The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-12
Annual Meeting Was Held
Last Evening.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
President Stlness' Report Was an
Interesting One.
LIST Or OFFICERS NOMINATED.

The Rhode Island Historical Society
held it's annual meeting last night and
there was "a large attendance.
Mr.. Perry, librarian. made his report OF
the list Of books and publications re-
ceived during the year and told what had
been done toward preserving the older
books.
Judge Stiness, president Of the society
presented his report covering the follow
ing points: The past year has been de-
voted 10 the work of increasing the inter
est In Rhode Island history. indexiDg and
preserving the books. There Is need now
OF preserving the earliest records, copying
tho records and printing them. The state
has made appropriations OF less import
aDce than appropriations TO provide Tor
the priuting OF these records. suppose
some OF the town clerks Offices should
10 burned.
The total receipts were S4l3l. 80. the
total expenses si523t2 Tne deficiency
was made up by Individual members.
There was AN extra amount OF work 10
be done this year ana this work was done
During the past year an unusually large
mum ber or books nave peeD published OH
Rhode Island history. Mr.. Riders pro-
duction soul Liberty Rhode Island
Gift To the Nation" was one. lhe prssi-
dent Inaue careful commment upon this
work ard argument to prove that the
Rhode Island and not Maryland Catho-
lies were the first to grant freedom of re-
ligon. Ihe historian Bancroft In his
earlier editions gave Mary land the credit
but in his latest books he placed Rhode
Island first.
Dr. Henry NJ. Kings book relating to
the Baptism of Roger Williams was also
mentioned at length Mr.. John q.
Ausfin's Roger Williams calendar was
commended. An illustrated history OF
Paw tucket, Valley Falls and the sur
rounding territory Is one of the most val
liable Of local works. Robert Grieve's
carefui research was praised. The ar
raignment Of Admiral Hopkins made 10y
some of the earlier historians has Deen
confuteh by Robert Grieye in a magazine
article and also by Speers and Cooper in
large volumes. President Stiness also de.
Tended Admiral stephen Hopkins.
Ihe pre- ssident then called attention to
several errors made by the writers in mar
rating the account of the burning of the
Gaspee. These men said that the English
vessels were nom Darded by paving stones
and that the men from Providence were
disguised as Indians. Both these state
ments were false Warren II. Pierce's
book on Genesis was kindly mentioned.
The work OF preserving the old colonial
places during the past yeai has fortu-
naieIy been tasen up seriously. The sons
| and Daughters OF the Revolution and the
Colonial Danes have been i'm earnest In
| this regard. The last society has during
the year mad...a successful effort Co set
apart as sacred Slate Rock, the first land
ing place of Roger Williams, one G the
greatest places in America in historical
Importance. Judge St.ness stopped to
consider II there really was a landing at
this place with what Cheer" from
the Indians. A deed given by the city of
Providence in 1861 TO william Arnold
contains the name, What Cheer Lot. "
The Colonial Danes propose to build
monument over this stone. Not these
women had TO give up $500 to the city.
more than half the cost OF grading the
| street.
On May % last a bronze tablet was put
| up in Warren TO commemorate the burn
ing Of the First Baptist church by the
British soldiers on May 20, l77S.
The following additions TO thu library
have been made: 40 volumes 952
pamphlt Is, POI miscellaneous anu manu-
ripts; Sl63S. 26 Nas spent on the library.
Tae committee on nominations report
ed as follows President, john n. sti-
ness; vice presidents, William Is. Weeden
and william Amos; secretary. Amos
Perry; treasurer. Richmond II. Everett;
librarian and cabinet keeper, Amos
Perry; procurators GEORGE Gordon Ming
for Newport, Latimer W. Ballou for
Woon socket. Samuel Nj. Conant for Paw.
tucKet. David =. Baker for North Kings
town. George ii. Olney for Hopklnton.
Albert Potter for Glocestsr; nominating
committee Albert V. .Iencks, T.. /. Nick
erson oud H,race \. kimball; library
committee, william ID. Ely Howard W.
Preston and Amos Perry; lecture COM
n,ittce. Amos Perry, Reuben ID. Guild
and william Is. Weeden publication com
mittee. Professor j. r. Jameson, Amasa
VI. Eaton and Amos Perry: committee on
care Of grounds and buildings, 1. n.
Southwick, Jr., Edwin Barrows ana Nor