The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-05-22
JUDGE oRAY's ADDRESS
Delivered at tho Meeting Of the Pioneer
and Historical Society.

To the Members of tho Pioneer and Ills.
torical Society Of Oregon
My Friends, We have mot hero today
10 perform the annual duties incumbent
upon the officers ANA msmbura ot THE DO
elcty, 10 hear tho reports OF the retiring
officers. 10 uluct their HucerhAoyH. aud to
transact any other business that may DO
presented do not consider that ! am
entltlrd TO tho honor OF being called 4
pioneer IN the fullest sense mot having
been born In tho Oregon Of isl9l but
believe II ls my duty to assist those who
eamo AZ my pioneer parents did, TO carry
oa tho work they bvgan.
Tho object for which those worthy pi-
oHoura organized this society ana per-
formed the ardu0us duties necessary 10
inauEurato their purponcH are not yet
accomplished nearly all Of the original
mrInlssrn. Who ilrHt HiEuud tho roll OF
mrmbcrahip. have passed 10 that bourne
from whence mono return" or their
number John liobaOn, W w Parker ana
q, " coflnbcTry arp now sick. and un-
able to attend this meeting Tho work
and the aims Of this society are slill uh.
fhishpd. and ualuas moru spirit OF pa
lrotlsm TO our country. ana fidelity to
the honor and memory OF those brave
and hardy mon and women, who gave
un this land IL shown. w lay ourselves
liable TO DO charged with inEtatitude ana
neglect, Thenp men and women. VINO
through dangers and sore trials. BY peril.
oun and lnnumorRbio hardahipp without
limit. laid the foundation Of this empire
OF social. political. and commercial power
amid the hostile savaEes. In tho impcne-
trahio forests. or on seorchinE desert.
only by constant guard both day ana
night. often fearing that waving sage
brush should prove 90 he a murdcrouA
rcdskin-havo well earned any honor ana
rrspect that their children and the mem
boru OF this society or tho Inhabitants OF
tho West can show thom.
The Whitman monument fund procured
BY the oSurtiona OF the frnt members OF
this society. now amounting 20 about
tsfa oi and a small amount OF accrued
interest. Ia most OF II drawing eiEht pcr
cent interest through the kindness OF
Messrs t.add A Tilton. IN whose charge
it was lott by Truman 4, Powers and W
H. Gray representing this societny
have received communication from
Rev. W, X Holt. u. d. Of Portland. Orc.
gon, asking what this society viii do TOW.
ards carrying out the object for which
the fund was raised. which the secretary
will read under the proper head wourn
recommend that pr lloit'a letter bc rv-
terrcd to a committee. TO ascertain what
kind OF proposition can be agreed upon.
Tho massacre OF pr Marcus Whitman
and his associates. occurred ON the 18th
Of November. iSl;. and l heartily concur
In DR.. Hota suggestion that u strenuous
erort br made TO have monument to
their memory unveiled on the 18th day OF
November, 1877. tho Eomi.ccntcnnlal OF
that cruel cVunl
| am strongly convinced that this So
civty should adopt the custom 30 prova-
lent with similar organizations. OF haV-
lng an annual reunion and dinner. at
which social gatherings Of the old friends
and pioneers may meet to recount their
trials and pleasures In byEono dayA
There il aN apparent mlEundersianding
as to who are entitled to become mcm-
bVrs OF this society Article 10 OF our
constitution. amending Article :. reads as
follows! Received. That all American
rualdcntA OF the paclnc Coast west OF
the Rocky Mountains who arrived prior
to lAp, and thcir descendants who arc
at this date. August n. iS0. sixteen years
OF age or over. are eligible TO b. members
OF this society"
This would give uA, at the least. 80
members In oregon and Washington
within thirty miles OF tho mouth OF the
Columbia river beside those all over the
west. many OF whom. l believe. would
be pleased TO attend our annual reunions
should We decide TO have them. | would
recommend that the secretary prepare
circular TO he sent TO proper persons,
calling TO their attention that they are
eligible to become members OF this So
clety
This society had donated to It many
years ago by our honorcd pioneer, Tru-
man l.. Powcra-long since passed away
Lots 8 ana 6 OF Block a5 In Adairs Asto-
ria, that are now becoming valuable,
some use should n possible be made OF
this property. ana at least enough 90
pay taxes upon Il ohatined | recon-
mend that tlls matter be referred to the
trustees for their special consideration.
believe this society should consider
the Rdvisabllty or adopting some form
or ceremony ana badge to he worn while
attending the funeral OF a deceased mem
bcr | therefore recommend that u COM
be- appointed TO consider this matter
The forms suggested are considered by
many necessary IN order that uniformity
and concerted action may be had at the
burial OF our deceased members.
Hoping that these remarks viii be re-
ceived In the spirit they are intended,
and that we may be able TO revive our
interest, and make this society that
We may look to with pride, remain.
Your humble servant,
J. II. D. GRAY,
President p, and II, Society OF Oregon.
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