HEMC Newsletter
September 2013
In This Issue
Letter from the Editor, [email protected]
 Letter from the Editor
Patrick Henry
 Committee Reports
 Upcoming Events
 Discounts & Tickets
Patrick Henry
View of Rural Plains near
Totopotomoy Creek in
Virginia. Henry was
reportedly married to Sarah
Shelton in the parlor.
From: Wikipedia
Patrick Henry was born in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia, on May 29, 1736. His
father was John Henry, an immigrant from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who had attended
King's College, Aberdeen before emigrating to the Colony of Virginia in the 1720s.
Settling in Hanover County, in about 1732 John Henry married Sarah Winston Syme, a
wealthy widow from a prominent Hanover County family of English ancestry. Patrick
Henry was once thought to have been of humble origins, but he was born into the middle
ranks of the Virginia landed gentry.
In 1754 Henry married Sarah Shelton, reportedly in the parlor of her family house,
Rural Plains. (It also became known as Shelton House.)
As a wedding gift, her father gave the couple six slaves and the 300-acre Pine Slash
Farm near Mechanicsville. With his marriage, he became a slaveholder and landowner.
Henry worked with his slaves on the land because it was a small property; it was
exhausted from tobacco cultivation and he could not gain profitable yields. After the main
house burned, the couple moved for a short time with their two children into the 20 by 60
foot Honeymoon Cottage, a one- story building with attic. They later moved to the
Hanover Tavern, owned by Sarah's father. They sold Pine Slash Plantation in 1764, after
Henry started working as a lawyer.
The Henrys had six children together, one of whom married a brother of the poet
Thomas Campbell. In 1771 the family moved to Scotchtown Plantation, also in Hanover
County. Sarah became mentally ill and died there in 1775.
On October 25, 1777, Henry at age 41 married his second wife, the 22-year-old
Dorothea Dandridge (1755–1831). The next year they moved to Williamsburg after his
election as governor and stayed through his two terms. They had eleven children together.
In 1779 they moved to the 10,000-acre Leatherwood Plantation, which he bought with his
cousin and her husband in Henry County, Virginia.
Henry began a career as a planter, but the soil was poor and their main house was
destroyed by fire in 1757. He tried a mercantile store, but it failed. While reading for the
law, he continued to farm at Pine Slash Plantation before qualifying as a lawyer in 1760.
He read the law with an established firm.
Henry first gained local attention in a case dubbed the "Parson's Cause" (1763). It
dealt with whether the price of tobacco paid to established clergy for their services, should
be set by the colonial government or by the Crown. After the British Parliament overruled
Virginia's Two Penny Act, which had limited the established clergy's salaries, the
Reverend James Maury filed suit against the vestry of Louisa County for payment of back
wages. When Maury won the suit, a jury was called in Hanover County to determine how
much Maury should be paid. Henry was brought in at the last minute to argue on behalf of
Louisa County.
He delivered an impassioned speech that denounced clerics who challenged
Patrick Henry's "Treason"
speech before the House of
Burgesses in an 1851 painting
by Peter F. Rothermel
Patrick Henry stamp issue of
1955
Red Hill Plantation, Charlotte
County, Virginia, circa 1907
where Patrick Henry retired
and died.
Virginia's laws as "enemies of the community" and any king who annulled good laws,
such as the Two Penny Act, as a "tyrant" who "forfeits all right to his subject's obedience".
Henry urged the jury to make an example of Maury. After less than five minutes of
deliberation, they awarded Maury one penny.
In 1765 Henry was elected from Louisa County for the House of Burgesses, the
legislative body of the Virginia colony, to fill a vacated seat in the assembly. When he
arrived in Williamsburg, the legislature was already in session. Nine days after being
sworn in, Henry introduced the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions, "in language so extreme
that some Virginians said it smacked of treason".
The new representative waited for an opportunity when the more conservative
members of the House were away. As 24% attendance was considered sufficient for a
quorum, Henry succeeded, through much debate, in getting his proposal passed.
It was possibly the most anti-British American political action to that point, and some
credit the Resolutions with being one of the main catalysts of the Revolution. The
proposals were based on principles that were well-established British rights, such as the
right to be taxed by one's own representatives. They asserted that the colonial assemblies
had the exclusive right to impose taxes on the colonies and could not assign that right.
