, 1863-11-25
Inc Annual Meeting Of tho Chtcaro
Historical Snriefv


large number, Amounting toupwasds of $50 Of til
members, patrons and fsieIds OF the Society. AL
avery brilliant company Of distinguished An
fashionable ladies'.
The business ofthe meeting was opsned by Psct
Etq., who read for the annual address paper upo
the history Of Banking in the state OF nllnol.
which our space this evening fothids to make Al
leugthened notice Of We may Say OF It, ho we're,
that it was very rapid and luminous sketch O
the various genuine and bogus banking opesa
tiona to which We have been treated from the var
commencement Of our civilization; auo whe,
printed We have no doubt It will be = very yalns
BILE contribution to the archives OF tho us.or1ca
Society.
The Rev. DR.. Barry then read the annual report
and before we Introduce this interesting and clio
Que1t document to the reader, It is bnt matte
Of simple Justice 10 Dr.. Barry to ray that from tn
commencement Of tho Society, up to the presen
hour, he has been the Life and soul OF il. His en-
e1gy, intellect and perseverance have been malnl,
instrumental In bringing the Society not onl,
Ito Life, but into vigorous manhood. To him tn,
Society ie indebted Tor It's present high status
for the influence which 1t possesses In the Eat
as VIII a. in the West. and to his uotieiag indus
Try 1t ls also indebted for tho Immense collectio,
Of valuable, my invaluable, books, pamphlets
NapB. ttpoSts, newtpsptrr, amounting In ali Il
more than seventy thousand volumes, Whici
swell the immense catalogue OF the association
to Ehtch It ID real, and not fictitious, honor Il
belong.
We do Iot forget, however. in this just tribatt
q p!a!ee TO Ds. 1a1ty, the generous and noble
nflcr year, have mst at tie councils Of lie sssp @
c!ation, strengthening the hands Of the Secretary
By their e5mphthy and kind words Of encourage
nent giyioR him heart as well Is will, to work lo1
1twould be invidlous to rame names where al
are gEest, memoefs, and oon-membere indeed, and
where I'll bare pToEed themselves great, noble and
subject is, may you all, gentlemen, coatiuue to be
noble and unsel6sh to the end.
DT; Barry'e report yi1l speak for itsalf-Ar bit.
ter than VIC can speak fol. tive only regret that
OF tts fatt proportions.
A Brttish writer has recently been bringing ia
the test Of modern historical criticism the charges
the most fragrant ones wholly unsupported by the
evidence produced The Count de bedojere, whc
lately died At Paris At good old age, had devoted
large portion Of biz life to the collection OF ever
possible memorial, written o. otherwise, OF tht
French Revolution Of 1883; and at bis destl
ha cole ctiope numbered betwt en- aYc aud six huu
dred Thousand, ard during the last summer thel
Imperial Library It Paris, at cost Of % Q ffanc
-and were considered very cheap at thst.
Theee two examples were cited to illustrate ou]
modern adSancenent In the genuine 1abors OF His
nees OF modern research to selze the facts aud M
tetiala OF history as they arise-nct trusting te
lonse tradition and waiting until all contemporary
true purreYor to legitimate history is be WIN
"snAtehcs the moments as they n.y." and with in.
tntttve saSacity and never stacking diligence gath
ere N tne broad and feeminE harvest Of The ressnt
lATtNr II The ~ IN lrNt
the 11tuIe.
:, It nay be doabted. however. whether this
tnopeht ls yet fully understood by modern histo-
for olden relics than 10 pluck the golden ruit oi
the earneet thought and action Of the living pres
ent- Indeed, the world poorly measures. yet. the
ridlcnled for his conceit charitably pitIed for
Ms nononantas. Who has been the batt ofmore
pleasantly ths3 n1 BSswsll: and yet bat for hls
world would never have fully known the sturdy
actoc1at Of the English tea-table. nor he have
reached the o'ynp!an height Of Ills tame and
powtr. -
The superior value and importance Of the hIsto-
1ical memorials Of the living present aud 4 etrik-
ipg illustration IN the pending gigantic struggle
Gas exh ss sas eptess wn
many are apt to overlook the ideas, principles and
npmentors issues 70 humanity, government inter
national law, and The f1tnrs destiny Of our race,
A4NtA1S4AE A&t4c E&A 01A SGt kIAUQ mVfEm&4tx NO
cytnt, perhaps, since the beginning OF he Chris.
tian era, teems as significant and momeutous In
Its possible results TO our race, unless It be the
gsas uR@sssnS q religions thought snd aspiration
ofa new civilization bnrst upon the world It is
tie profound eense all tbouc chtlu1 minds hare OF
the tolfnn ard yaet issues now awaiting the de-
msGy TO the zo1l of oar conntry's martyrs, aud
evoked alike ths prayer Of faith. the ffee-wiil
offering Of our na'ton's wealth, and the yet more
spbnme deTotion 3f our brothers and cons in the
mesa 20 The tftk, wounded and dying 10 drld, or
camp, or hospital: All! how little Goes The world
abr, ad measure the unntte:ahle anxiety, the ftar-
u1sca ctabls Providence, which have accompa.
