The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-26
TAKES
new LEASE
OF LIFE
Old Commercial Club R0organ-
lied and Officers Elected for
Ensuing Year.

Saturday night the old Commercial
club was practically reorganized and given
a new lease OF life, and judging from
the interest displayed the revival Will
result in once more placing the club on
the high plane IT formerly occupied.
The meeting 10 revive the club was
held at the Narragansett hotel Saturday
evening, a large number OF old and new
members being present. This meeting
was the first one held by the club in
about six years.
A business meeting was held. at which
the following officers were elected: Presl-
dent. George l.. Shepley; vice president,
Walter Calendar; secretary, M. #. Dool-
ey; treasurer. l.. III. Comstock; executive
committee. ]. Edward Studley. Richard
d. Knight. Charles Alexander.
Death has taken away IL members
since the last meeting. and In order to
bring the club up to its full quota OF
membership. which IL co. the following
new members were elected: Benjamin A.
Jackson, Arthur L. Kelley. Cyrus +.
Brown Richard ID. knight. Edward >.
Clark. Frank o. Field. W. o. Blanding.
+. l. Bauer. NJ. F. Dooley, Charles Alex
ander. Water S. Hackney John Shepard
Jr.. George w. Parks.
At the conclusion Of the meeting ad-
journment was taken TO the dining roon'
where an excellent dinner was served
President Shepley. at the conclusion OF
| the dinner, spoke briefly on the reorgani-
| zation and outlined the policy which VIII
probably be followed in the future. lie
| gave a short history OF the CLUB tracing
| It's growth and influence from the date
of its founding in 1873 up TO the time OF
| its last meeting, Dec. 16. 1896. He read
/ over the list OF IA who had died since
| the last meeting. including such w@u
known names as Andrew Comsaock,
| Lucian Sharpe and John Nicholas
| Brown. and then proposed the toast 40
our Friends of Long Ago. which was
| drunk in silence.
Continuing. Mr.. Shepley said: The
| names which we have on the membership
| list OF this club are as good as can De
| found anywhere. They are names whlcn
| represent something in the commerclal
| history OF Rhode IslaEd. II Is not enough
| that we have a list Of go such names, Tor
| our strength would be much increased III
| this list was enlarged. l hope to see the
| hv-laws changed soon so that our run
| puota will be 100. / was always sorry 10
| see such a small number listening 10
| such men as Admiral Melville, Thomas IS
| Reed and Col. Waring, when IL seemed
| possible that a much larger NUMBER
might have enjoyed the greater privilege
OF listening 10 these speakers When We
| enlist some new members In our ranks
there Is no doubt in my mind that the
| club will prosper and continue 10 De
what II was once, great factor Tor the
| welfare and prosperity OF Rhode Island
Walter Celender spoke briefly saying
| in part: There is one thing certain, and
| that is this: IL we are going 10 DO any
| thing we must do II ourselves. The only
trouble with the Commercial club Is that
| Il is a little too conservative. and IL
| seems TO me that that is the chief trouble
| with business methods In Rhode Island.
| I do not entertain such a cheerful view
| OF the future OF the club as our presl-
dent, but certainly hope that this revi-
val will be permanent. IL used TO be very
hard for us 10 procure men OF ability TO
sneak 10 us. and don't believe 1t will be
anv easier in the future. There Is an old
adaee that history repeats itself. and We
know what this club was In the past
What we ought to do above all Things Is
to boom the commercial supremacy OF
Rhode Island"
After the applause following Mr.. Cal
lenders speech had subsided President
Shepley stated that the executive com
mittee would procure speakers for the
| next three meetings and before long q
meeting would be held TO change the by
laws and elect the 20 new members.
The following old and new members OF
the club were present f. a. Chase, II. j
Gross. william A. Walton, ID. NJ
Thompson. George w. Parks. Charles
Dean Kimball. w. g. Hackney, D. Rus
sell Brown. John shepard, Jr, M r
Dooley. r. o. Field. w. o. Blanding
Charles r. Humphrey, +. S. Bauer, j. s
Kenyon. w. H. Baliou, r. S. Clarke
Herbert n Tenner. L. II. Comstock. Ar
thur VI. Watson, ]. Il. Studley, JOSEPH
Davol Walter Calender, George l.
shepley. Samuel NJ. Nicholson