Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-20
DELAWARE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Annual Meeting and Election Of Ofiicers
for the Ensuing Year.


elected for the ensuing year: President,
Chief Justice Charles b. Lore; Vice.
Presidents, Bishop Coleman from New
Castle county, Manlove Hayes from
KeEt county, and Gov. Ebe W. Tun-
nell from Sussex county; Recording
Secretary, Willard Hall Porter; Cor
responding Secretarx John B. Bird ;
Treasurer, Wilmer ~. Ellison; Lii
brarian, City Solic |or Conrad His
torIographer, Penno Pussy; Direc-
tors, DR.. John p. w es, Col. William
A. La Motto. JJ lge IgEatius @.
Grubb, Caleb p. Jfhnsson and John
M. Rogers. These Committees were
named for the nex4 year: Classif foa-
tion, City Solicitor Henry q. Conrad,
Howard D. Ross, Fra1pis II. Hotfecker
Year Book, Pennock Rusey, Thomas e.
Young, John M. Rogers
Chief Justice Lore, in his annual
report, said the society is in a pros
porous condition. He referred to the
death of Lewis Q. vandcgrift and
George W. Bush, two members of the
society, during the year.
Mr.. Porter, recording secretary,
stated that the society had 166 active
members and 81 associate members. a
total Of 1913. Miss Juhnson, registrar
for the society, reported that during
the year 1853 visitors had registered at
the rooms, while 1874 visitors failed to
register. Mr.. Bird, cores ponding Sec
rotary, reported that during the year 63
donations were made to the society,
compared with 81 for the year previous.
Donations to the archives of the
society at the session last evening
we're: New York at Gettysburg, ="
from New York State Library, decen-
nial register of Pennsylvania Society,
Sons of the Revolution, Capt. Henry
Hobart Bellas: Directory OF Whining
ton for 1862 and 1868; life Of
Christ" printed in 1905; Mason on
self knowledge" printed in 1901;
Jonathan Edwards on "Original Sin, %
all printed in It'll in Wilmington, given
by Henry W. Morrow; Ethan Aliens
"Drama of the Revolution, ERE.
sented through Mrs. Elizabeth Clarke
Churchman, by William o. Mcdowell,
president Cuba inerican League.
One Of the most interesting reports of
the evening was that of Pennook
Pusey, historiographef Of the society,
in which he gave thoughtful and care
fully complied biographies of Mr..
Vandegiift aud Mr.. Bush. At the close
OF the paper, Judge Grubb spoke Of
tho complete researcht and the ability
of Mr.. Pusey in compiling SO much
data, ,Land moved vote OF thanks to
the historiographer, which was ex-
tended unanimously. Judge Grubb
also had the paper referred to the com
mittes on publication to be printed IN
pamphlet form, if so desired.
In concluding his biography Of Mr..
Bush, Mr.. Pusey said with him in
the days of long ago it' was the writer's
good fortune to be associated in the
membership of the Ciceronian Literary
and Debating Society, of which there
are now but three known survivors As
its name implies, it was an organization
of youthful aspirants to literary and
oratorical honors. In its exercises,
however, aside from business, Mr..
Bush, although an active member,
rarely spoke and nere, debated. But
while other vented glowing oratory and
scared with aspirations, all too liable
TO be nipped with untimely frosts. our
friend would quietly occupy himself
with little matters fruitful IN imme-
diate practical results. He talked with
different young members and en-.
cnuraged their timid first efforts for
self improvement he wrote questions
eliciting study and investigation for
true answers, and in nameless, up-
obtrusive ways made himself most
helpful and pleasant companion to all
his associates. These habits Mr., Bush
continued and enlarged in after years by
the systematic announcement of Young
men, both orally and by brief news
paper articles, to invest their earnings
in savings institutions and in the pur-
chase of lots for future homes, while
he was never too absorbed Ey the
exactions Of an expanding business to
cease his cherished plan OF writing for
the newspapers brief, pithy oommunica.
tions in behalf of various industrial,
aesthetic and other self helping schemes
of everyday application, in furtherance
of the common welfare. For many years
the New York Evangelist and other re.
ligious journals weekly contained from
Mr.. Bush brief practical suggestions for
advance 10 church and household prac.
tices, while it would be difficult to
detail his many kindnesses, sucb as
speaking CHEEKY ard helpful words to
the friendless aud suffering, giving free
river rides to sick and poor children,
and other acts done in secret, all oi
which, while gracefully supplementary
to the laEors of an ever growing and
most exacting business, with unre-
mittiDg services to the general public,
have aided to render the memory OF
George W. Bush to surviving friends at
ono benediction to his past and
added incentive to their future.''
Ia concluding his refereuca to Mr..
Ns degrift, the speaker said: "The
riter's acquaintance with the deceased
aas comparatively limited; but long
acquaintance was not Iequiied to know
Mr.. Vandegrift in the essential traits
of his character. With hearty frank
ness of manner there was something in
his honest greeting suggestive Of the
breadth and warmth OF genial, yet
brisk and open morning air, TO breath
which dispelled ones doubts OF social
reciprocity and promoted kindly inter-
course. Moulded in lines of generous
scope. his nature and physique alike
gave the sense of massive power, but it
was never coupled with what seemed
the austerity of power. Large in body
and mind, his was not the stern pres
snoe that awed or repslled, but the
friendly one, whose wholesome cheer
was at once help and charm. A
man Of such sunny and abounding life
was the last with whom to associate
the idea of death; yet death with in
exorable mandate claimed our friend,
and he is gone from US. The hopes,
the mutual interests, the tried friends
he SO often cherished in close com
panionship In this humble room shall
know him here no more. But the re-.
membrance of such a man is OF itself a
heritage which is happily coupled with