Milwaukee County
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Young Mens Club
Milwaukee County Wisconsin
Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy
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LITERARY INSTITUTIONS
1857-58 Milwaukee City Directory Erving, Burdick & Co. 205 and 207 East Water Street Young Men’s Association – Rooms in Tweedy’s Block. This Association was instituted in 1848, and has now about 350 members. The library contains about 4000 volumes, and the reading room is regularly supplied with all the English newspapers in the city, together with the best American and Foreign periodicals. Initiation fee, $1.00 half yearly dues, $1.00 payable in advance. These give the members the privilege of the library and reading room. Literary and Scientific lectures are maintained during the winter season. J. R. Brigham, President A. C. May, Vice President C. F. Ilsley, Treasurer Charles A. Nazro, Secretary William Bilton, Librarian. Directors – I. A. Lapham N. S. Donaldson E. L. Buttrick J. K. Bartlett W. R. Freeman W. H. Metcalf C. J. Cary --------------------------------------------------- From: Catalogue of the Library of the Young Men's Association of the City of Milwaukee Organized, Dec. 1847 Incorporated, March, 1852 Milwaukee: Daily News Book and Job Steam Printing Establishment, 1861[ Back to top ]
Officers of the Association
1861-62 BRITT, Oren E. President MacALISTER, James Vice-President HIGBY, Menzo Secretary McDONALD, Wm.J. Treasurer DANA, W.L. Trustee PITKIN, F.W. Trustee BOWNS, E.E. Trustee JENKINS, J.G. Trustee LANGLEY, S.P. Trustee WHITNEY, T. Trustee WHIPPLE, W.G. Trustee Standing Committees MacALISTER, J. Library and Reading Room LANGLEY, S.P. Library and Reading Room WHIPPLE, W.G. Library and Reading Room WHITNEY, T. Finance DANA, W.L. Finance McDONALD, W.J. Finance PITKIN, F.W. Lectures JENKINS, J.G. Lectures BOWNS, E.E. Lectures ARNOLD, E.C. Librarian Initiation Fee $1.00; Half-Yearly Dues, $1.00 Contributors to Library The Association is indebted to: HOLTON, E.D. HOYT, J.W. POTTER, Hon. John F. GRAHAM, Col. J.D. (U.S.N.) FEATHERSTONEHAUGH, G.W. DANIEL, Wm. ADAMS, C. CHAPMAN, Geo. W. CHAPMAN, S. CAIN, Chas. DURKEE, C. MEADE, G.G. CRANE, Col. L.H.D. SHERMAN, W.H. (several fine photographs of distinguished lectures)[ Back to top ]
PAST OFFICERS
A List of the Officers of the Young Men's Association, chosen at the different Elections, From December, 1847, to May, 1861:-- Elected December 20th and 27th, 1847 J.H. VanDyke President M. Mason Vice-President Joseph Curtis Vice-President J.L. McVickar Recording Secretary Rev. A.L. Chapin Corresponding Secretary S. Marshall Treasurer B. McVickar Trustee from Honorary Members I.A. Lapham Trustee from Honorary Members E. Cramer Trustee from Honorary Members A. Finch, jr.(sic) Trustee from Honorary Members F. Randall Trustee from Honorary Members Hans Crocker Junior Trustee James Christie Junior Trustee Elected January 19th, 1848 J.H. VanDyke President M. Mason Vice-President Joseph Curtis Vice-President H.W. Tenney Recording Secretary Rev. A.L. Chapin Corresponding Secretary S. Marshall Treasurer B. McVickar Trustee from Honorary Members I.A. Lapham Trustee from Honorary Members E. Cramer Trustee from Honorary Members Edwdard Hopkins Trustee from Honorary Members F. Randall Trustee from Honorary Members Hans Crocker Junior Trustee James Christie Junior Trustee Elected December 5th, 1849 S.O. Putnam President Geo. LeFevre Vice-President Chas. F. Ilsley Secretary S. Marshall Treasurer Edward Hopkins Trustee B. McVickar Trustee I.A. Lapham Trustee H.W. Tenney Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee J.H. Tweedy Trustee Robert Menzies Trustee Elected December 4th, 1850 John P. McGregor President Robert C. Bradford Vice-President C. F. Ilsley Secretary Winfield Smith Treasurer Robert Menzies Trustee William J. Bell Trustee A. McArthur Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee E.P. Allis Trustee O.H. Waldo Trustee Nelson McCracken Trustee Elected