M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-02-21
ADDRESS OF HON. B. p, HEWITT
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
Macarthur Literary LyCenni, Feb
@, 1856.
Published by bytesolu,ion of the Lyseum
,'.li'' Z. WELLEs STANLEr, See.)
Ladies and Gentlemen ofths
McATihur Litefaru L,eeu

"hSA'"u' bHE'ufy Lyeeumi
THS manifestation of your confidence
in my abilityto preside over your socie.
ty, evinced in my reelection, brings me
under renewed obligation; and again
! tender to the society thanks for the
honor conferred.
Notwithstanding the frequent ex.
pressions OF confidence in my ability,
and the flatteripg compliments which
the society has been pleased to render
me, and which are crate fully acknowl.
edged, ! am still perplexed with emo.
tlons OF distrust in my own ability tC
discharge properly the important du.
ties devolving upon me, and impressed
with the belief that many persons ar,
connected with the society better 0ual
itied 10 preside over your deliberations
In my feeble attempt to comply with a
rule Of the society requiring Of the
President ar inaugural address, deen,
tia matter OF justice to myself 10 in,
form the society Of the TACT that with.
in the past week my time has been EN-.
pIoyed in the discharge of official du.
ties so complex, x,nHmerous, and peremp-
tory in character, that any procrastina.
ton would have proved highly detrim-
entail to the public interests. --
In the few remarks that shall offer,
brief reference will be made 10 the past
history OF our society, its present pros.
porous condition and future prospects
And, although We are comparative.
y in cur infancy and little more thar
a year OF pratcal experience has beer
ours, yet We have abundant rea on tc
congratulate ourselves on the proud DO,
sition We have attained and the beneti.
cial results We have already realized
and v hich ominousy predicts for US a
brilliant and successful future. lr
vie~ therefore oil enhancing our intel
ectnal interests aud the promulgation
OF useful knowledge, let us continue to
devote every available facnlty the G cd
ct nature has endowed us with, ard
thereby attain "a consummation devo.
utly 10 be wished" In retrospec,ion ]
will advert to the fact, that many per.
sons misunderstanding the character Of
the materials with which our society
was formed, predicted its early disso Ia.
lion; and though the epitaph designed
by them to perpetuate our memory and
elucidate the fallacy OF our project for
the benefit ot pos Gritty, has become
somewhat obliteiated by time and cir
cumstanees; yet we still survive, vi!o-
rous, heallhinl prosperous. Nor could
the originators and founders of our so>
ciety have anticipated a more rapid
growth a agreater degree OF mental i'm
proyement, or intense interest manifest
|ed, then has been our tonup to realize
! am inclined to believe tie fsct sell
evident, that not only sucIiof lob az
are members and have Participated Ia
the exercise OF our society, but all who
have grsciously favored sAdichperedIn Ins
with their tair faces and attentive ears
have not only been interested and in
slructedbut have received many pefma>
uant and beneficial impressions.
The committee whose duty it has
1T and report TO the society
been 10 selyv. IN, bsye 20 ahyI
q aIne,iioai lsg dIscGSsnn. =