Day 88 of 110: Farewell Address: The End

The past three blogs have provided the text to the Farewell Address given by Mrs. W. O. Spencer to the NC DAR when she was State Regent. Spencer, a member of our chapter, was nearing the end of a four-year term as State Regent and sharing the detail of an outstanding year of activity in 1922 which began with attending a historical event with world leaders in January 1922 (if you don't know what it was....you'll have to go back and read the blog!).

As we continue with her farewell address, Mrs. Spencer provides more insight to the totality of her four years as State Regent in what must have been a very emotional speech for her. As  you read this, please consider the following points that will help set the scene.

• The North Carolina Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution wasn't yet 25 years old in 1922.
• World War I was fought 1914-1918 with the United States entering in 1917. While this would have been just before Mrs. Spencer became State Regent, she would have been State Regent during the DAR's efforts to support recovery efforts in Europe and the women in the Society most certainly were beginning to view the world around them through different lenses.
• The Progressive Era (1890s - 1920s) overlapped with the founding of the NCSDAR in North Carolina and Mrs. Spencer's term as State Regent, leaving in its wake women in a changed role and changed fashions to compliment their evolving roles in society.

And now I realize that this is my last opportunity to very briefly give you a summary of the outstanding work accomplished since I have been your Regent, and to again for the last time, reiterate to you my ideals for you, as an organization; as an organization of no narrow circumscribed horizon, but a national one, whose scope of work and usefulness is unlimited. I have impressed upon you the fact that your obligations are first to the National Society of which you are a most important part; therefore, I am convinced that you will "carry on," until North Carolina shall be the strong right arm of our beloved Society.

When I came to you four years ago, I felt that you were only a babe, living and breathing and loving and learning, but today, I feel that the lessons taught by the dire exigencies of the time, have caused you to become full grown women; standing as a state, finally upon a firm basis, ready to serve, and to be of great service to our beloved organization. Briefly, let's remember together the steps of your growth. When I became your Regent four years ago the Armistice had just been signed, our boys were still on the far side of the great waters, our beloved country was throbbing and bleeding with the awful ravages of the world's greatest war; every created thing stood still, appalled at the eternal tragedy of the nations. We have weathered the storm together as an organization; we have seen the social and domestic relations shaken upon their foundations, the great struggle between labor and capital has claimed the attention of our country; we have tremblingly felt the insidious undercurrent of propaganda, spread abroad to wreck the stability of our government and institutions; we have lived together through the terrible unrest and re-adjustment that follows always in the wake of wars; ours has been the task to ride the might billows of reconstruction; these things we have done together - undivided and indivisible as a state organization.

We still stand ready for whatever the future may hold for us. During the four years the accumulated debts of years, have been paid in full and you have built or yourselves a financial system to cover your needs without being a burden to a single soul. You have doubled in membership; from thirty-one Chapters, two of which have been disbanded, you have grown to forty-three strong active ones. A room has been bought and paid for in the Memorial Continental Hall, your war records completed, a superfine new registration system established, memorials erected at Charlotte, Greensboro, Tarboro, Wadesboro and other places; historical spots marked, a memorial scholarship founded, and above all, a beautiful reciprocity established between this and other states, which I am confident will mean now, that within the state we are finally and for all time upon our feet, we will be able to render broader service through our organization to our fellowman.

These are a few of the things that have been accomplished, but even over and above these, there lingers longest in my memory, the fine spirit of co-operation and loyalty to our national organization and its ideals, and the pride in its achievements throughout our beloved state and nation. Your Regent has visited in person each Chapter in the state with the exception of four, and two of these after all were her own, organized during her Regency, and she wishes to thank you today for all your courtesy and kindness extended so loyally and lovingly to her during these four years spent in your service. I feel indeed today that you are ready for a new era o usefulness and my heart's greatest desire for you in that you may press on to higher service to your God and your country and your homes, through this the work of our great organization.

For now beloved, I have, after four happy years, come at last to the end. 'Tis true I shall be your Regent until after the confirmation next April, of the newly elected Regent, still I realize that when I shall lay down this gavel tomorrow afternoon, I shall stand no more forever, before this Conference as your Regent, and because I have loved you so much, my heart is sad.

Today I weep for the errors which I have made, for the failures which have been mine, for all my shortcomings and limitations, but I would have you know that my heart sings gladly with the happy memories of all your love and loyalty; your co-operation and esteem - aye, your fine tender thought of me. The memory of those of our number who have gently closed their eyes in the cloudless purple sleet, shall be ever held dear. Ours in life - still ours in death.

"No one heard the door that opened

When they passed beyond our call;

Soft as loosened leaves from roses

One by one, our loved ones fall."

 

 

No day shall ever drawn, beloved, that I shall not thank God in my heart for the privilege of serving you, for I declare to you that I have projected into your midst during these four years no thought, that I have not tried to purge of self, that I might send it forth to you to purify and to bless and to consecrate this organization, and you.

 

The credit for the success which I have achieved, I desire to give to Him, whose business I have ever felt I was about.

 

As you have been patient with me, I have loved you; as you have succored and helped me, I have utterly relied upon you; as you have lovingly and loyally upheld my hands, I have ever felt that all was well; and now, as all things that must eventually end, today in the name of Him who has granted unto me the privilege of serving you, I pray now and ever, God bless and keep you, every one. You who for four years have faithfully walked with me in love and esteem even unto the end, may the Lord bless thee -

"With the gladness that knoweth no decay,

With the riches that cannot pass away,

With the sunshine that makes and endless day!"

 

And keep thee: -

 

"With the all-covering shadow of His wings;

With the strong love that guards from evil things;

With the sure power that safe to glory brings!"

 

 

With only love in my heart for you everyone I bid you farewell, my Daughters of Carolina.

 

Mary Kerr Spencer

State Regent D.A.R. of North Carolina