The daily gazette., 1878-06-03
The Historical Society.
TAKING POSSESSION OF ITS NEW QUAR-
TERs-ADDREssEs BY HON. d. NJ.
BATES, HON. I. r. BAYARD AND
HON VIM O. wUITEJEy

bAlEo, iiONs H r. bA1 AhD AND
HON. WIN. g. WHITLEY.
The Historical Society of Delaware,
having obtained possession of the ancient
and historic building known as the old
First Presbyterian Church, on Market
street, below Tenth, formally opened its
new quarters, on Saturday evening, by a
public meeting, which was attended by as
many persons as could gain admittance
into the venerable structure. Among
those present was Mr.. Ward, Secretary Of
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
The meeting was presided over by Hon.
Daniel Nj. Bates, and was opened with
excellent music on the piano and violin,
by Messrs. Greiner, Shank and Kurtz,
followed by an appropriate prayer from
Rev. F. B. DuVal, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church.
The president then made brief ad-
dress which he opened by announcing that
the members of the Society could con-
gratulate themselves ON at last receiving a
permanent home. 1t was new era in the
progress of the Society, and gave promise
for the future of an enlarged influence
and an assured prosperity.
The Historical Society, he said, was Or
ganized on May 81, 1864. The idea of its
organization was promoted by the Execu-
tive Committee of the Wilmington Insti-
tute and was an instance of how one pub
lie improvement will lead to the inau-
guration of others of an entirely differ
ent character. The Society was organiz-
ed without any demonstration or ecidt i;
there were but few present, but they were
men to whom a noble work brings its
- "A
Revolutionary families of the State was
represented in the person of Judge Reed,
of Pennsylvania. Judge Hall presided,
and none present were more thoroughly
identified with tina history and honor of
the State than he. There was also pres
ent a committee from the Historical So
ciety of Pennsylvania-comp of
Judge Reed, Colonel Snowden and Mr..
Jones-bearing expressions of sympathy
and interest. Judge Reed made an adj
dress and Col. Snowden read valuable
paper on nthe History of Pennsylvania and
Delaware.
In the fourteen years of its existence
the Society has accomplished some visible
and useful results. 1t has done much in
gathering together large amount of
material for future usefulness. 1t has
awakened the sympathy and interest of
the people, as has been evidenced by a
variety of donations from year to year,
comprising objects of interest, relics,
books and valuable papers. 1t has also
received several contributions of money,
chief of which are $500 from Miss Bedford,
$500 from the representatives of the late
Judge Hall, and $500 from Miss Shipley.
These contributions have been carefully
preserved as fund in honor of the donors
only the income arising therefrom being
used for the current expenses of the So
ciety. Another important recognition
was by the Legislature-expressive of the
interest of the State in the Society. The
appropriation of the State is to be expend-
ed upon the publications of the Society,
and it is hoped to make it the nucleus of
larger fund for the purpose.
The Society has also received the
friendly recognition of other Societies,
and has obtained from them many valu-
able contributions. One of the chief rea-
sons for desiring publication fund is to
| enable the Society to reciprocate these
| favors.
In conclusion the speaker referred to
the occupancy by the Society of its per-
| manent home in an ediflce so peculiarly
| adapted by its associations for this purpose.
No marble palace, he thought, could be as
| delightful as this ancient structure, itself a
monument of historic associations. he
then welcomed the audience to the exer-
cises of the evening.
The corresponding Secretary, DR.. l.. p.
Bush, read list of the donations received
during the past month, and after more
| music Senator Bayard was introduced and
was received with applause.
| In opening Senator Bayard said that
nothing could be more impressive than
to see this old building continued and
preserved in the possession of society
organized for the purposes of truth in it.
self. This society was organized not SO
much fort the purpose of writing history,
as representing facts. The truth of history
he said, seems at times paradox, and as
an illustration aforementioned the first five
books of the historian Procopius, in which
he painted the career of the emperor JUS
tinianEand his wife Justina in the highest
terms ofadulation. They were described
as angels of light, and their reign as be-
ing most benefcent and wise. After
wards two other books were discovered
in which he took back all that was writ
| Lell lilIHb urSI i've, anu uOPiSoSN UiiS'iA q"
monsters in human form, and their career
as worthy only of human execration. As
to which of these books was true, history
hasas yet furnished no clue.
| This view was still further illustrated
by the relation of an incident in the ca
reer of Sir Walter Raleigh, who, while a
prisoner in the Tower Of London saw
from his window an archer slain in the
garden. He was summonedto the trial of
the murderer, but when he heard other
witnesses who claimed to be eye-witnesses
of the affair testifying to facts so entirely
different from those observed, by him
he refused to testify and going back to his
cell destroyed the history of the world up
on which he was engaged because, he al
legged, if things which happened before his
eyes could be so distorted, what could he
write of things which happened in the
past.
The object of Historical Society, said
the speaker, is to divide truth from false
hood, winnow the real from the unreal,
and give an abiding place where truth can
he recorded without malice, eXtenuat1on