The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
TO STRAIGHTEN ITS FINANCES.
GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS
run BEHIND.

Committee of the President and Two
Vice Presidents to Look Out for
SubscrIptIOns-Omce Elected for
the Ensuing Year-COI. Mercer
Made Second Vice President and
+ Mr. John NJ. Bryan Treasurer-Dr.
Read Donates Some Interesting
Relics.
The annual meeting Of the Georgia His
torical Society was held at Hodgson Hall
last night. The society's finances were
the principal topic of discussion, and the
result was the appointment of a commit
tee OF the three leading officers to look
after the matter of soliciting subscriptions
to aid in Strengthening them out
The other important feature was the
election of officers for the ensuing year.
Col. George A. Mercer was unanimously
chosen second vice president to fill the va
cancy created by the death of Judge Will
lam D. Harden. Judge A. II. MacDonell
was nominated for reelection as treasurer,
but declined the nomination, and himself
nominated Mr.. John M. Bryan. who, he
said, had consented to serve. Mr.. Bryan
was UNANIMOUSLY elected.
The election of Col Mercer as second
vice president, and the announcement by
letter from Mr.. Charles N. West that he
could not serve left two vacancies on the
board of curators, which were filled by
the unanimous selection of Messrs. e. A.
Denmark and W. L. Clay. The other
officers were all reelected, the list as re-
vised being as follows:
President-Gen. Henry r. Jackson.
First Vice President-Col. John Screven.
Second Vice President-Col. George A.
Mercer.
Corresponding Secretary-Otis Ashmore
Recording Secretary-H. w. Johnson.
Treasurer-John NJ. Bryan.
Libraran-William Harden.
Board of Curators: B. A. Denmark, DR..
r. j. Mum, Col. ]. II. NJ. Clinch, w. l..
Clay, H. p. Smart, ]. R. Saussy, and
Capt. H. c. Cunningham.
A resolution was adopted providing for
the appointment by the chair of a COM
mittee of three to prepare suitable resolu-
tons relating to the death of Judge Har-
den, the society's second vice president
There were twenty-five members of the
! society present, First Vice President John
Screven was in the chair in the absence
of Gen. Henry r. Jackson, who is con-
fined to his home by illness.
Upon the annual statement of Gen.
| Jackson's account with the Telfair Acad-
envy read by Col Screven there arose some
discussion as to the amount that is due
to Gen. Jackson for the sum loaned to the
academy by him some years ago. Col.
Mercer said he would show that in the re-
| port of the finance committee. The
amount now due Gen. Jackson, he said,
! is $7,iO0.76.
The treasurer, Judge MacDonell, then
| rendered his annual statement showing
! that the total receipts of the society
! during the year were 81, 1853, and the bal
ance on hand at the beginning of the year
was $439.55, making a total from all sources
during the year of $2,S47.18. The total dis
bursements during the year were s2754.gS,
this including the commissions to col
Letting agent and special canvasser, be-
| sides the salaries of the librarian and 9TH
| err employees. The balance on hand is $GV.
Judge MacDonen stated that the society
| now owes $274, as shown by the bills which
| he now has in hand. He spoke of the fact
| that when he became treasurer the society
had quite an indebtedness and 1t was
! necessary shortly after to sell $1,000 city
savannah bonds for the purpose of clearing
| I'D the Indebtedness then due. After that,
| he said. a balance of $43955 was brought
| over The expenses of the society had in
creased from year to year. he said, beyond
the receipts. His conclusion was, he SAID
that ii was either necessary to keep oui
of so much debt, or to devise some bet
ter scheme for meeting the annual ex-
| penses.
The report of the library committee
read by Mr.. William Harden, contained
some interesting statistical information
| 1t showed that there are now 2l,72l vol
umes in the library, as against H,3o2 ac-
cording TO the last annual report, the IN
crease being 1863. The number of pam
phlets in the society is now ALB. The
number of volumes taken out since the
last annual report was l2,222 OF these
S.911 were novels, 662 histories, 557 books
of travel, $50 memoirs, SSS literature, 20
religion, 760 magazines, 1863 science, 80 art
1870 poems and GO drama. The number OF
visitors during the year has been 266O6.
Mr. Cuyler Smith of Atlanta, a member
of the society, made a few remarks upor
some interesting colonial records, now II
the office of the Secretary of State in AT
lanta, and said he intended TO make copie:
of certain important papers, wills, etc.
and present them to the society. Col
Screven thanked him heartily in the name
of the society for his kind offer, which
he said would be accepted with much
gratitude.
DR.. r. ]. Num- referred to tn.
fact that the society has beer
|
time. He said a gentleman who did no
want his name known had agreed to guar
antee the expenses of the society for tn,
present year, provided the society would
pass a resolution providing for notice fol
an amendment to the constitution requir
ing each member to pay $40 instead of s.
a year after the present year, and alsC
that committee composed of the pres
dent and two vice presidents b,
appointed TO solicit subscriptions to MAKE
up the deficit.
Though the amendment would not com,
up for action until the next annual meet
ing there was some opposition to the res
olutiou on the ground that it woulC
obligate the members present to pay 81
a year after that time. Col ]. II. Estil
said the society ought to encourage mem
bership by throwing open the doors of tn
Telfair Academy to the members of fam
lies of those who belong to the society
1t is wrong, he said, TO have to pay any
one 10 per cent. for securing new mem
,, bers. He was opposed to such res
olutions.
Col. Mercer said the point had beef
reached where either subscriptions woult
have to be secured. or salaries would hav.
to be reduced. He objected to the plan o