Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-23
CHANGE0F OFFICERS
ANNUAL MELTING OF THE VIRGINIA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY LAST NIGHT.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan Elected President and
SIR. Philip A. Bruce Corresponding
Secretary and Librarian.

The annual meeting OF the Virginia Historical
Society was held IN the hall Of the House Of Dele
gates last night. There we're about thir y mem.
beers present.
In The absence Of Hon. ". W. Henry, the
president, Hon. j. L. NJ. Curry, first vico-presi-
dent, called tae meeting to order. Or. Dnrry.
on taking the chair expressed bis qualification at
seeing In the meeting snch a number Of young
men. lie said that the infusion Of new blood
would do vast deal for the society. He would,
however he said, regret thet the Impression
should get abroad that the society was moss
bound. II was doing good work along the line
for which IL was organized. Its publications
were very valuable, and were highly priced by
kindred societies. He happened TO know this
through his Visits TO the rooms OF rhetorical
societies North.
DR.. Carry spoke Of the different fields OF work
OF historical societies and showed how the coz
lection Of the most trining things served 70
throw light upon tho history Of people or a
period.
HIS WORK IN SPAIN.
When he was Minister 10 Spain he may not
have done much In negotiating treaties, but he
had, 30 those gentlemen told him, rendered yalu-
able service 10 Hon. w. w. Henry, Mr.. Alexander
Brown, ana others who we're writing history.
Societies, said DR.. Curry, came In 20 gather u
and annOtato material so That historians could
uso them. lie was glad 70 see That our institu-
tons OF learning wore taking hold OF this. wash
ingtOn and Lee was making some very valuable
publications, and We knew what William and
Mary, Hampden-sidney, Richmond College, and
others seats Of learning are doing.
Dr. Curry spoke highly OF the address maze
by Mr.. Wyndham X Meredith al one OF our
leading institutions. lie regarded 1t as able and
most valuable aud regretted that it had not
been published IN pamphlet form. lie wanted,
be said, 10 see men Ike Archer Anderson ana
Gordon AcCabe write the military history OF the
C0nfederacy.
In conclusion, he again expressed pleasure
that there was 80 much interest ia the society
and protested that 30 was not failure.
CORRESPONDING sECRETARY's REPORT.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Curry's remarks SIR.
! r. A. Brock, corresponding secretary, presented
| his annual report, as follow:
| beg 20 submit the following ne 70 the cOndi-
ton OF the society and it's conduct during the
| past year.
IL was hoped that Ike intellectual Offering 10
| that which marked the annual meeting held In
| this hall in December last, aud which was so
! Rratifyingly attended, might have been pro
vided for this meeting. The committee charged
with such arrangements trust that the desired
papers may be secured for deferred meeting
! OF the society. 1he valuable papers read at tue
! last meeting have, with one exception, been pre-
served in print and form portion OF the contents
| OF the Last volume Of Collections Of the soc efy,
| which also contains tho proceedings OF the so
| ciety. us constitution and list OF members
| / have 20 regret that ] am unable to report an
| increaee Of the mem bership, but TO have TO
| state that there have been lOssos by death anc
/ declinatiOn, and that some members are sun IN
| arrears IN the payment OF their subscriptions
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
| beg your indulgence In statement personal
| TO myself
| | was called 10 my present position, without
| application Of mine. nearly eighteen years ago,
| having previously been member Ot the socleV
| from Its reorganization IN 1870. during tuls
! period under changing circumstances j nave
| garVpd sOctatV ana advanced ltS every III
! terest az best ! might.
| Eleven annual volumes of Collections have
| been printed-teu In editions OF LOCO copies
| each and the last OF 900. twelfth is in prepa'
ration.
| Communication and interchange Of publica-
| tions have been maintained IN this country ana
| elsewhere, and varied Information mas been con-
| stantiy accorded extended inquiry.
| The additions 10 the library during the past
| year number nearly $50 bound and UNBOUND
| volumes aud pamphlets, besides maps, rehes'
| manuscripts, autograph letters, etc.
| The following may be specially noted: The be-
| quest Of the late Casstus h. Lee. Alexandra,
Va, consisting Of books relating to the history
! Of Virginia, the Bible Of the distinguished
! patriot. Richard Henry Lee. with family regis
| ter and manuscript, documents, letter-DoOkS'
! and letters OF the Ludwell and Lee iaIniles ior
| the period 17l0-!7S7 the gift OF Dr.. MoDcure
| ID. Conway OF papers OF The carter fanny o'
| Virginia, l700-1S0O:
The total receipts Of the society from January
| 1st 20 the present time Eaye been %, anu
| the expenditures as per vouchers % l1'0o'
| The accommodations generously gwen Dy the
! Westmoreland club since 1881 20 the society,
! Il is proper 70 state, have made feasible the
| measure Of performance II has attained.
