New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-17
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING-ADDREss BY THE REV. DIR.
MORGAN.
The Historical Society met last night In their
hall corner secondaye. and Eleventhst TO celebrate
the Gsh anniversary organization The venerable
Dr. De Wit occupied the chair. After prayer, offered
by the Rev. Adams. the chairman introduced tho Rev
Dr. Morgan Rector OF ~. Thomass Church. who spoke
on the subject Of Conservatism The speaker prefhced
bs remarks by referring to the occasion when the
Society held high festival In the Academy OF Music just
one year ago wheu surrounded by scene OF indscrb-
able speudor with the intellect aud culture OF our city
about him. the great historian OF our time delivered the
ann ycrsary address The chairman on that memorable
night ow occupies the highest seat OF honor among the
ol.res Of tho President and the orator fills the re-
sropsble Office OF Minister Penpotentary 70 the Court
~ ~ Jaiurs IL IL a credit TO the Society that
two of members have been summoned % the direction
&. Affairs. lie spoke feelngly too OF (rs stevens ANA
oo,n OF whose virtues the Society Will ever cherish
grateful recollection Passing To nis topic tho speaker
taid There - prejudice more hrmiY seated III 'no
UnUular mind than that conservatism Is the foe To
progress This Is not an unnatural pIJualce. nhoIo
srong feeling enlisted the intrusion OF doubt or the
suggestion OF diihGulty Is AZ once tahoh 70 h9a "
sun h tho mind OF the lmpulsiEo anu IuPe' S
49, AXE homogeneous 10 the time. and out
OF place In law II Is 10 them the spirit oil endless deay
le,c prcredents the mOckery Of Justice In theology it
Is the cngine 10 platforms, the ryeng 10 creehs ana
dogmas aud forms. In physc 1t II tine eRpioded theor
of tho ancient cnprc; and IN legislation u arrays selt
Inn robes OF dignity prcscrbes nostrums OF eNpedhhcy
pressing ts spirit In letters II Ia the censor GRIM
hypcrcfiticaI, petulunt who thrnsts his pruning
hook among the highest branches OF speculllOh ana
eXuberUnt fancy. ana casting l's nUEun ~ p , -,
bright heathfu theory chllls u 10 utt Win ls
- I,rge No word I'm our vocabulary carries with 10
miscOncepuon widespread IL Is not strange laI this
n longs 10 be dnlsed Seldom has quiokeing Thought
been conceived that It his not struggled TO burst Iorh
into lie and light 20 bless the world Ana Wheh u ioe,s
sound Judgment pa-sionless and calm ana u
stared at by blank incrcduly' anu shockeu
bY the hollow laugh OF skeptcisln no wonder that con
rvntslu credited by the popular mind with the posses
son of the attributes OF these tuIee hustcrc
be most cordially dcspsed IL has been coupled WIN tne
worst associations Of the past ana sun returns tS WI,
scent Of ancient prescription tyranny ana Dloou Why
should IL be branded with this reproachi ~ was NOT S
spirit OF conservatism that prompten INC HIan' .,
ages TO narrow the limits OF human hDeity' ~ Nas
moi To preserve truth but 20 crush IT, that despots
d n reason IN speak and priests death 10 think t
But the past IL not annhlated Uneven NOT lers Aey
their ruins by moderns Rene IL none the iSSS a
because the elements OF its laws are spread Inc more
the past Is incorporated viii tue Prson to ,h rerrd
rovereneed much the more does u eNoko tno eHu
lie denied the assumption that poetry snoulu u7 a
robes IN the preSent. D aSaI WAS mpershabiy
grand in the ancient world was WIN us
The past with US IN the home ana ABROAD heippH
fashion our antiquity TO the poet VINO nU e d
practically OF the present say ne mas TINS no" M
TRANSPORTED with all the eores OF the oS g b 1S ana
that Homer had aud more AL that Dahte m a,, d
more The present is the guardian OF the past, nId
the one should DO blended Ti'n old i"0 things new
He charged ratonalism and infdelity on tno 1
which shown 10 the ola, anu IN
conservatism He said IL would not be thouRn i
OF conservatism turn tho face OF the onusoh
toward the face OF suffering humanity ana ne sau ho
confidently anticipated the time when the ohurcn woul
be lifted from the grooves whefo tho Ia'nvi - 800
And m was no heresy to which the time mSne speeu
lie continued to show what kind OF snon,
be adopted In the Church. and predoteu tnat ~ Sou
anon preya In law was next considered
In conclusion. he congratulated inc oooiey UPON tno
nromse which it showed OF DelnR III assu
rstion. the condition of the country IN which
is established He closer sea W ~ 1nnye
addressed to the Society and is iu'o, ,o,o 81,
on OF Judge PgSooay unanimous 9ar inc vSe p.
a i1n "a cony OF which will be placed among the
hiyes Of the Society. The meeting adjourned at VI
odd