The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-05-18
DR.. THOMAS'S WILL.


bracing the donations ola public nature.
They are as follows:
As think it the duty OF every man, who is
a member of any Institution established for pub.
lie good, to contribute something in time and
attention, or property, during his life, or other
wise by legacy, for the promotion of its objects,
and, as there are several Institutions of which
have received the honor of membership and
for which have done but little, and for some
nothing, l do, therefore, will and beuueath as
follows:
give Five Hundred Dollars towards build
ing, of permanent materials, in Boston, com
modious Hall, respectable in its appearance, for
the use of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
and, if the same should not be accepted and APP
proprated, accordingly, within three years af-
ter my decease, then said sum shall revert and
go to my resduary legacy.
Whereas, | have been particularly instru-
mental in the establishment of the American
Antiquarian Sooety, and believe it may be-
come highly beneficial to our country,'f It's
members are attentive to the purposes OF its IN
stitution and, as no Society for benevolent
and patriotic purposes can be really useful with
out funds, and am persuaded that there is no
Institution with which am acquainted more in
need of support of this kind than the one nam
ed-therefore,
L
Thirty Thousand Dollars, in the manner fol-
lowing:
devise to said Society, provided l shall not
before my death execute Il decd thereby and
their successors, for ever, that tract of land in
Worcester, whereon is now erected build
ing for the use of said Society, which land
! purchased of Samuel Chambers heirs, con-
tanning about one acre, near the Second Parish
Meeting House, bounded north by the Turn
pike Road to Boston, wcstwardly by County
Road, southwardly by land of said second Par
ish, and eastwardly by land late of the Hon.
Francis Blake, now of William Eaton togeth
er with the said building now erected thereon,
and all its appurtenances which building is
for ever to be sacredly appropriated, as long as
the said Society shall exist, for Library, Cab
met, &c, of said Society, and the house and
land are accordingly devised upon this express
condition; and, in case said Society shall, at
any time, cease to use said building for said
purpose, then, the whole of this estate is to re-
vert to my grandchildren generally and to their
heirs. This estate, consisting of the land, the
building, and its appendages, l value at eight
thousand dollars, and is to be considered as so
much towards the legacy of thirty thousand
dollars.
give to said American Antiquarian Society,
ten thousand dollars in Books, including what
have already presented TO the Society and
whatever donations in books have been already
made, or may be hereafter made, by me, (Which
may be ascertained by recurring to my books
and the donation book of the Society are to be
deducted from this legacy. But, if it shall be
found, that, during my life time, shall have
presented to the Society greater amount of
books than ten thousand dollars, there shall sHt
on this account, be any deduction from any 9TH
eS part of my legacy of thirty thousand dollars !;
but, whatever | shall have so presented, shall
DO considered part of this last sum of ten
thousand dollars, and no charge shall be made
to the Society for any overplus.
give to the said American Antiquarian So
cety, twelve thousand dollars, to be part of
the funds of said Society, and, to be kept at IN
terest, and the interest appropriated in part for
the payment ofa salary to a Librarian and Cab
met Keeper, whose business it shall be, con-
stantly to attend to the Library and Cabinet,
and to keep the articles in good order, and in
the best manner for preservation and, in part
towards the purchase of Antiquities and Books,
and for other necessary purposes of the insttu.
ton.
Whatever part of this sum of twelve thou
sand dollars, may have advanced before my
death to the Society, and charged them there
with is to be deducted by my executors.
also give to said American Antiquarian So
eiety, two large prints, framed, which are now
in my possession, one of which is a representa-
ton of the eruption of Mount Etna in 1866,
and the other of the eruption of Mount Vesu-
vius in l779; and, | also give to said Society,
n we'll engraved print, framed, of the late Rev
George Whitefeld, which print exhibits a strik-
ing likeness Of that celebrated person short
time before his death.
l also give said Society portrait Of myself,
lately done by Mr.. Greenwood of Boston also,
int f H..
Lear, and prints of Presidents Washington and
Monroe all of which are framed
have already presented to said Society such
coins, medals, &c, as had collected and pre-
served for their antiquity or for curiosity.
The American Antiquarian Society is, in
some respects, very different from other SocIe.
ties established in the United States. Men,
bership is restricted to no State or party there
are no members merely honorary but, all have
an equal interest and concern in the affairs and
objects of the Institution, whatever part of the
United States they may reside in. 1t is truly
a National Institution. 1t has no local views
or private concerns. It's objects Ito collect and
preserve) embrace all time, past, present, and
future. Age will increase its utility. Its prop
erty, it is intended, shall not, at any time here
after, be divided amongst its members, but, it
is to remain, TO be increased and ever to be pre-
served for public benefit. The benefits arising
from other benevolent societies are generally
local and designed for the good of the present
generation. Their members, therefore, feel a
nearer interest. But, the benefits, resulting
from the American Antiquarian Society, will
be increasing with time, and will chiefly be re-
ceived by remote posterity 1t must there
fore be acknowledged, that, it is necessary, that
the members should entertain a more disnter-
ested, generous, and enlarged Senevolence. AS
it is possible, on accoun. of the members living
remote from each other, and the inconvenience
OF assembling any considerable number of them
together, and, perhaps, from other causes, that
this Society may, at some future time, be dis
solved, or may neglect to keep themselves in
state of organization by regular choice of Of
hcers, and that, in this, or some other manner,
their charter of incorporation may become for.
feited then, in that case, ! give the same in
all its parts, in trust TO the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts,, earnestly requesting the Gov
eminent of said Commonwealth, if such c ase
as have suggested should occur, that they
will take whatever have given to said Institu.
ton, and all its property, Gf they should have
the DOVER and shoud see fit so ia do \ and nro