Committee on the Library. LOUIS H. DIELMAN, Chairman. JOHN H. LATANE. EDWARD B. MATTHEW8. LAWRENCE C. WBOTH. Committee on Finance. PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOBOUGH, Chairman. VAN LEAB BLACK. Committee on Publications. SAMUEL K. DENNIS, Chairman. JOHN M. VINCENT. Committee on Membership. MOHENBY HOWARD, Chairman. WILLIAM H. LYTLE. ISAAO T. NORBIS. GEOBGE WEEMS WILLIAMS. Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry. B. BERNARD BROWNE, Chairman. WILLIAM J. MOCLELLAN. J. HALL PLEASANTS, JR. Committee on Addresses and Literary Entertainments. JAMES MOC. TRIPPE, Chairman. JOHN L. SANFORD. The business of the evening was discontinued while a paper was read by Dr. Bernard C. Steiner entitled “ James Alfred Pearce, United States Senator from Maryland, 1843-1863." The meeting then adjourned. February 14th, 1921. The regular monthly meeting of the Society was held tonight with the President presiding. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Donations to the Library and Cabinet were described by the Acting Librarian. Mrs. William Reed presented the snuff-box of Commodore Barney bequeathed by Miss Caroline Remington. The following persons, previously nominated, were elected to membership: WALTER R. GALE W. BLADEN LOWNDES. CHARLES J. BOUCHET. C. T. WILLIAMS. MRS. VAN LEAR BLACK, DONALD SYMINGTON. R. E. HANSON, JACK SYMINGTON, Dr. James D. Iglehart presented the “ Politician's Register," for the years 1836-40, published by W. Hickman, Baltimore. The President thanked Dr. Iglehart on behalf of the Society. The President brought before the Society the matter of the preservation of the Shot Tower. He stated that public sentiment seemed strongly in favor of its preservation from numerous letters received by this Society from prominent citizens asking that we use our influence in the matter. He said that the matter had been considered at the meeting of the Council on the 10th instant and that letters had been written to the Mayor and Park Board urging that either the City or the Park Board purchase the Tower and a small amount of land surrounding the same to be used as a park. After much discussion and many expressions of opinion in favor of the preservation of this historic land mark it was, upon motion of Mr. Thom, seconded by Judge Dawkins : “ Resolved. That this meeting of the Society indicate to the Mayor and the President of the Board of Park Commissioners, through the proper authorities, our very strong hope that the land immediately surrounding the Shot Tower be purchased by the Park Board and that a Committee, headed by our President, be appointed to present this resolution.” Dr. J. Hall Pleasants presented on behalf of the Library of Johns Hopkins University a copy of the Baltimore City Directory of 1808, the only copy known, which fills the one gap in the Historical Society's set. Dr. Pleasants described the circumstances of its salvage from the two MoCoy Hall fires. Dr. Pleasants also exhibited to the Society some letter-books of Charles Carroll, Barrister, and of his father, Doctor Carroll, and also a book of original Surveys and Plats of practically every tract of land in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties. a The death of the following members was reported: Mr. Kirk Brown, James C. Legg, Miss Louisa Steuart Williams and Major William M. Pegram. Judge Dawkins spoke of the faithful service of Major Pegram in the Society and Judge Trippe submitted the following minute which was ordered spread on the minutes of the meeting and a copy sent to the family. MAJOR WILLIAM MEADE PEGRAM Major William Meade Pegram was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, September 19, 1836, and named after the Right Reverend William Meade, a noted Bishop of Virginia. He served in the War between the States, in the Black Horse Cavalry and rose to the rank of Major. Afterward he saw service on the staff of General J. E. B. Stuart. “After the war Major Pegram settled in Baltimore and engaged in business. He became a versatile contributor to various magazines and journals and his works upon historical and political subjects were graceful in style and pointed in wit. " He was for many years Commander of Franklin Buchanan Camp, United Confederate Veterans. “He had been a member of the Maryland Historical Society for twelve years and recently Chairman of the Committee on Addresses and Literary Entertainments. His attendance was constant until the very night before the morning of his death on January 12th, 1921. He was a very familiar figure in the life of Baltimore of which he was an intimate part for 55 years, his spiritual youthfulness taking no note of the flight of time and his vigor perennial whether life's program furnished tragedy or comedy. “As was stated editorially by the Press, “ Happy is the man who can laugh at old age in the gay, brave fashion of Major Pegram, who can retain to the end all the generous and warm impulses of his early manhood. ... He passes in a moment from the continual youth of this life to the . . а. perpetual youth of eternity. . God rest him for a merry and gallant gentleman who made a good fight to the end.'” There being no further business, the meeting adjourned so that the annual meeting could be held. ANNUAL MEETING ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT FOR THE COUNCIL During the earlier portion of the past year the activities of the Society were unavoidably retarded by the illness and death of our late President and during the latter part of the year they have been mainly directed toward meeting the serious difficulties in which the Society has found itself by reason of the total insufficiency of its resources to meet its current, necessary, expenses. The Finance Committee has undertaken the problem of placing the Society upon a financial foundation, adequate not only for its maintenance but for its expansion. This constitutes a heavy task but it has been met by the Finance Committee with earnest endeavor and with that extended experience which peculiarly qualifies its members to bring the undertaking to a successful conclusion. There will, within a few days, be delivered to each member of the Society, and sent to a large number of other citizens, the very beautiful booklet and urgent appeal which has been pre pared by the Finance Committee, by whose members it will be earnestly followed up. It is apparent, however, that the Society must not rely entirely upon this appeal, nor upon the efforts of its Committee, but that each member must recognize the existing critical situation and spare no personal effort toward its relief. In so far as its meagre income has permitted, the ordinary activities of the Society have been maintained during the past year. The number of visitors has increased and the use of its library and collections by earnest historical and genealogical students has been greater than ever before, notwithstanding the fact that for want of adequate working force it has not been possible to keep the buildings open in the evenings, when only it is practicable for its opportunities to be availed of by many earnest students. The unusually heavy expense of heating and janitor-service at the old Building, coupled with the necessity of providing from its rent for interest upon and gradual extinguishment of its indebtedness, have prevented the Society from realizing appreciable income from that source. As this debt and its interest are reduced it is anticipated that available revenue will be derived from this rental. There have been many notable additions to the Library and other collections, evidencing the continued and increasing interest of the community in the Society and the recognition that it affords unequaled opportunities for the preservation of historical matter where it may be at once safe and available. The limited accommodations at the command of the Society render it necessary that care be exercised in the acceptance of matter offered it. On October 11, 1920, there were presented to the Society, by a Committee of Citizens represented by Governor Goldsborough, a handsome portrait in oils of Cardinal Mercier and a volume of clippings descriptive of his visit to America and particularly to Baltimore. The occasion was graced by the presence of the venerable Cardinal Gibbons, who expressed high appreciation of the gift and spoke of the especially affectionate remembrance in which his visit to Baltimore is held by Cardinal Mercier. With sincere and appreciative recognition and acknowledgement of the loyal, earnest and not infrequently self-sacrificing service to the Society of its Officers, Trustees, Committees and Operating Force, this report is respectfully submitted. |