Many colonists considered his following words inflammatory: "Caesar had his
Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third ....may he profit by their
example. If this be treason, make the most of it!" According to the biographer Richard
Beeman, the legend of this speech grew more dramatic over the years. He thinks that
Henry probably did not say, "If this be treason, make the most of it." The only account of
the speech written down at the time by an eyewitness (which came to light many years
later) records that Henry apologized after being accused of uttering treasonable words, and
assured the House that he was loyal to the king.
Responding to pleas from Massachusetts that the colonies create committees of
correspondence to coordinate their activities related to the British, Henry took the lead in
Virginia. In March 1773, along with Thomas Jefferson and Richard Henry Lee, Henry led
the Virginia House of Burgesses to adopt resolutions providing for a standing committee
of correspondence. Each colony set up such committees, and they led to the formation of
the First Continental Congress in 1774, to which Henry was elected.
Patrick Henry is best known for the speech he made in the House of Burgesses on
March 23, 1775, in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. With the House undecided
on whether to mobilize for military action against the encroaching British military force,
Henry argued in favor of mobilization. Forty-two years later, Henry's first biographer,
William Wirt, working from oral histories, tried to reconstruct what Henry said. According
to Wirt, Henry ended his speech with words that have since become immortalized:
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains
and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may
take; but as for me, give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
In August 1775, Henry was commissioned as colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment.
At the outset of the Revolutionary War, Henry led militia against the Royal Governor Lord
Dunmore in defense of some disputed gunpowder, an event known as the Gunpowder
Incident.
In 1776 Henry was elected by the new state legislature as the first post-colonial
Governor of Virginia, for a one-year term. He was twice re-elected, serving until 1779.
(The new state limited governors to three terms in succession, and then required a 4-year
break.) As governor, he presided over several Virginia militia expeditions against the
Cherokee people in the west, who were allied with the British. He appointed his friend
Joseph Martin, an explorer, as state agent to the Cherokee nation. Henry also sometimes
invested in real estate with Martin. The explorer was the namesake of Martinsville, the
county seat of Henry County.
Committee Reports
1st and 3rd
Thursday
Brookhollow Toastmasters
Club:
Slick Talkers Toastmasters Club
Meeting Location: Brookhollow BH2-A112
Meeting Date & Time: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Contact Info:
[email protected]
Be Prepared for Dealing with Speaking Disasters; Join a
Toastmasters Club near you
October 23, 2013
Mehdi Abedi and Lisa Sappey
Persian Tabriz
Persian Qum
ExxonMobil Spouse’s Club
Upcoming Events
ExxonMobil Club
Golf Tournament
October 12, 2013
Event Date:
Event Location:
October 12th @ 8:00 AM - Shotgun Start
Eagle Pointe Golf Club, 12440 Eagle Pointe Dr., Mont
Belvieu, TX
77580, (281-385-6666)
Members Rate:
$65.00 per person
Guest Rate:
$75.00 per person
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 4th, 2013
Event Description:
Join close friends or new acquaintances for a fun
round of golf at Eagle Pointe Golf Club on October 12th. The format for the
tournament is a 4-person scramble with challenges for both Long Drive and
Closest to the Pin. Single Players are welcome and will be paired up with
other singles or teams not filling out a 4-person team.
Contact Person:
Jaris Stubbs
Contact Info:
[email protected]
713-431-0504
September 11 –
October 9, 2013
ExxonMobil Cycling Team
Event:
8th Annual Houston Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt.
Event Date:
October 6, 2013 at
Event Time:
3:30 p.m.
Event Location:
Marmion Park
Event Description: The Houston ExxonMobil Cycling Team is gearing
up to start their 2013-2014 season! While the team focuses on the
annual MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin, an event which
annually raises over $17M for multiple sclerosis research, we also
participate in a variety of other events. If you’d like to get take bike out
for a ride, please think about joining us on October 6th for an easy spin
during the 8th Annual Houston Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt. You can
choose the 20 mile route or bring the whole family out for the 5 mile
option; the team will be meeting at the post race party in Marmion Park
at 3:30PM. If you’re thinking about joining us for the 2014 MS150 (to be
held on April 12-13, 2014), please keep your eyes open for our team
registration in October and a team social focusing on “Bikes: All You
Need to know whether Purchasing or Upgrading” in early November.
Keith Hagler
[email protected]
Phone – 713.431.4766
All home games
2013 & 2014
Date:
Location:
Price:
Description:
great…
Houston Rockets Basketball
All home games 2013 & 2014
Toyota Center
Sections 114 & 115 lower level (see order link for prices)
WE NOW HAVE ROCKETS TICKETS. Our seats are
very near the Red Rowdies. Come out and cheer on Harden,
Lin,
Howard, and the rest of the Rockets. This will be the year!