MED the cling and often terrible scenes In this
great P1oride1tial drama Of our country!
A:ppny hs: our young city displayed 4 patriotic
alnnle.
A he first ou.brt al Of the rebellion, they
Of our national compact, aud affecting. also. The
very foundation Of civil government, eiIcttsd dis-
cnes1on. The Inauguration, at Fort Sumter, OF
Civil VA then provoked warm and earnest debate
OF ton, and especially the right to suspeud
habeas corpua, one Of the efgcAl pre1osativee OF
IT Frseoon. 70 be tnvaded only II extreme necessity
Incidentally and yet urgently pressed upon us
the important que stlons OF finance and currency
af9 theee- LOO, al ettets when the national credit
bad set med nesr utter humiliation. The Preai-
oelt's aut,ci1atn,y and dnal ProclAnations o,
Emancipation fh' n opered new and startling
debate. Of Tast p1oporr1one and momensous Issues.
9Pa.oa va *lds'
Go' seiyed 10 infame the public mind aud threat
eutd the 1stsobal unity ard harmony.
Consequent upon this eveptful measure was the
tbett capacity as citizens and soldiers: whils ths
narftd ptogre 80 Of tie natlo1Al arms, by sea aud
leho. Jed 70 new Inventions in naval construction
ana IMPROVE ordnance, which. with the actual dc.
ta'ls and changing policies OF the war h4ve called
70! u tnnnIne'Able publications and discussions.
TO ttete n.sy be added the vital ard fmoottant
aneaaaofs OF international law, growing ont Of our
countries, Al Of which Inspired the proIoundest
ap1iety, nl,d eeem. to menace, In their ultimste
Feastso, ~! 3; ne peace g! tae whole void
Ha,, aud OF such momeItous questtong as It his
brcnght TO the ordeal OF public opinion merit the
'ielstl e1d unre mitted zeal Of every historical
ssocsasM ior their most complete collection and
tcu1e pteseffaGo1. The rasl and rapid move
hthts of opItoo 1t fnch period. and among 4
'fest and free people. ere mltrnred IN the mytlad
eeafs r 9ook o. Or msga
i thorEat ros! on. and like the oracular
caves OF the Sgbil must BE- snatched a. they fy.
!! = oe lost When the deadly ard te.rtbls etrtfs
1T shall be. u probably lo one here p,esent
oubts 1t will b.. redeemed r. sto ed aud t!auuufl
zed unotT the favos Of wlee AID mercifal dad
nun klahuy on'lsrtEg the tlzo-s Of its second
real b'f1h hour, Iot we ourselves oniY, but the
sit nd good OF all lands will scan with caeer In
uitlttrtness tbs accumulated records OF dtaua
E'gsi ue IN tt p.opordots, so marvellous In its
nste aud poss!ble tsEuea. The Republic, which,
q IT'S. tlst1+d a1d was co:ceded ,ts place smoEr
ttioos. IL IoE at the tar Of the. worlds jud.:-
y fG r. eRs',1 tse Of ~
ie stcnc u IS foetal fabric. When tie verdict il
o te proI.ounctd. lst not the teztimooy be fouad
This Society, which h:s Fought to do its p.1t. aa
hs ch:on:cs., Of ihe present, as W. ~ festo-er
mo eoIseIvatsr Of The past, Commentaries, this
;vthing, It. eighth anniversary. The resnlts Of
Il leet 81 hr = !Rbofa m4y be summed up in fe v
&C d.. IT. library coleettole sor the yearamornt
% II c16. OF which we.e:
Aggregate
gsrou5e books ard panphiets. s,Ss IS 5i 5i;sas
Elles u ewepspe1s e1s........-. d iG1
Did hnd rare b~wtpapess. % Sad
4 i: spt arn cha1ts. lo5 1,0t7
sE'nts: T s,h. Photographs. DE-. = is
;oiiecto1e Of Of n.itcelsnie:.... q 8
M Totals lss..;...-.:;:.....--.-. 1908 7o,qa
1hs collections Of the past year came from 6i3
Re U11on. ttd, nay add, from almost every de.
'a1tment Of the Amy. A very large part OF Them
re or the waE. The manuscripts (outuumbeEfnc
" Our previous collections for orer eix yearsl are
9Th few e1c9 pt1ous, Eom our soldiers ii tbe
slc|tts st own patriotic letters. OF the tspoils Of
- taSen is @ fI1m tAe enemy, The wa.-wo.n ban
'n1 keeping, for posterIty. e~~ ~
The yesr has not been wanting in substantial nd.
lai,oIs 70 onr original AID written history. Be-
literary remains Of The late rtvered Geo1ge Flover.
re have added to our dles many othes valuable
ninnstr1pt MT mo1isls Of The early settlement Of
be West, sid of "dsst things" in our midst. "a
etailed tnuEe,ation Of these was given, which