December 9th, 1851 H.W. Tenney President M.J. Burke Vice-President B.K. Miller Treasurer W.J. Bell Secretary Joshua Stark Trustee J.P. McGregor Trustee H.J. Nazro Trustee Winfield Smith Trustee C.F. Ilsley Trustee R. Menzies Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee Elected Oct. 5th, 1852 R. Menzies President J. Stark Vice-President R.J. Bringham Secretary W.J. Bell Treasurer W.H. Wright Trustee A. Whittemore Trustee B.B. Richards Trustee A.Wilson Trustee Wm. Hill Trustee F. Baason Trustee H.W. Tenney Trustee Elected October 5th, 1853 J.K. Bartlett President J.R. Brigham Vice-President W.J. Bell Treasurer J.D. Dunn Secretary A.F. Clarke Trustee I.A. Lapham Trustee Winfield Smith Trustee W.H. Wright Trustee B.W. Griswold Trustee E.W. Tenney Trustee R. Menzies Trustee Elected October 4th, 1854 J.R. Brigham President C.F. Ilsley Vice-President W.J. Bell Treasurer I.N. Mason Secretary I.A. Lapham Trustee Winfield Smith Trustee N.S. Donaldson Trustee George LeFevre Trustee E.L. Buttrick Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee R. Menzies Trustee Elected May 2d, 1855 J.R. Brigham President W. Smith Vice-President C.F. Ilsley Treasurer I.N. Mason Secretary I.A. Lapham Trustee C.J. Cary Trustee George LeFevre Trustee N.S. Donaldson Trustee E.L. Buttrick Trustee R. Menzies Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee Elected May 7th, 1856 J.B. Brigham Trustee E.L. Buttrick Vice-President C.F. Ilsley Treasurer C.A. Nazro Secretary I.A. Lapham Trustee N.S. Donaldson Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee C.J. Cary Trustee A.C. May Trustee George LeFevre Trustee W.H. Metcalf Trustee Elected May 1st, 1857 J.R. Bringham President A.C. May Vice-President C.F. Ilsley Treasurer C.A. Nazro Secretary I.A. Lapham Trustee N.S. Donaldson Trustee J.K. Bartlett Trustee E.L. Buttrick Trustee W.R. Freeman Trustee W.H. Metcalf Trustee C.J. Cary Trustee Elected May 5th, 1858 A.C. May President N.C. Gridley Vice-President J.L. Spink Treasurer W.G. Fitch Secretary F.H. Terry Trustee E.W. Dennis Trustee S. Edson Trustee C. Caverno Trustee W. Price Trustee J. Johnston Trustee J.P. Ilsley Trustee Elected May 5th, 1859 J.P. Ilsley President C. Caverno Vice-President J.L. Spink Treasurer J. MacAlister Secretary W. Price Trustee J. Seville Trustee O.E. Britt Trustee H.C. Smith Trustee D. McDonald Trustee W.H. Jacobs Trustee J.B.D. Cogswell Trustee Elected May 7th, 1860 C. Caverno President J.B.D. Cogswell Vice-President J. MacAlister Secretary J.L. Spink Treasurer O.E. Britt Trustee W.L. Dana Trustee F.W. Pitkin Trustee E.E. Bowns Trustee W.G. Fitch Trustee D. Courtenay Trustee F. L. Ilsley Trustee From the 1867-68 Catalog Elected May 13th, 1861 O. E. Britt President J. MacAlister Vice President M. Higby Secretary W.J. McDonald Treasurer W.L. Dana Trustee F.W. Pitkin Trustee S.P. Langley Trustee E.E. Bowns Trustee J.G. Jenkins Trustee T.Whitney Trustee W.G. Whipple Trustee Elected May 12th, 1862 F.W. Pitkin President J. C. Montgomery Vice President F.D. Shepard Secretary* Deceased Jan 25th 1863, W.H. Eldred elected to fill vacancy J.R. Lockwood Treasurer N.C. Gridley Trustee W.L. Dana Trustee W.G. Whipple Trustee R. Eliot Trustee J.G. Jenkins Trustee H.S. Weeks Trustee W.H. Eldred Trustee Elected May 12th, 1863 J.C. Montgomery President F.B. Miles Vice President J.G. Flanders Secretary J.E. Eldred Treasurer Resigned on account of abscence from the city Sept 1 1863 A.L. Cary elected by board to fill vacancy. N.C. Gridley Trustee W.B. Price Trustee J.W. Moore Trustee H.S. Weeks Trustee J.B. Kellogg Trustee S. Chandler Trustee DeW Davis Trustee Elected May 10, 1864 F.B. Miles President DeW Davis Vice President A.L. Cary Secretary J.E. Eldred Treasurer J.W. Moore Trustee H.B. Wilkins Trustee G. Godfrey Trustee L.R. Durand Trustee W.H. Crombie Trustee A. Mullen Trustee J.S. Fowler Trustee Elected May 8th 1865 DeW Davis President J. Rice Vice President A.L. Cary Secreatary J.E. Eldred Treasurer A. Mullen Trustee J. Johnston Trustee L.R. Durand