New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20

Adams, the president of the Massachusetts Hstori-
cal Society," Bishop Potter, DR.. James Fl. Garfield
librarian of Columbia University, and Robert H.
Kelby, librarian Of the society. The Rev. DIR. Ed
ward b. Coe will ask tho blessing. medal COM
memorating the anniversary has been struck off.
The New-York Historical Society, barring the
Massachusetts society, Is the oldest historical
ciety in the United States. Both the fruit OF
the labors of John Pintard, a citizen of New-Yori1
and the founder of the first savings bank in the
city. Some OF the others in the company of eleven
who gathered in the picture room were De Witt
Clinton, Egbert Benson, the first Attorney General
OF New-York State who was tie first president Of
the society; DIR. David Hoosack, whose Saturday
evenings and botanical garden in their day were
well known features of New-York life Anthony
Blocker Saruel Bayard and Peter c. stuyvesant,
a descendant of the old Dutch Governor.
That a lottery is not always the paying pr-posi-
ton for those who conduct II that people think Is
Illustrated IN tre early history of the New-York
Historical Society The first fifty years OF the life
Of the society vicissitudnOus ones. It was
batted around from pillar TO post. having a
home in one building and in another. Once its
finances were in such precarious state that por-
ton of its collections offered for sale On sew
eral other occasions it was involved in debt.
Early in Its history it appealed to the State Legis
Iature for aid. The wise legislators at Albany,
careful about the finances OF the State. were per-
fectly willing to aid the society in one way. and
passed bill entitled "An act insttuting q lottery
for the promotion of literature and for other pur
poses" which appropriated $1,000 from the proceeds
for the OF the society The officers of the
society evidently Of the opinion that the public
was eagerly aW aiting opportunity to win little
money for the sake OF literature. Whether the
moral sentiment of the State had reached such an
elevated plane that 1t would patronize lotteries
the lottery not enthusiastically conducted IS
not related. but 1t is fact that no money came to
hand. The society in the mean time had gone ahead
the basis that the money would be forthcoming
and had published several volumes Of historical
value getting itself into a mre OF debt. For sew
years It foundered around in this state Finally
in 1923 the burden was lifted by the kindly assist
OF Union College. This literary institution con-
scented to pay to the society $1,000 in cash for the
latter's interest in the lottery scheme. So the
ciety got itsels out Of debt.
The society had permanent home until 1851
when 1t moved into its present brOwnstone home
at No. 10 Second-ave. For five years 1t occupied
rooms in the old City Hall at the head OF Broad
st. In which Washington inaugurated Presi-
dent For the next seven years it had home in
the Government House. house with Ionic colon
made erected the south side Of Bowling Green
where the new Custom House is being built. In
1916 the plain brick Almshouse which stood in
the of the present City Hall became the home
society. The rent stpulat ted in the lease from
the city was one barleycorn annually whenever de-
manded For sixteen years the society remained
there In 1892. the society being obliged to move it
made itself IS little trouble as possible by moving
across Broadway to Remseu's Building, which
stood on the southwest corner Of Chambers-st
where the National Shoe and Leather Bank now
has its home. 1t remained there only five
years when its growing collection Of books relies
and pictures loaded into vans and drawn up
TO tho building Of the Stuyvesant Institute in
broadway, opposite Bond-st., Four years later II
had 10 again. This time it's officials took the
collections 10 the building of the New-York Uni
versity. where ii remained from 1871 1867 when
II removed TO its present home.
1t will doubtless soon again. for 1t is
building a home the block fronting on
Central Park West. between Seventy-sxt and
seventy seventh sts, and has the major part OF the
fund OF 800 900 required for tho purpose in hand
The festivities of the New York Historical So
ciety have usually taken the form of banquets
Perhaps feeding upon dry manuscripts throughout
III. wear made this form of celebra tion especially
inviting The society In the old time usually
.made a day OF it." Beginning with the feast OF
reason in the forenoon the staid old Gothamites
adjourned TO a neighboring hotel in tho afternoon
for the 'hlet OF sole" This part OF the programme
lasted so long that perhaps some OF the diners
FOUND going to business the next morning an irk-
.on,e task and one entirely out OF harmony with
the elevation OF spirits of the evening before Mora
than thirty toasts were sometimes responded to-
Al the banquet on September a. 1909 celebrating the
2Ooth anniversary ths entrance Of Hendrix iIud-