The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-02-07
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENN.
SYLVANIA. t8Sf sit

Dy resoluiion OF the Society, adopted
January i4th, 1856, the following report was
ordered to be furnished to the various news
papers published in The State, with a state
ment OF The actual condition of the Publi-
cation Fund, and the names Of the Trustees
Of the Fund, and the officers of the Society
"The Comm lite TO whom was referred the
communication Of our fellow member, Charles
Miner, Of Wilkes Barre, in relation TO the or.
ganization of suxiary county societies, the
members Of which should pay an annual
contribution 10 the Pennsylvania Historical
Society permanently established al Ph,ladel-
phia; such auxiliaries 10 receive in return
copies of the publications of this Society
.especlfnlly. report:
That they have given 10 the communities
,ion the respectful and careful consideration
due TO the suggestions of gentleman so
we'll known to us as Mr.. Miner, as an able
jealous and successful investigator Of Penn.
sylvania history. ....
That they concur with him in believing
that il is the duty Of our intelligent and
prosperous fellow citizens throughout the
State, TO give hearty and active aid to such
measures as shall be necessary 10 transmit 10
posteriiy knowledge Of the details of our
history. The extent OF the territory of our
commonwealth, its numerous and increasing
population, The variety and magnitude Of it's
resources, and its relations TO The Republic,
must give peculiar and growing importance
to its career. The principles upon which its
now for the most part common to the other
States of our political union, are exhibited in
our own annals with peculiar advantage of
illustration. In every department of the pub.
lie service Pennsylvauians have contributed
largely TO The materials of our general his
tory; and surely none Of US could conlem-
plate without pam the prospect of our annals
becoming obscure through the negligence of
those upon whom rests The sacred obligation
10 transmit clear record of them 10 future
times.
The arrangements by which we can Sc
cure steady collection, digest and pnblica-
,ion of the materials awaiting our efforts,
must of course be adopted after careful con
side.ation of the special difficulties Of the
case, the nature and situation of those ma
iera's, the degree of our necessary depen-
dence upon voluntary and gratuitous servi-
ces, and the instruction derived from expe-
riencs in other communities as well as in
our own. To be efficient, our machinery or
organization should be as simple and perma-
nent as possible, so as 10 be to the smallest
practicable extent dependent upon The fuc.
tuaiions of local in,eresi, or of periodical
pecuniary support. The funds upon which
we are to rely should be procured with The
least practicable deduction for expenses of
collection and administration, and their ap-
plicaiion should be so directed us 10 concen-
irate the influence of The motives which are
to stimulate The collector of historical mate.
rial and the writer Il is with such views
that the Historical Society Of Pennsylvania
was made an association for the State rather
than for the city in which, on account of it's
origin and the special advantages there a
vailable for literary Iabors, the meetings of
the members have been held. It's privileges
have always been open 10 all Pennsylvani-
ans, without respect to residence, and they
are of character 20 be eminendy useful to
all who choose TO enjoy them according to
tha Avtr n IA knt
literary resources have come from every
quarter of the State and it now enrolls in its
lis, Of members many of our mos, eminent
and useful citizens. 10 accordance with this
patriotic literally OF its plan, the Society,
regarding il as duty 10 place within reach
of every reader at the earliest opportunity
The fruits OF it's accumulations, has laid the
foundation Of a. Trust Fund, the employment
of which, as limited by The terms of the
trust, promises 10 give the earliest and largest
effect 10 the legitimate purposes Of tia, soci-
ETY.. This fund is composed OF subscriptions
of twenty dollars each, for which each sub.
scriber is entitled, during his OF, her life, to
receive a copy ofall publications of the Soci-
ely. The principali is invested as received, and
lhe yearly revenue lherefrom is appropriated
to the objects of tie Trust. Any person may
thus acquire a permanent interest in the So.
.ciely, and right 10 participate in the best
fruits of ils labors.r The advantages Of such
connection with il ha been promptly REQ
cognized aud already numerous subscrip.
lions have been received not only from our
own interior counties, but from other States,
of which ten have contributed 10 the Fund.
This general manifestation Of interest ap-
pears reasonable enough when we consider
how closely the events which belong 10 our
local annals are often related 10 the greater
svolutions Of American history; and how
many occasions must arise for publishing
narratives in which the ciiizsns Of .oiher
Commonweallbs are concerned. The reflec-
| lion has induced the Society 10 RELIEVE the
Trust from restrictions which might other
wise have appeared proper in respect 10 The
locality Of it's sobjecis. The selection ofthe
! materials 10 be printed has been guarded By
making indispensable the consent of both
The Trustees aud the Society.
With such plan, fund which now a.
mounts to nine thousand dollars, and the in.
csa.eo of xyhtrh l. eAntd ,,or, f-n.,, =, ;staa