Trustee W. Hayden Trustee W.P. McLaren Trustee W.J. McDonald Trustee J.F. McMullen Trustee Elected May 8th 1866 L.R. Durand President J. R. Goodrich Vice President A. W. Wilkins Secretary J.E. Eldred Treasurer E. Sanderson Trustee F.B. Van Valkenburgh Trustee H.H. West Trustee J.R. Drake Trustee C.L. Peirce(sic) Trustee F.C. Winkler Trustee H.C. Payne Trustee Elected 1867-68 John Nazro President H.H. West Vice President Chas. L. Peirce(sic) Secretary E.R. Leland Treasurer Jas. G. Jenkens Trustee H.C. Payne Trustee John B. Goodrich Trustee Matt. Keenan Trustee F.C. Winkler Trustee W.P. McLaren Trustee H.R. Hayden Trustee Standing Committee 1867-68 Library and Reading Room J.R. Goodrich J.G. Jenkins W.P. McLaren Finance H.H. West E.R. Leland H.R. Hayden Lectures F.C. Winkler H.C. Payne Matt. Keenan Librarian E.C. Arnold Assistant Samuel Peacock Rooms open from 8 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. Initiation fee, $1.00; Semi-Annual Dues, $1.50; Life Membership, $50[ Back to top ]
Sketch of the History of the Association
This record is compiled from information gathered from official sources, and from past officers of the Association, and is presented here as a collection of facts, which will have an increasing interest for members, both old and new.* On Wednesday evening December 8th, 1847, a number of citizens of the, then, new city of Milwaukee, met in the parlor of the United States Hotel (corner of East Water and Huron streets, burned in 1854,) in pursuance of a call published in the newspapers, to take prelimin-ary steps for the formation of a Young Men's Literary Association. S. Osgood Putnam, (now of California) was president of the meeting, and E.P. Allis, secretary. After considerable consultation and discussion, on motion of H.W. Tenney, resolutions were adopted in favor of the establishment of a Library in connection with a Reading Room and Debating Society, and for the appointment of a committee to draft a Constitution for the organization of a Young Men's Association. The committee consisted of Messrs. Putnam, Mason, Vliet, Tenney, Holton and VanDyke.
On the 13th of December the committee submitted the draft of a Constitution which was considerably discussed and finally adopted by the meeting, but at an adjourned meeting, Dec. 18th, the subject was again discussed, and the record shows that objections were made to 13 of the 19 articles which composed the Constitution, and the whole matter was referred to a new committee, who, on the 20th of December, reported a revised document, which, in turn, was discussed and rejected, and the original report, somewhat amended, was finally adopted, and the Young Men's Association had a beginning.
The original Constitution divided members into two classes, by age; those over 35 years being classed as honorary members, and required to pay $5.00 initiation, and those between 18 and 35, being regular members, and paying an initiation fee of $2.00. both classes paid $2.00 yearly. Life members were admitted to either class on payment of $25.00, in one sum, and paid no yearly dues. BEsides these classes of members, persons under 18 years of age had the privilege of the library on payment of dues, but had no vote, and were ineligible to office. The offices were divided between the two classes of members. The honorary members taking five trustees, and the regular members two trustees, the presidents, two vice presidents, the treasurer and the corresponding and recording secretaries. The classification dispensed with and the board of officers established, as it still remains. The first election of officers, to hold till the regular election in January, was had in the Common Council Rooms, on the 20th of December, 1847, though the election was not completed until the following week. A list of officers is given elsewhere. The Constitution fixed the Wednesday following the second Tuesday in January,a s the day of the annual election, and accordingly the first annual election was held, January 19, 1848.
