The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-14
FORTY-NINE YEARS OLD,
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GEoR-
GIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Georgia Historical Society held its
annual meeting last night, at Hodgson
Hall. The reports of the President, Libra
rian and Treasurer We're submitted and Off
GERS for the ensuing year were elected.
The Librarians report was the nineteenth
which the present Librarian, Mr.. Harden,
has made The library now contains about
1900 volumes, 800 volumes having been
added during last year. 1928 by purchase
n in exchange from other societies and 245
as gifts. The library has received in all
$3.50 pamphlets, 227 as gifts and ll2 by ex-
change.
THE LIBRARY's INCREASE.
Nearly a year ago it was decided that the
monthly lists Of books be increased and the
reading room was fitted up in a much more
comfortable style than the frequenters of
the library had been accustomed TO.
The result, the Librarian said,
proved the wisdom of the action.
The increase in the number of books Dor
rowed and the consequent increase in the
good accomplished has been beyond ali ex-
pectations, and the Librarian urged that
there be no decrease in tue Appropriation for
the purchase Of books
In addition to the regular monthly lists
liberal amount was appropriated to the
purchase of works to supply deficiencies in
the library in the department of English
history which the Library Committee
thought it advisable to fill up.
FILLING Up THE GAPS
A list of books needed in this department
was prepared, the cost of which was esti-
mated at between $500 and $500, and the
books have been ordered. Arrangements
have also beeu made for the binding of the
society periodicals., and the work is now
being do,e. The condition of the library at
present, the Librarian said, is very graft
tying, but he urged that the Society keep
at work until it has made the Library all
that could be expected of the only library
in a city of the size of Savannah.
The Treasurer's report showed the finan-
cial affairs of the society to be in good
condition.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The President, Gen. Jackson read an
interesting report upon the work of the So
ciety and upon the Telfair Academy of Arts
and Sciences, what it is and what it has
already accomplished, and its future He
dwelt at length upon the purposes of the
academy and the objects that
Miss Telfair had in view
when she bequeathed the old mansion
and its accompanying trust to the Historical
Society. Gen. jackson explained minutely
that the academy is not an institutional
gallery-like the famous Corcoran Art
Gallery, with viii h it is frequetly COM
pared, but that 1t is an institution Of an
entirely different character. founded for
different purpose.
NOT MUSEUM.
He is opposed to making it free institu-
ton in the sense that the Corcoran gallery
Is free He believes that the academy as il
is now managed. is serving the purpose for
which it was intended. He paid a glowing
tribute to the Director, Mr.. Brandt, and
the work that he has done to put the acad-
envy in its present condition.
After the reading of the reports the Presi-
dent read letter from Minister Lawton,
who was Second Vice President of the so
ciety, declining reelection.
OFFICERS FOR 1888
The society then elected the following
officers:
President--Hon. Henry r. jackson.
First Vice President-Gen. G.. NJ. Sorrel.
Second Vice President-Col. John Screven.
Corresponding Secretary-Capt Robert
Faligant.
Recording secretary-C Charles n. West.
Treasurer-William S. Bogart.
Librarian William Harden.
Curators-Charles II. Olmstead, w. d.
Harden George a. Mercer, w G.. Charlton,
H 5. Haines, r. ]. Num-, John II. f.
Tattnall.
AN OLD MEMBER HoNoREO.
The Vice Presidency, made vacant by the
expiration Of Gen. Lawton's term Of office,
was rendered 10 Mr.. W. = Bogart, VINO has
been Treasurer of the Society for nearly
a quarter of a century Gen. Sorrel, in
nominating Mr. Bogait, paid high tribute
TO his zeal and the interest he has always
taken in the Society affairs. The Society
wes anxious to make Mr. B0gart Vice
President, but he declined saying that
lie preferred to remain in the
pos tiol which be has so long filled. In re-
csiving his declination of the Office the So
ciety honored Mr.. Bogart by expressing the
unanimous wish that he accept the ice
Presidency. not Only because Of his fitness
1oi the Office, but as an honor which ii de
sired Ia confer upon him. Mr.. Bogart
thanked the members, and gracefully in
sisted that if the society saw fit to elect him
Treasurer nc would prefer TO remain in
that Office Col. Screven was then nomi-
mated and elected Second Vice President
The President stated that he viii an
nounce the standing committees at the next
meeting.
TO COLLECT THE EPITAPBs
Among the matters that came up at the
regular monthly meeting, which was held
in conjunction with the annual meeting,
was the appointment of a committee under
resolutions offered by w. r. Leaken, Esq,
to consider and report to the society the
best means for collecting and preserv-
ing the epitaphs upon the monu-
ments and tOmbstones in the old
South Broad street cemetery. The
propriety of undertaking such collection
was suggested to Mr. Leaken by his father
Rev George r. Leaken, of Baltimore who
is visiting here, and who was walking
through the old cemetery a few days ago.
EFFACEp BY MALICIOUS HANDS.
Many of the inscriptions on the monu-
ments have already been effaced or have
been altered by malicious hands Many of
the monuments and toinbstones themselves
are broken in pieces, and the inscriptions
are thus lost A collection of the
inscriptions and epitaphs still extant
would form an interesting work, which in
time might prove historically valuable.
The resolutions offered by Mr.. Leaken were
unanimously adopted and Messrs. w. S.
Bogart. S. B. Adams and w. r. Leallen
were appointed as the committee.
A PORTRAIT or WHITFIELD.
An ancient and valuable portrait in oil
of George Whitfield was presented TO the
society by Miss Eliza Grigg, one of the
descendants of the great divine.
The following new members were elected:
John O'Keefe, J. n. McDonough, r. &.
Guerard, Frank G. Nell, j, II. Il. Stewert,
w. r. Sheffield, T. X. Oglesby, 8. +. Pelot
Died at the Hospital.