The morning call., 1893-10-03
HE is EXPELLED.
Bancroft Put Out of the
Pioneer Society.
The California Historian No Longer
an Honorary Member of the
Honored Organization.

F10n0red organization.
When the Society of California Pioneers,
at its meeting last month, pilloried Hubert
Howe Bancroft, the historian, by the
adoption of resolution denouncing his
history as unworthy of credence, it had not
finished with the gentleman who called the
men OF the Bear Flag party "vagabond
settlers" The full measure II the society's
wrath was reserved for the meeting held
last night. Almost every member present
took part in scoring the historian, and
when the smoke af battle had cleared away
Mr.. Bancroft's name could not be found on
the roll of honorary members Of the society.
By resolution, unanimously adopted, II
had been stricken from The list.
When the meeting opened and the men,
bers had listened to the resolution adopted
at the last previous meeting some of those
present were inclined to believe that the
historian might try to revenge himself on
the society by suing it for libel, should
the resolution in question be printed. This
opinion called forth a lively discussion
during which Mr.. Bancroft came in for a
share of criticism, which would not have
been pleasing 10 that gen tleman had he been
there TO hear it. 1t was finally decided 20
refer the res solution to Niles Searls for
his opinion as to its libelOuS nature before
further action was taken.
This beng disposed of the main busin ess
Of the evening was brought before the
meeting in the shape of a resolution pre-
sented by DR.. Washington Ayers. The
resolution was TO the effect that the name
of Hubert Howe Bancroft should be
stricken from the roll Of honorary mem
bers of the society. 1t was ascertained
that while the bylaws of the society pro.
vided for the election of honorary mem-
bers. nothing was said about their expul-
sion after they had once been elected. The
chairman therefore ruled the motion out
of order.
a dozen members were on their feet at
once when the decision of the chair had
been announced. and for five minutes pan
ceeded finally in getting the floor. and in
moving an appeal from the decision Of the
chair said:
"There can be no doubt as to the senti-
ment OF this meeting 10 the matter now
before it. We pioneers, Of all other people
in the world, know Ii. FL. Bancroft to be a
falsitier and a man who has attempted to
pull down the regulations of the men who
bore every hardship and accepted every
sacrifice in order to plant the foundations
of this great com mnonwealth. We know
that he has besmrched the names of pio-
neers dead and gone for no other purpose
than to crafty desire OF personal malice
and hate, and we know that he has
besmlrcned other names Tor a
man can understand. We know
that in the first edition of his alleged his
tory he attacked the Central Pacific Rail
road on every side aud III every manner 1t
was possible for him to attack it, and in
the second edition of the same volume he
iauded 1t to the skies and called the men who
were behind it the benefactors of man
kind. / venture to say that there is not
a man within the hearing OF my voice
who does not believe that the alleged his
torian taxed the Cen raj Pacific all its
traffic would bear for that retracii0n.
Hubert Howe Bancroft has given his
history to the world, and that history you
have already declared and know to be un-
worthy Of credence or authority and merits
the just condemnation of every one of you
whose early personal experiences enable
you to form true estimate of It's value.
This history we have condemned, yet the
name of II. II. Bancroft appears on our
rolls as an honorary member OF this So
cietv. Are we going to condemn the man
and his work and still allow him to say he
is an honorary member Of the organization
WuUS6 uelu D6Eo H6 has udlikutQ9 lb dp-
pears to me that if this body has the power
to elect an honorary member it must also
have the power to eXpel that same men,
ber if it is the wish of the majority"
The appeal from the decision of Presi-
dent Gibbs was carried by an 0verwhelm-
ing majority.
Mr.. Farwell then quoted at length from
the first and second editions of Mr. Ban
croft'S history to show where that gentle
man had Intentionally perverted facts and
made misstatements as to the character
and actions of men whose names are con-
nected with the earlr history Of the State.
Some OF themembers thought that final
action on the resolution should be deferred
until the next meeting, in order to give
all mem bers of the society chance to be
present and vote on the question. To this
end motion was made TO defer proceed
ings until the next regular meeting, but 1t
was voted down.
The grsy-haired pioneers could no longer
be restrained and from all parts Of the hall
came calls for the question on the adop-
ton of DIR. Ayers resolution. Finally.
when President Gibbs could make himself
heard, he put the question and asked all in
favor of the adoption to rise to their feet.
All the members In the hall rose up and
straightened their bent backs and feeble
knees to be sure that they would not be
overlooked In the count. The vote was
unanimous and the name of Hubert Howe
Bancroft, the historian, was stricken from
the rolls. This exciting business ended,
the membsrs had no taste for routine bust.
ness aud a motion TO adjourn was carried.