So far the proceedings of the Association had shown a special aptitude for debate and animated discussion, but after several weeks spent in the settlement of fundamental principles and the preliminaries for a permanent organization, and after the election of a full board of officers, it still remained to secure members and money to give the Association practical existence, and there were found earnest and active men, who undertook this somewhat thankless task, and to their labor we owe it, that we now have an Association and a Library. On the 5th of February they reported a subscription of $1513, and a membership consisting of 52 life members, 20 honorary members and 49 regular members. A room was leased in what was then the second, now third, floor of the building still standing at the north west corner of Wisconsin and Main streets, at a rent of $100 per year, "furnished with tables, chairs, bookcases, and other necessary fixtures for the use of the Association," in a style, of which an idea may be had, from the fact that the bills for the same amounted to considerably less that $50. The sum of $500 was appropriated for the purchase of books, and this, together with some donations, and some books received in payment of subscriptions, produced a library which, at the end of the first year of the Association, numbered 810 volumes, and together with eleven of the leading English and American Quarterlies and Monthlies, constituted the attractions of the Room, which was open on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday evening of each week, under the charge of Edward Hopkins, who volunteered to do duty as the first librarian, and to whose care and systematic labor during the first two years of the existence of the Association, very much is due.
At the annual meeting in January, 1849, the Constitution was revised and amended , as has been stated. The initiation fee was reduced to $1.00 for all members. The time of the annual elextion was changed to December. During this year, the interest in the library continued and grew, and for a part of the time the Room was kept open every evening. The number of members rose to 146. The receipts of the year were $303.44, which, with a surplus from the previous year, gave a fund of which $219.35 were expended for books, and $119.28 for incidental expenses. Two hundred and ninety nine new volumes were added to the library, and the list of periodicals was enlarged. We may presume that the directors found some difficulty in collecting dues and subscriptions, from the fact that it was officially recommended at the annual meeting, that measures be taken to procure the legal incorporation of the Association in order that it might enforce its collections, though we are not aware that to this day the legal business of the Association has been a profit to any attorney.
The third annual meeting was held December 4, 1849, and showed that the interest in the Association was well maintained. The attendance was large and spirited, and the discussion of various matters and plans for the benefit of the Association, continued until a late hour. A committee was appointed to canvass(sic) the city for new members and subscriptions; and necessity of a new and more attractive room was urged; a course of lectures was proposed, and other suggestions made and considered, all very much the same in kind, we may venture to say, that have been proposed, considered and discussed, among its members and directors, every year, from that to this. At this time so much interest was manifested that an adjourned meeting was held and more discussion was had, and among other things, it was strongly urged that the only way to reach the object desired, the establishment of a good public library, was to create a joint stock company, whose affairs should be managed as any other business operation. It was however, not found practicable to get the consent of all the subscribers to this arrangement, and that objection to the plan has grown stronger every year since. During this year a lecture before the Association was given by Chancellor Lathrop. A new room was obtained in the then new Martin's Block. Mr. Hopkins gave up the charge of the library, and Thomas Hyslop was appointed librarian and received a small salary. Eighty new members were added during the year, and the course of the Association showed no step backward.
Dec. 4, 1850--The fourth annual election and the beginning of the fourth year of the Association. During this year was commenced the first course of lectures before the Association, and although the lecturers were home men, and the admittance fee quite small ($1.00 for a family, to the course, and ten cents a single admission,) the result was satisfactory, and some of the lectures attracted considerable attention, and gave rise to some newspaper discussion. Debates were also started during this year, in the fall of 1851, and for some time created a good deal of interest and weekly excitement. $360.07 were expended in books and periodicals this year and one hundred new books were added to the library which then numbered 1320 volumes. The other expenditures of the year amounted to $157.92.