Contact:
John Augusto
Email:
[email protected]
Link to Rockets order information:
http://mysite.na.xom.com/personal/na_jaaugus/HEMCSportsTix/Sit
ePages/Rockets.aspx
Discounts and Tickets
Thru December 31,
2013
One Hermann Circle Drive * Houston, TX * 77030
The House of Fabergé designed the renowned Imperial Easter Eggs for the
Romanov family, as well as an array of objects d’art, luxurious gifts, and practical
items for the wealthy patrons of Europe. View the grandeur, splendor and
extravagance of late 19th and early 20th century Imperial Russia, a special
exhibition of Fabergé from the McFerrin Collection. Featuring more than 350
objects. The exhibition includes past favorites such as the famed Nobel Ice Egg,
the dazzling Empress Josephine Tiara, and the ornate Fire Screen Frame, a gift
from Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and
more. Permanent Exhibit Hall included.
HEMC Price: $12.00 (General Admission: $20.00)
Send orders to your nearest ticket rep listed on the order form or to:
Jacquelyn Joseph CORP-EMB-4027L  800 Bell St., Houston, 77002
Get an order form at www.hemc.org > Discounts & Tickets > Recreational Parks
& Museums
October 26, 2013
Halloween Mixer! Spirits & Skeletons
Friday, October 25, 2013
8:00 p.m. to Midnight
For ages 21 and up.
General Admission - $25.00
Corporate Price - $15.00
Have a totally rad Halloween at Spirits & Skeletons! Head to HMNS
this Halloween for Spirits & Skeletons! Rattle your bones on the dance
floor, partake in some potent potions at one of our cash bars, and grub
on gourmet treats from our food trucks. That covers the treats, but we
didn’t forget about the tricks — a master magician will be on-hand to
turn skeptics into believers (or toads, depending on your attitude).
Don’t forget to come in costume!
Food Trucks:
HTown StrEATs
The Waffle Bus
Good Dog Hot Dog
Lulu Blues
Music by:
Molly & the Ringwalds
Six-time winners of the Houston Press
Music Awards for "Best Cover Band
DJs:
DJ Gracie Chavez
DJ Dame Hype
Magician:
Ben Jackson
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED!
Send orders to your nearest ticket rep listed on the order form or to:
Jacquelyn Joseph CORP-EMB-4027L  800 Bell St., Houston, 77002
Get an order form at www.hemc.org > Discounts & Tickets > Recreational
Parks & Museums
February 23, 2014
Test your knowledge of Ancient
Egypt
In Egyptian beliefs which god is
represented as a human with a hawk
head?
Horus
Isis
Hathor
Seth
What was the form of ancient
Egyptian writing called?
Rosetta Runics
Hieroglyph
Picture Writing
Latin
Why were toys made out of wood
considered very precious and rare?
They brought good luck
Because wood was rare in Egypt
Because they were supposed to chase
evil spirits away
Because they were made by the
pharaoh’s craftsman
In ancient Egyptian afterlife which
organ was weighted against a feather?
Brain
Kidney
Heart
Liver
Which ancient Egyptians wore eye
paint?
Only priests
Only scribes
Men and women
Only the upper class
Who has been falsely accused of
removing the Sphinx’s nose?
Marco Polo
Caesar
Napoleon
Wellington
The answers and more questions are
on the Houston Museum of Natural
Science site.
Safely ensconced in the Sahara desert, and drawing its lifeblood from the
river Nile, ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for more than three
millennia. A quintessential example of what archaeologists call a primary
civilization,” ancient Egypt did not rely on inspiration from others to
develop its own architecture, writing and religion—all of Egyptian culture
was developed “in house.”
The themes of writing, religion, natural resources and—of course—
mummification will be explored in this new permanent exhibition hall.
Ever since the late 18th century, the Western world has been exploring
Egypt. This hall presents artifacts collected during these early days of
investigations, and also compares old-style archaeology with 21st-century
approaches, such as using satellite imagery and remote sensing to locate
and map ancient settlements. The Museum’s own mummy, Ankh Hap,
will be moved to his new surroundings in the new hall as well. This Hall is
now part of the Museum’s expanded permanent exhibits.
Get an order form at www.hemc.org > Discounts & Tickets >
Recreational Parks & Museums
October 5-6, 2014
Six Flags Fright Fest