The corresponding secretary would express
! his grateful appreciation Of the uniform cChsll-
| Grafton which has been constantly EXTENDED Inn
! by the membership Of the club.
| The crowded condition Of the rooms occupied
| by the accumulated library OF the society pre-
| clude now ITS proper arrangement
! u is 70 be hoped TINT the more ample acrommo-
cations which the society Will soon ENJOY through
! lqudable munihcence, together with provision OF
! ilcreased facilities will insure for It success
| that VIII fully meet the most sanguine desires
| Of the public.
THE MODE or RLRCTIEG
| MIR. Wyndham Meredith moved that a COM
| mitteo OF i've be appointed 70 nominate 0nlcers
! of the society Tor the ensuing year. Adopted.
| Mr. Lyon @. Tyler objected % this proceedin ?.
| He said that such n course vas virtually hand
! lug the management Of the society over 10 the
| committed, and even II their report was not the
sense OF the society IL would not be objected To-
| He therefore moved reconsideration.
| MIR. f. II. McGuire favored the committee
| method.
| Mr.. Vjrginius Newton said heretofore the secre-
| fary had no competition; now be understood
| that he had competition. Under Tho clrcum-
| stances he did not think nominations should DO
reegafe1 TO q committee. However, II was
the custom Of the society to nominate by COM
| mittee he would not oppose II.
/ Mr.. Wyndham Meredith contended Tor the pre-
| cedent az embodied IN his motion.
| MIR Newton said he did not attend the meet
ing to Wrangle. He simply thought II due the
! president mat he should beinformed OF the state
OF affairs before he TOOK the responsibility oil ap
| pointing the committee.
Mr Henry ;. HutZler favored Teconsidera-
Mr.. Tyler pressed his motion. He wanted the
| nominations made in open meeting
The vote being taken, the society refused tI
| reconsider. 49,,
The chair appointed Nessrs. w, X. Meredith
! Nircmius Newton, W. II. faIIner' J' l. MCOuite'
and Il. L. Iraylor.
! GENERAL BUSINESS.
| Dpring the retirement OF the committee Pro
| lessor Leslie Han moved that the Executive
| Committee take into consideration the question
! OF reducing the annual membership lee OF the
| society from 80 to 80. The following gentlemen
| we're nominated for membership and the nomi'
| nations referred to the Executive Committee
/ the electing power: Lite membership, l. T.
| Williams, Jr., Richmond, Va: annual mem
! bership, $. S. y. Patteson, Thomas ). Marun
| blpemarle; Roosevelt Page, w. II. Calling
| worth. T. Seldom Bruce Jackson Guy, j. Iay
| lor Ellyson, j. $. Moore, Richmond; w. 4
| Gaines, Austin, Tex; $. Houston Let cher, Lex
On motion OF Mr.. Meredith, the appointment
OF a delegate 10 the 150th Anniversary gather
ing OF the American Philosophical Society
| which takes place in Philadelphia in May, was
| referred "a the Executive Committee.
| The Committee on Nominations made the FOL
| lowing report as tOoGcers, upon which there was
| uuanimous agreement President. Mr.. JOSEPH
! BRYAN, Richmond; First Nice-Presdent, Dr. d. l.
Nj. curry Washington; Second VICE fresi9ent
| Colonel Archer Anderson; Third Nice-Presldent
| DR. w y. Palmer; Recording Secretary, Mr.. +
! T. Valentine Treasurer, Mr.. Robert 1. Brooke
| Executive administrations. Lyon q. Tyler
Z. r. Valentine C. v; @eFeoitn, H Tnr, ~ Mi
son Page. Beverly B. Munford, X. Il. Da6ney' ~
| NJ. Hughes j. B. Henneman, and L, C. Williams