The fifth annual election, December 3d, 1851, was a scene of great excitement; not so much from the number of votes, as from the kind, as the record shows the whole number cast to have been 68. But the report of the inspectors, and the tradition of the times, tell us that in the anxiety of contending aspirants for official honor some forgot an article in the Constitution which prescribed the qualifications of voters, and a rigid inquiry on the part of three grave inspectors of election disclosed the fat that some illegal votes had been cast. A long report was made, upon which a story debate arose, and even acrimony is said to have been exhibited; but the difficulty was finally surmounted by the remarkable (though the event would show, not unwise,) proposition by the new President elect, that all the officers who claimed to have been elected should resign and allow a new election, which was agreed to. The election was held December 9th, and the result was that some of the self-sacrificing men who had resigned, to save the Society, were again elected, but others were not. It is a matter of dispute to this day, among the most active participants in that wrangle, which party was really in earnest and which only feigned an excitement, to keep up an interest in the meetings of the Association.
In November of this year, new rooms for the Association were obtained on the first floor of the large new block of W.P. Young, corner of Wisconsin and Main streets; but the library had hardly been established there before the whole block was burned to the ground, and the Association was indebted to its active members and friends for saving its property. The small loss sustained was fully covered by insurance; and the Association next found a landlord in the S.L. Rood, and ocupied (sic) his rooms over store No. 204 East Water street, the entrance at that time being from Wisconsin street.
In March, 1852 the Association was incorporated by act of the Legislature, its then Board of Directors being made corporators. The time of the annual meeting and election was changed to October. During this year a new catalogue was published--the second.
October 5th, 1852, the sixth annual election. In the winter of this year a second course of lectures by home lecturers was given. They were fairly well attended, though they did not draw large audiences, except the two lectures on the "Spanish Inquisition," by the (then) Rev. Dr. Ives. These attracted full houses and made considerable sensation. More profit was realized out of a musical entertainment undertaken by the Directors, for the benefit of the library. By aid of some members of the Musical Society, and some generously given assistance of ladies and gentleman not accustomed to public exhibitions of their talent, the concert was well attended and well received, and a net profit of $70 was realized, which was applied to the purchase of books, and produced a valuable addition to the library.
October 5th, 1853, commenced the seventh, and as it proved, a most important year of the Association. At this time, notwithstanding its library and reading room afforded pleasure and profit to its members, they were few, and the Association was hardly known to the public generally--it filled no important place in the public mind. Its reading room was most of the time without visitors. Its annual meetings, which at first had been attended and partici-pated in by many of our best and most influential citizens, were no longer interesting, and passed almost without notice. Anxious Directors agreed that something must be done to make the library more attractive, and to induce new members to join. Among other plans, it was sometimes proposed to unite with the Musical Society in the purchase, or lease, of some central lit and the erection of a fine hall; but this it was thought best, after deliberation, to abandon, or at least postpone till it was well settled that the Association could pay the rent of its present rooms. About this time a destructive fire left our landlord, Mr. Rood, without a place of business, and he gave his attention to his tenant--the Association. He became Librarian, and by dint of much industry and great skill in making it uncomfortable for any body he applied to who did not join, and very comfortable and pleasant for all who did, he gained many new members to the Association. He went into the street with a subscription paper--an undertaking at that time, quite too desperate for any body else--and soon realized a sum which put the library and reading room in good condition. A new carpet, new gas fixtures, a change of the clumsy book-cases which had come down from the beginning, for a neat and commodious shelving, and a general brushing up and improvement of all the interior arrangements of the Association, were his satisfactory vouchers to subscribers. The library was kept open during business hours, day and evening, and became a pleasant and frequent place of resort. The great event of the year, however, was the course of lectures. It had at the time become the fashion in other Western cities to call wise men from the East and give the citizens of the new country a chance to see who is who, and learn what is what in the old, by hebdomadal lectures. It was determined that the Young Men's Association should do this for Milwaukee. It should be remembered that at this time Milwaukee was far and almost unknown country to lecturers. No railroad then connected us with the EAst; and in the winter we had been accustomed to regard ourselves as more completely shut out from communication with the seaboard, than those who only know Milwaukee as it now is can well imagine. But we had a telegraph and a part of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, and it was decided to try. It happened that the management of the matter fell into the hands of one who had enthusiasm, perseverance and business capacity, and to him chiefly (aided by others) is due the final complete and surprising success of our first course of lectures by men from abroad,--we so style it, through perhaps no lecture gave more satisfaction than that by our own Mr. Ryan. We need not say, for any one who was in Milwaukee during that winter, that we refer to B.W. Griswold (now of New York City) who, as chairman of the Lecture Committee, was untiring in his attention from first to last. As a precaution, thought to be necessary, in the first place, a guaranty subscription was obtained form some forty persons to protect the Association in case of loss by the venture. Season tickets, for families and individuals, were hawked about the streets by the committee and other members of the Board, until $700 were realized before the lectures commenced. Advertising was done in all the usual modes, and also by members of the Board personally, who, one and all, talked lectures everywhere, until it was almost true that the chairman and his committee neither did, talked, nor thought anything but lectures continually. The result was a success which gave the Association a net profit of $833.39 for its library and a recognized position as an institution in Milwaukee. The annual report of the doings of the year shows: total receipts, $1,288.54; total expenditures, $1,148.36, (this statement includes only net profits of lectures as receipts); an addition to the library of 351 volumes by purchase; 102 new members added to the Association; a new catalogue, and a prosperous condition of things generally.
