The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-18
Veteran Members Present to
Talk of Experience.
JUDGEKINGMAN'STAL
First President Tells How So.
ciety Was Built Up.
ID. w. Nilder's Paper Is Read
by w. E.. Connelley.

Der last night in of the
25th birthday OF the organization was a
success. The program was carried out
with the exception of the reading of a
paper on the Historical Societies IN
the United States" by Daniel w.
Wilder Mr.. Wilder was not present,
but his paper, an interesting collection
of facts about the different societies
for the preservation and collection of
history, was read by Mr.. W. E. Con-
nelley, who was one Of the committee
of five. In speaking of Mr.. Wilder,
John Francis, president of the society,
referred to him as the father of Kan
Sas literature The invocation was
made by Rev. DIR. H. D. Fisher, chap
remembers only too well the strenuous
times when the making or breaking OF
Kansas depended on the manner IN
which those sturdy vanguards of civili-
cation faced the situation.
The presidents address, 1.-THE Occa-
sion" was short, but fully explained
the reason of the meeting and the WORK
OF the society.
Mr.. Wilder's paper showed by the rec
ordS that the Kansas society was one of
the greatest in all the states; that OF
wisconsin upon which over q million dol
lars has been spent, and which has a
handsome building, being one of the
few which exceeds our own in import
ance. The Kansas organization has
II1aQG d great feature OF preserving ~
the and books produced IN
the state and has set the Example in
this respect for other states and terri
tories. THE Oklahoma society" says
Mr.. Wilder was ounde by a former
Kansa and I expect hat in the Philip
pines will be established by a formerly
man." He attributed the
suspension of the Historical society of
Georgia for a few years after 1859 to
the fact that some of us were march
ing through Georgia about that time"
When the venerable ex-Chief Justice
of the Supreme court, and first presi-
dent of the State Historical society,
Samuel A. Kingman, rose to deliver his
address, a wave of applause passed over
the audience. He invited the audience
to come as far forward as possible,
as his voice could not reach far.
He began by declaring that If he
were looking for an illustration of the
% years, he would offer as a comparison
the first and last presidents of the soci-
ETY..
JUDGE KINGMAN's. ADDRESS.
Samuel A. Kingman, the veteran ex-
chief justice of Kansas, delivered the
following address:
The subject given me implies egotism.
You cannot speak of things that abide
in the memory without bringing your
self in with the thought. Self and mem
DRY are one. therefore what shall seem
egotistic in my remarks. should be
overlooked
Why l am myself but a Renaissance.
In my youth when I'm life's morning
march our bosoms are young" I had
strong desires that the world, some
how, in some way, should be the better
for my life Even now when s~elishness
has cor~oded, and failures have weak
ened confidence and shaken faith, I still
have such desires.-how far they have
failed of realization wholly or partially
it were bootlesS now to inquire.
I am happy in the thought that in
one matter which / have had part how
axOr SIN ii nJ- faab1a vat a liffla ond n
best, is his society, whose quarter CEN
tennial we celebrate tonight.
1t is now a great institution. useful
now and in the future beyond the COM
prehension of any mind. And I was in
it at the beginning. 1t is good to be at
the beginning of a good thing. We are
naturally anxious in its first feeble
strivings, we watch it's growth and de-
velopment with curious interest, we
tremble with anxiety when its existence
seems imperiled, and rejoice when it's
action promises success
It is these features that have given
the charm to the story of Robinson Cru
Soc, the delight of generations of boys.
1t was the start of a new life under
strange conditions so simply told, that
gives the a bsOrbing interest to the story.
That such an institution as this was
needed no one can doubt. Other efforts
were made and failed: but the failures
showed hat the want existed. AS early
as 1859 an historical society were organ-
lied in Lawrence, and you may see in
that invaluable work, THE Annals of
Kansas" that one S. A. Kingman de-
livered the annual address.
In 1868 a similar society was organic
ed in Topeka and the same Individual
delivered the first annual address.
This society organized in 1875 was the
result of action taken by the State
Press association moved thereto by our
beloved ex-President Wilder. The So
ciety is therefore the child of the press
and generously and nobly has it stood
by it's offspring, and well deserves the
grateful mention of it's services by one
who knows whereof he speaks.
When the society was formed it was
merely a shadow, floating in the air. Tt
is true it had officers and nothing else.
brary, not even a room in which to
meet.
Mr.. Baker was the first secretary; but
he soon resigned to accept the more
cause there was nothing to do, but hold
a barren trust.
Mr.. Adams was then made secretary.
No because of any special fitness for
the place, but because he had a little
time that he could steal from other du-
ties. Tt is true he was well known for
his high character, his fidelity and his
industry, but he had these qualities IN
common with many other ersons. That
which made him the invaluable officer
he proved to be was not known or con-
sidered; but if we had searched Kansas
over, we should probably ave not
found his equal for doing the immediate
work before us to gather in and pre-
serve the records of the past and save
those of the present. Kansas was the
field of labor. and skillfully and dill
gently did he labor in it. The facts
We're scattered everywhere and perish
able. Our secretary had an appetite
for facts relating to Kansas. No event
was SO insignificant as to escape his
notice if 1t bore upon our history. He
was ndefatigab1e in his search, patient
vet persistent in his pursuit. and quick
to seize any facts that would illustrate