giving. Therefore be it Itesolved, That this minute l >e spread upon the records of tho Com mittee and that a copy thereof be sent to the family of Mrs, Ben.son * . * * - * - P * S * * * G * * - * - 1929 Copyright The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania * PGM Vol X No.3 Ninth, Annual Report Associate Women. 317 P records and miscellaneous data to its collections and to those of The Historical Society. Its record event of the year, though not of a genealogical nature, was a recital of rare music on Wednesday evening, December the twelfth, in the Hall of The Historical Society, to commemorate the founding in 1748 of the Collegium Musician of Bethlehem, the first musical organization in Provincial Pennsylvania. Accompanying this was a delightful talk by Alfred G. Rau, the widelyknown Moravian musician and musicologist, which carried the story of the successive program numbers — bringing history and music into complete harmony in a most charming setting. Dr. Rau stressed the strong English influence exerted musically on the Moravian scholars and clergy, all of whom came to Pennsylvania after a period of preparation in England and not direct from central Europe as is so often supposed. In connection with the recital, a number of priceless musical scores were exhibited in locked cases, making a very tangible illustration of the little appreciated fact that Pennsylvania was enjoying the music of Bach, Handel, Haydn and local composers of note, in some of her towns long in advance of those of other eolonies. The program of the Music Committee, Mrs. Alvin A. Parker, chairman, was a gem and the fine rendition of the Philadelphia artists, Mae Ebrey Hotz, Marie Stone Langston -List, Royal P. MacLellan, Nelson Eddy and Ellis Clark Hammann, who entered into the spirit of the music and the occasion in an inimitable way, afforded great pleasure to the large assem blage of the Society's members and friends. The well-spent evening closed with simple refreshment. S - Respectfully submitted, G M. ATHERTON LEACH, ANNA LEA CARSON, Chairman. Recording Secretary . 1929 Copyright The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania PGM Vol X No.3