October 4, 1854, the eighth regular election. By a change in the Rules, the Board elected at this time continued in office only till May. They were expected to provide a course of lecturers, which had come to be a recognized demand of the people, and duty of the Association. Ten lectures were given at a cost of $897.30, and with a net profit to the Association of $358.46. During the term, forty-one new members were added. The expenses, besides lectures, were $596.51.
The time of the election having been changed, to give time to prepare for the annual courses of lectures, the ninth annual election was held May 2, 1855. This year our Association formally joined with that of Chicago in obtaining a course of lectures, both Associations being able to offer inducements and to secure lecturers which neither alone could have done. The expenses of the course were $1,606.85, and the net profits were $360. This result was not regarded as satisfactory by the committee, who report that the same course in Chicago cleared over $1,500. During the year 140 new members were added, and 120 volumes were purchased for the library. The total receipts (including lectures) were $2,377.23; the expenses (besides lectures) were about $600.
May 7, 1856--Election. This year it was not thought best to undertake a full course of lectures, to occur weekly, for which tickets should be sold in advance, as heretofore; but the committee determined to secure such as they could obtain of those lecturers coming West, who would, in the opinion of the committee, draw good houses in Milwaukee. Eight lectures were given (among them, three by John B. Gough,) at a cost of $768.92, and with a clear profit of $359.35. About 400 new books were added to the library by purchase, beside many valuable works by donation; forty members were added. During this year, the Directories concluded (not without hesitation) that the Association needed, and would support, new and larger rooms and a larger yearly expenditure, and the suite of rooms now occupied were rented for a term of years. During this year, also the newspaper reading-room was established and furnished with twenty-five of the leading dailies of this country and Canada. The gross receipts this year were $2,380.19, and the expenditures were $2,303.12.
May 6, 1857--The eleventh year of the Association. At the beginning of this year the Association took possession of its new rooms and materially increased its annual expenses; and the Board found that it required some labor and care to provide for all the demands on the treasury. A careful examination disclosed that, while the apparent membership was much larger, the Association had, in fact, but about 300 reliable paying members, besides 40 life members. Lectures, as a source of revenue, were not available; their novelty had worn off. Indeed, a glance at the names of those who had already been presented to Milwaukee audiences, will show that the Association had pretty well gleaned the field of celebrities in that line, and that there were not many more whom people would pay to look at. Geo. W Curtis, Horace Mann, Bayard Taylor, Horace Greeley, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Parke Godwin, James Russell Lowell, John G. Saxe, Josiah Quincy, jr.(sic), John Pierpont, John B. Gough, Wendell Phillips, T. Starr King, Henry Ward Beecher, George Sumner, and Dr. H.W. Bellows, were in the lists of those who had been here. The Association could not afford to risk a course of lectures, the profit of which to the treasury would be doubtful. For the purpose of testing the question, one popular lecturer was brought here and every reasonable effort was made to get him an audience; but the result was a failure and a loss to the Association, and no more were attempted. The great commercial crisis had so darkened all prospects, that it was often a matter of serious consideration with the Directories how they were to pay the debts and expenses incurred during the year and leave the treasury sound at the close. It was determined to make a special effort for more life members, and at the personal solicitation of Directories, seventeen gentlemen joined the Association as life members and paid into its treasury $425. 142 yearly members were added, and at the close of the year the Board were able to report all debts paid and a balance on hand. The total receipts of the year (no lectures) were $1,351.29, and the expenditures $1,284.35.
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