The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-08
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Opening or the New Fireproef RuAl,tiny-Ad-
dresses OF Hon. Luther Bradish, Hon. George
Bancroft, Rev. DR.. Adams and Rev. DIR. Be-
thnne.

BANCROFT, Rev. DIR. Adams and Rev. DIR. Be-
thune.
The opening Of tho flreproof building which was
erected for this institution the Of Second
and Tenth street, took place Tuesday evening" on the
occasion Of its regular monthly meeting The handsome
and spacious lecture room crowded TO its utmost
pacy by the members of the society, among WHOM
Hon George Bancroft, Dr. j. w Francis Rev Dr. Adams
Rev. DR.. Bethune, Rev. Dr. De Witt, Mr. Brodhead
Rev. Dr. Robinson Rev. Dr. Van Pelt, Mr. Frederick De-
peyster, Hon. Mr. schen, Mr. Charles King, Mr. William
Chauncey, Treasurer of the Society Mr. Andrew Warner
Recording Secretary and Mr. George Moore Librarian
The meeting opened by Hon. Luther Bradsh the
President Of the Society," and prayer said by Rev Dr. De
Witt The President, after calling the meeting to order,
made the following appropriate address
We are at length assembled for the first time under our
own roof The New York Historical Society has passed
its nomadc state and hns at last found fixed per-
manent home. From wandering for half century, the
tenants at will Of others, this evening to take
possession, of this beautiful temple with all
its ample accommodations, and to dedicate them TO the
of history and Of artof history its broaiest
sense and OF illustrations history Here for
the benefit of the present and future generations will his
tory garner up its treasures. Here win each succeeding
age, for the instruction of those to after it, bring
record OF the events of time And here too the
future will the Genius OF History from tcse accumulated
treasures construct its varegated but harmonious
tiveshowng the relations and dependencies OF apparent
ly isolated events and exhibiting the great truth thst
histories Of seemingly detached periods instead of form
ing integral subjects complete in themselves but
Of the universal system OF that Providence which, inf
mite intelligence and wisdom, governs the world Here,
too, in this lifting temple will art lend the light and the
fascination of its illustrations to the great truths
of history The genius which inspired the Imagination
and guided the pencil of Raphael, of Michael
Angelo, Of Rnbens, and OF Murlio, will hereafter
these walls with its beautiful creations illustrative of the
the manners and the events Of the tme prove
to mankind that in art the present is not inferior the
past the New World to the Old. Sculpture too whose
magic power can call from the inert and shapecss
the ideal semblance of animated and intellectual life even
in its sublmest formsi which can give TO marble its
chse traces the graceful neaments OF female form
loveness, the combined expression of the shrinking
delcacy Of female modesty and the and dignity OF
conscious virtue; which, its magical transformations
exhibit in the quarried block the first of civi
zaton and the first springng of celestial hope the
som of graceful daughter Of the forest or can in marble
symbolic tbs ETHEREAL spirits flight from darkness into
light, and from time TO cternythis noble art will here
after adorn these galleries with the productions Of
genius and prove TO the world that America too fur
nsh names worthy to be associated with those of Thor
wadsen and Canova, of Phidias and Praxiteles The
burn Of the engravcr, too will lend its aid TO enrich
galleries and in its representations of both painting and
sculpture exhibit the magic Of light and shade the grace
OF outline and the beauty Of design Thus will these
eral departments Of art conspe TO Illustrate and give
tiona interest to the truths of history and thereby
advance the proper objects of this society Ten
years have passed away since the project of this
building first received definite form In ls47 the New
York Historical society, comparatively then few in
bers and feeble in peounary resources but deeply i'm
pressed with the great and increasing value of library
and collections and with the danger to which they
exposed took the ncpent steps for the erection Of
FIRE proof eGce for the reception and of that
library and those collections and for the general
modaton Of the society This enterprise under the
cumstances, might we'll it did, to the timd and even
prudent seem hardy II indeed bold. For the socie
ty resolved upon undertaking OF greatmagntude and
portance involving large expenditure Of money, without
having in its treasury asngle dollar for Its achievement
But the society relied upon the intelligence and known
hberaty of New York, in the confident belief that her
public spirit would permit object Of such conceded
merit and Of great public TO fail for
Of the necessary means for Its accomplishment 1t was
therefore, determined that an appeal accompanied by
statement Of facts should be made to the public general
