Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-02

John c Newton, } Frank Allen Stephen Salisbury,
Jr. james Draper, j Milton Earle, George Jacques,
Or Samuel Fagg, j Il l. Pickiord, Henry Wood
ward, Emory Banister, Horatio Phelps, p l. Moen,
Charles Richardson, Stephen Foster and Henry
l. Parker, of Worcester; Paul Within and Geo
Cruickshanks, Whitinsville; Jonathan Wheeler,
Grafton Joseph Lowell, West Boy lston Newell
Wood, Millbury.
DR.. Francis made a brief speech of accept
ancc, expressing his desire for the progress of
the society.
The society voted TO change its bylaws so as
to allow Of the election of such a number of
trustees as the annual meeting may decide in
no case not less than twenty-five to be elected;
aud a vote was passed instructing the president
to petition the legislature to grant the right to
the society to hold real and personal property to
an amount not exceeding S15OOOO The com
mittce on a change in the location of the hall
was continued in office,
| The treasurer, Mr.. S. II. Cotton, presented his
| annual report showing the total receipts of the
society for the year to be 81 ,4S6 49, the receipts
OF the annual exhibition were SS03, and the eX-
penses were 5000 65 part of which was for la
bes, &C., which are the property of the society.
The report showed Il balance of S27S 81 due the
treasurer. The amount of premiums paid the
past year has been S547, and about 800 in addi-
ton, which was awarded, has not been called
for. The report was accepted.
The secretary, DR. Francis, reported at con-
siderable length, first giving detailed statements
show ing the success ATTENDING the annual eX-
| hibitiOn, the weekly exhibition and the special
| exhibition of pears on the 18th Of October.
| The report also mentioned the the banquet
| given in celebration of the eXtinguishment of
! the society debt on the 29th OF Septem-
her 'llp amount OF the hooks and
| periodicals belonging to the library has been
| almost exactly the same as during the previous
| year. There have been added to the library,
| during the past year, torty-nine vol
| umes, many OF them of great value.
During the year thirty-ive names have
been; added to the roll OF members.
the secretary also noticed several necessary
| improvements. The weekly meetings give to
| an unprCjudIced spectator no striking evidence
of a general public interest. The statistics of
contributions are somewhat impressive when
summed up at the end of a year, but were GER
tain faithful few to withdraw their support from
these little gatherings, there would be a woiul
shrnkagc in the figures. In word, am con-
WINGED that this society shows few evidences of
| healthy growth and vigor. The causes of this
| tendency to dccline-lor with US not to advance
| is TO fall back--are especially two: lst-Our
building is no lon9er proper place for the
headquarters Of the society. 2d-By gong over
the same ground year after year, the pathway OF
routine, which was once convenient guide has
been worninto ruts and become too familiar and
mOuOtOnOuS.
The report spoke at some length of the impera-
tive demand for more convenient headquarters,
and gave the following as Il statement of partic-
ular needs OF the society, for which money
| should be Immediately expended:
1st-Suitable rooms for the library and for
| smaller exhibitions.
21-A liberal schedule of premiums carefully
| planned to attract amateur as well rs profession
| al gardeners.
3I-Geuerous and systematic additions to the
library, especially Of the standard works of ref
| crcuce in all the branches which it should
| properly include
4th--Adequate compensation to those upon
whom the drudgery falls, especially to the Secre-
tary and librarian The present salary is none
too liberal Il return for the many demands upon
the time of tins officer, and in the future the
abors are likely TO be largely increased.
MILITARY.-rhe Montgomery Light Guard,
of Boston, will give an exhibition drill, at
Music hail. this evening. This company was
organized in 1S65, with Timothy A. Hurley,
captain, b. i. Finan, the present colonel of the
| 9Th regiment, being first lieutenant The COM
pany being in a short time attached to the 9th
regiment, the field and staff conceived the idea
of bringing the d.ferent companies of the regi-
tlltHt lb1tiutl III NulHpNlltlNN III III iOi thN
championship of the regiment. The first con
test for the flag took place on the 9th of October,
| 1866, on Boston common, and was won by
the AloutgomeryS, they continuing to assert
their claims each succeeding year till the
flag became their property. In 1867,
b. +. Finan became captain. Shortly after the
regimenta prize drill of that year, a challenge
was issued by him to any company in the state.
The challenge was accepted by the RoXbmy
City Guards. The drill took place on Boston
common, in the presence of fifty thousand
| spectators, the Montgomerys again winning.
Subsequently, a challenge to any company in
the United States, through the Army and Navy
Journal, was accepted by the Webster Guard
| of the 18Th New York State National Guard,
| Captain McAfee. The drill took place in New
York city, July Both, of the same year. in the
| presence Of between seventy and eighty thou
| sand persons. Here, for the first time,
| the AIoutgomerys were defeated, according
to the decision of the referee, who, it
afterwards appeared, was the brother-in-law of
| Captain McAnec, the Judge on his side being
| his own brother. Notwithstanding all difficult
tics, the press of the city conceded their SUI
! periOrity to their rivals. A number of citizens
of New York believing this superiority so mani
| fest, presented them with a flag valued at five
| hundred dollars.
The company has engaged in two contests
with Philadelphia companies, in both Of which
| they were triumphant. They have since visit
ed nearly all the large cities in New England,
giving exhibition drills, till they were cha-
| b,, t,n ri locf
| March, to drill them for the championship of
the state. The drill took place last May, and
established the superiority of the Montgomerys.
| The company has always been actuated by de-
sire to raise the standing of the militia compa-
MES in this state by genlemanly department
and excellence in drill.
| The Guard will arrive here shortly after three
| O'Clock this afternoon, and will be received by
company Is, State Guard. They will have a
street parade the Worcester brass band having
been engaged for company b, and the Mont.
gomerys having their own large drum corps.
| The State Guard. last evening" voted to author
iAe Capt Boydcn to offer the visitors the use of
the new armory for headquarters.
Republican Mass HHeetIng-speeches by
Hon. Henry Wilson, DIR. Geo. B. LOr-
ing, amd Hon. p. Emory AIdrieh.
Mechanics hall was filled last night by repub-
licans of the city, who rallied to hear the excel
lent speeches promised; aud they were not dis
appointed. The National cornet band was sta
toned in the front gallery, and played while the
audience were taking seats; and at eight o'clock
the speakers came in and took seats upon the
platform, accompanied by the mayor and prom
inent citizens. Hon. Heury W. Corbett, senator
from Oregon, was also present and sat upon the
platform. The speeches were not l0Hg--the
three speakers occupying only about an hour
and thrce-quarters; but they were TO the point,
and met with hearty responses in the applause
OF the enthusiastic listeners,
Mr.. Henry G. Rice, in behalf of the republican
city committee, called the meeting to order and
read the following list of officers for the evening,
which was adopted:
President-nOn, Emory Aldrich
Wee PresIdents-Hon II Bullock Hon Henry