582 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River Peace Restored 583

indicated in a small way, at least, the work of the society in the
State at large, and the assistance it renders, from time to time,
to the society in other States, and to the national society.

The expense of these undertakings, especially of the Harnett
Memorial, has been large, and to lighten the burden of it, Mrs.
Sprunt, during her six years as president, entertained the Cape
Fear Dames in their monthly meetings in her beautiful homes
in Wilmington and at Orton, saving the rental of a hall for
meetings. Her home in Wilmington, built for the first governor

town of Brunswick in 1725, was placed in St. Philip’s Church.
This was the gift of two of Colonel Moore’s descendants—Ida
N. Moore and Selina M. Harvey. The Dames of the Cape Fear
have devoted themselves in particular to the care and preserva-
tion of the ruins of this old church at Brunswick, the site and
grounds of which were conveyed to the diocese of North Caro-
lina by the owners of Orton, Col. K. M. Murchison and Capt.
D. R. Murchison, and for some time Mrs. Sprunt assumed per-
sonal supervision of them. For many years it has been the cus-

tom of the Dames to make an annual pilgrimage to this hallowed
spot, and there by addresses and religious services they have
awakened, perchance, a deeper patriotism and a holier reverence
for the past of which this church represents so large a part.

Perhaps the most important work undertaken at any time by
the society was the movement to promote original research. At
the biennial council in Washington in 1906, Mrs. Sprunt was
appointed by the national president a member of the committee
on this subject, and with ardent zeal entered upon the impor-
tant task of promoting interest in the wealth of historical mate-
rial for which the colonial period of North Carolina is especially
noted, but much of which has not been compiled. To further
this effort the society offers prizes for competitive essay work,
exclusively from original sources and pertaining only to the
colonial period of North Carolina, to the upper classmen of the
State University at Chapel Hill. The results have been encour-
aging and the amounts of the prizes have been increased. Mrs.
Sprunt’s report on this subject is illuminating and valuable,
and with her interesting report on old silver and her report on
necrology, valued for its depth of spiritual perception and deli-
cate beauty of thought, has, by order of the Board of Managers,
been published by the society as literature.

The report on old silver, comprising a description of eccles-
jastical silver in North Carolina prior to 1825, was considered
of such value that Mrs. Sprunt was requested by the national
chairman to read it at the biennial council in Washington. To
her assistance in valuing these rare old specimens, Mrs. Sprunt
brought the professional knowledge of an English expert, Mr.
Jones, who came to North Carolina and examined the pieces
in the different places in the State to which they belonged.

Space fails in enumerating the full activities of the Colonial
Dames of North Carolina. What has been said pertains chiefly
to the Cape Fear, but a brief word here and there has, I trust,

IER NORE iS AFI ACRE RT ER NANO LOOM ETT SRE RITALIN a Mee eC PE aE SCH

elected by the people and sheltering since so many distinguished
guests, including President Taft, and, before his election, Presi-
dent Wilson, Secretary Bryan, and Cardinal Gibbons, and
beautiful Orton, one of the finest provincial homes in America,
in historic association as well as in beauty of adornment, were

tion to the work, while her gracious and lavish hos-
pitality and the ardor of her enthusiasm made every effort more
delightful. In reference to her resignation, the historian of the
society, Elizabeth Stone Strange, widow of Bishop Strange,
said :

“We are called upon to bear a heavy loss in the resignation
of our beloved president. By her ability, her breadth of view,
her untiring devotion to the cause, her gracious personality, and
her generous hospitality, she has carried us onward and upward
as a society and linked us to herself by the strongest ties of love
and loyalty. While we deplore Mrs. Sprunt’s resignation as our
president, we can but show our appreciation of her by keeping
ever before us her high standard of duty, fidelity, and patriot-
ism.”’

This feeling was shared by all, and, as the recent letter of
Mrs. Kidder, already quoted, indicates, the feeling of loss of
her exceptional service in the office she filled so admirably con-
stantly increases. Truly was it said of her, “Many daughters
have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

Praces or Historic [nTerEstT In NortH CaroLina RELATING
To THE CotontAL Perrop Wuicu Arg STILL
UNMARKED.

In accordance with the resolution of the Council of 1906, in which
each State society was asked to present, through the chairman of its
delegation, a brief and concise statement of any localities still unmarked
in the State which are of sufficient historic importance to come within
the description of the objects of the society in Article 2 of the constitu-