The national Republican., 1869-01-28

oocioty OF lne Dhtriot OIL Columbia was inau-
gutated with appropriate ceremonies, The
hall, which has Just been completed, is locs.
ted on the south side Of Z street, west OF Tenth
street, and IL one Of the anest 10 the city. The
building IL three stories high, with 4 hand.
some pressed.briek ffont. The nrst story en-
braces two very hne stores, with large plate.
glass windows, and the third story 10 divided
adjoining building on the corner OF Tenth
street. But the main feature, that for which
the hl building sas wa, Put up. 70 the hall on the
with width Of 80 feotj and adjoining IL on the
rear are q committee room, IL by rs, and a
library room, Is by 20 feet The hail 10 reached
x Ssts Safsns stwsy a. s Ss
improvements modern art could suggest.
The hall was allied with large aud inteili.
gent audience, among whom were great mum.
ber Of ladies, Including many Of the leading
Upon The platform were seated the follow.
ing gentlemen, Rev. DR.. Pinekney, DIR. Tho mas
presidenti Dr. Louis Maekall, I'd yiee-presi.
dent, DR.. y W. Lovejoy, corresponding seete-
taryi Or. VIM. Lee, recording secretary, DR..
llbrarianj Drs. J. O, Hall, Lieberman, W. p.
and Joseph II. Bradley, esq.
The meeting was called to order by the pres.
ldent OF the society, DR.. Thomas miller, when
DR.. Howard brieny stated the object Of the
meeting, which, he said, would be opened with
.nsp which aa9isnps could Ss more be-
exercises be dispensed with, and that they at
once proceed with the object for which they
were assembled,
The Rev. DR.. Plnekney, rector Of the Church
Of the Ascension, then delivered an appro.
Dr.. VIM! p. johnson was then introduced to
the audience as the representative Of the
Building COMMITTEE. He said he had been
delegated BY his icolleagues to announce to
the society the completion OF the task as.
sise S and the % erection % Of a suitable @ building
adapted to the wants OF the society. "rhe
building" he said, "ls completed, and now
Ssy. "aSs sSs ssy 10 ;as sss 'Ssss
He then reviewed the efforts OF the society,
which had at this time eliminated In m an.
ner SO satIsfsetory to its members. On the
for the purpose Of procuring suitable build
Ing for the preservation oil the archives Of the
society and for other purposes, with an ex.
On the 27th Of November, 1850, the committee
reported that they had so far failed to effect
the purpose for avariety OF causes. The same
citation, and a committee Of one from each
ward, two from Georgetown, and one from the
county were appointed to carry the resolution
into effect. This effort also failed.
On the l6th OF January, 1867, the society re-
solved to obtain legal advice upon certain
points which hal been raised as to Its power
tS tS h0Id prSpef 'hs gSs ~ shss %9Ssh
that they had all the necessary rights, and on
the 3lst OF May, 1867, they had agreed to buy
the present site, and the president was direct
ed 20 execute the necessary papers. On the
2oth Of August, 1865, having completed their
plans, ground was broken, and from that day
the work had steadily progressed, and to-day
remained TO collect the balance OF the.sub.
scriptions, and the deferred payments Of the
society could be paid, The net revenue, he
buy 10 the stock, and when this was done
there would be an annual Income Of from four
to six thousand dollars, to be used for the
6e1eht Of the society In increasing the library
The objects OF the society In creating this
building, he said, were six:
1. The advance ement Of medical science.
2. The cultivation of taste for medical
literature,
.. The establishment. Of more social and fra.
ternal feeling among its members,
4. The promotion OF that strict morality
which our vocation ineulcates, and the devel.
opment Of that exemplary and high-toned pro-
fessional character to which the medical man
should ever seek to attain.
8. The establishment, under the direction Of
this society, OF dispensary for the city OF
Washington,
which the medical art 10 cultivated, which 10
to secure In the best possible way the interest
OF the public by raising the standard OF medi.
and ornaments which render the medical man
the public.
lie Alluded TO the library which the mem.
bers OF the society had formerly created by do
nations, and which had at one time been quite
respectable, but which from want OF proper
room and the frequent change Of librsrians,
dwindled down until II was thought advisable
to deposit In the National Dlspensary In Ju.
dietary Square, and where the books that re-
mained were burned In the fire which occurred
shortly after the beginning OF the war.
The need OF a library, he said, was great
II was true we had In this city two valuable
iibraries-the Congregational, which was the
General; but books could not be taken away
from either, and to the prsctieing physician
could be of but little service.
They had now but about one hundred and
nifty volumes, including pamphlets, and the
question was, How shall we collect libraryi
The committee cannot do II, for they still have
the rooms to properly furnish and Ut up. The
profession, while 1t yields = handsome com.
petenee, rarely leads to wealth.
One OF our ablest and most honored mem
bers have intimated an intention OF bestowlng
science 10 making rapid strides, and 1t 10 essen.
tlAl that we secure each medical work as It
emanates from the press, for q book worth
writing and worth printing is worth preserv'
ing.
In this question, he said, there were two
parties interested: The physician who sowed
the seeds, and the public who reaped the har.
vestj and was 1t, he asked, unreasonable to
ask the latter to furnish the grain aud seeds I
He had sufficient confidence In the public to
believe that In less than two years the shelves
Of our friends and patients. They did not ask
their assistance In money, but In books. Be-
lieving the society will receive a hearty re.
sponse from the public, the committee propose,
In older to systematize the matter, to prepare
= list OF books, and they propose to have In.
scribed In each book the autog rsph OF the
giver,
Said the speaker! "with what pride and sat.
isfaetion shall we now and hereafter open
these treasures and read the names OF citizenl
cheerfully responded to the cause OF science
learning, morality and humanity"
DR.. Thomas Miller then followed, alluding
buildings to be devoted to the public good He
then, as president Of the society, formally de
dian Of the property, the keys Of the building
and the deeds Of the property.
DR.. J. M. Toner, the librarian, next eongrat
the building, which he said was the hrst OF IT.
| kind In the United States. He urged the ne
| cessity OF the library, and gave some interest
cities.
DR.. Liebermsn, representing the ex.presi
dents OF the society, followed with few re-
marks, full OF wit, and closed by saying he
hoped his breyity would be commended, as h'
was anxious to give way to the "old man elo
quentn from the old town Of Georgetown.
Dr.. Grafton Tyler, Of Georgetown, followed
OF the professionj after which he said he coulI
not take his seat without thanking the ladies
He portrayed woman's patience, cares, hope
love and affection in glowing colors, and tool
his seat amid round OF applause.
The exercises closed with q brief Addresi
from Dr. A. y. A. King In behalf OF the Junio
members OF the society, In which he expressed
| the high esteem In which the Junior members
held their seniors, and the gratitude they fell
In having place where they could meet then
and receive instruction from their experience
and pledging themselves to preserve theiI
| teachings, and as time passes transmit them
in their turn to their successors.
dlction, and the meeting adjourned, every
person present apparently delighted with Thu
evenings entertainment.