Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-16
NEAR HALF A CENTURY.
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S
FORTLETH ANNIVERSARY.

The Annual Meeting Last Night-Ths
Librarians Report for 1sS5-The So
eiety's FinanceA-GettIng Ready fOI
the Opening Of the Academy Of Arts
and Sciences Next May.
The Georgia Historical Society held its
| fortieth annual meeting at Hodgson hall
last night. The constitution provides that
the annual meeting shall be held on Feb. II
except when that date falls on Friday,
Saturday or Sunday, in which case the
meeting shall be held on the following
Monday. Feb. II this year fell on Friday
and the meeting was in consequence de.
ferred until yesterday.
1t is customary to have an address and
public exercises in observance OF the an.
niYersary, but owing to the formal open
ing OF the Telfair Academy Of Arts and
Sciences, which will probably take place
about May l, # was deemed advisable
To do away with any public
observance in connection with
the societys anniversary and
tue meeting was occupied In receiving
the annual reports OF officers and dis.
cussing such matters as relate to the
soeiety's interests. Gen. G. M. SOrrel,
ADtAhA PACnidchb8 pItbiuGut EAtbct tue
usual preliminary proceedings the Treas
urer's and librarians reports were re-
celVed.
The Librarian, Mr., William Harden,
submitted an interesting statement of the
operations Of the library. He referred at
some length to the large number Of books
in circulation and the extensive use Of the
reading room during the past year. This
he considered the more remarkable when
hon 90 81
library during that time. In this con-
nection Mr.. Harden urged that a strong
effort be made to increase the number OF
books in order that the library may be
able to meet any demand which may
be made upon any of its departments.
At times, the librarian says, the
demand for books is so great that IN many
instances members are kept waiting sever
al weeks TO obtain popular work. In order
TO remedy this and to secure many needed
additions to the library it is necessary to
have a larger purchasing fund. The list
OF periodicals taken by the society is full
and threading room is largely patrOuizd.
Tue accessions 10 the library last year
were 454 volumes and 475 pamphlets. In
addition to the books purchased there were
large aecessiOns in the way OF gifts and
exchanges. The Librarians report was
an interesting review of the operations OF
the library during the year.
The Treasurer, Mr.. W. S. BOgart sub
United his annual report, showing the
receipts during the past year, together
with $37 80 on hand at the beginning Of
the year, to have been $4,404 16. The
membership subscriptions amounted to
$1,000. The expenditures, including the
payment OF Sl,075 Of Treasurer's notes,
were $4,365 30. This amount covers the
expenses OF the society, and about $500
invested in hpAEa and nnrfoAfnala flha
amount at present on hand is $3S S..
The following officers for 1856 were
elected:
President Henry R. Jackson.
First Vice President-Gen. G. Moxley
SOrrel.
Second Vice President-Gen. Alexander
r. LawtOn.
Corresponding secretary-Capt. Robert
Falligant.
Recording Secretary-W. N. Holt.
Treasurer-William S. Bogart.
Librarian-Wil liam Harden.
CuratOrs-COl. Charles II. Olmstead.
A. Schwaab, W. ID. Harden, Il. j. Lar
cOnbe, W. II. Baker. Col. John Screven,
Capt. George A. Mercer.
The standing committees will be ap-
pointed at the next meeting. The present
committees are as follows:
Library Committee-W. ). Bogart, VIM.
combe, W. II. Baker.
Printing and PublIshing-G. NJ. Sorrel,
A. h. Lawton. w. S. Bogart, W. D. Har-
den.
Finance-A. r. Lawton, c. Fl. Ohm
stead, A. Schwaab, W. n. Holt, Robert
FalIgant.
The Library Committee recommended
the purchase of the following books for
Tbe story of the .Jexrs hvJ 4 uosDar
The Story of Chaldea, by 4. Rogozin.
MGrius, the Epicurean, by Walter Pater.
Moon Lore, by Rev. +. Harley.
BOnnyOorOugh, by Mrs. a. ID. I. Whitney.
Rachel, BY Mrs. n. II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Women series.
Darwin, by Grant Allen-"English Worth
ies' series.
Marlborough, by George saintsbury-'En-
gjsh WOrthiesn series.
White Heather, BY William Black.
England as seen by a New York Banker.
Liza, by Ivan Turgenien.
The following gentlemen were elected
resident members: Hon. Emory Speer,
Rev. w. 5. Payne, Joseph w. Preston,
Thomas G. Madison and L. Madison.
Among the contributions reported by
the Librarian were $50 copies of 1.-THE
Old Lodge;" an address delivered by Col. J.
II. Estill at the recent 150th annual COM
munIcation of SOlomOn's Lodge Free and
Accepted MasOns; the autograph OF Hon.
Rufus ChOate from Rev. g. ID. Bradlee OF
Boston; handsomely bound copy Of the
resolutions adopted by the Savannah bar
at the presentation of the portrait of ex-
Judge Erskine to the United States Court
last spring from Mr.. W, r. Word, and a
curious specimen OF petrified fern from
Mr.. Charles II. Dixon.
The Secretary was instructed to ac-
knowledge all contributions, and return
the society's thanks to the donors.