w. the friends OF historical literature
for aid in the accomplishment Of this great object Of
general interest Most noby did the public Of New York
respond TO this appeal and by ts lberalty and public
spirit promptly furnishing the requisite pccuniary
means fully justify the confidence Of the society and the
wisdom Of its enterprise To collect and apply those
means, however has required long time great effort
and continued perseverance. But the which has
at length crowned perseverng effort, should render
insensibe the cxerons which have achieved that
cess and In the important good thus accomplished we
should forget the personal sacrifices IL has cost and
gard only the hopes inspires and tho increased
responsibilities involves. On the 18th of October 1855
this enterprise, thus commenced, had progressed with
such encouraging success that the of
present building laid, and the work thenceorward
steadily advanced That Iiberaly and public spirit which
nobly manifested at the inception Of this enter
prise still accompanied It's continued prosecution, until
this finished and beautiful structure you now behold the
consummation Of enterprise commenced in weakness
but in hope perseverngy prosecuted in anxiety and with
great effort and at length crowned with ample and
success The two cardinal conditions also upon which
this enterprise undertaken, have been faithfully oh
10 be flreproof II Is substantially so and, when
completed debt to remain upon the society ON
account OF H. This, also, Is The report of the
Trustees Of the Bading Fund which will be presented to
you In the course oi the evening, will among other
resting details announce the gratifying fact that after
faithfully dschargng every just obligation incurred pro
curing the site and the erection Of this 1rcproo ed
fee there will still remain OF this special fund
balance to towards the furnishing Of the building for
the Of the society The further required
pete the payments for the necessary furniture Of the
building, alone now remains 10 be provided for. vo
luntary contribution OF very few dollars from each
member Of the society wonld abundanty supply the def
cioncy and fully accomplish the desired object o finally
closing this great enterprise This small sum would IN
each bear but very ncensiderabe proportion
greatly Increased accommodations and advantages pro
cured to each member Of the society by the very ac
tory completion Of this enterprise. Thus the original
and important conditions Of this enterprise this
ing fulfilled Your building Is essentially freproof and
there win remain upon the society, Of and
its site debt, except, indeed OF deep gratitude to
those munccnt patrons Of the enterprise who have gene
rously furnished the means Of it, accomplishment To
those generous patrons point 10 this new and
beautiful structure enduring and ht monu-
meut TO their own hberality and public spirit.
To the SOCIETY generally who originally pro.
coted and undertook this enterprise and has watched
with the deepest interest ts progress and Completion
present this noble edince with all is tasteful
ments lie ample accommodations and admirable adap
taton 10 objects the reward of is enterprise its
perseverance, and its ultimate and complete with
the successful accomplishments Of this enterprise
and brighter era In the history &C this society iuaugu
rated With these enlarged accommodations and these
greatly increased facilities for the prosecution and accom-
corrcspondney increased IN proportion IS libra
ry and collections rendered more safe and avaa
bic will be the nduccmcnt and the obligations of the society
oexend the former and enlarge the latter That these
and increased responsibilities will In the future be fully
and honorably met by the society have
In lis past history. But for the ability 10 meet In III
and becoming manner these new and Increased rcspons
bilites by increased activity, enlarged operations and
extended usefulness, must still look to the
tnved encouragement and patronage Of that generous pub
lie which smiled bengny upon the infancy Of the
ciety; which has generously lostercd ts youth and
xxh will mt will fg
hood the encouragement may hereafter need and
shall deserve. let then be our object n society
fully TO merit tho patronage seek Let u.s. In entering
upon the and brilliant career uow opened be-
fore 20 forward with energy and increased zeal
and by udicious administration and greater activity
operations justify the appeals made 10 the public In
behalf giving back to that public the cultivated fruits
OF its munifcence; and thus rendering this society
what, " wisely conducted, i cannot faii 10 beboth
ornament and blessing 10 New York and country
Az the conclusion OF the Presidents address the report
of the Trustees Of the Building Fund read by Mr. Ere
derrick Dcpeytcr This document In addition 10 many other
things stated the gratifying fact that the building and all
lie appurtcnances had not only been paid for, but that
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