ON APRIL 19, 1899, TO OBSERVE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF
LEXINGTON, CONCORD AND CAMBRIDGE.
The Council of the Society held a meeting at the Narragansett Hotel,
Providence, R. I., on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 1899, in honor of
the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, Concord and Cambridge.
President-General Gargan occupied the chair. A communication was read
from the Society of American Authors, suggesting that the organization
place itself on record in favor of recognizing December 14, next, as a
“Washington Memorial Day” throughout the country.
The date mentioned is the centennial anniversary of the death of the
_Pater Patriæ_. The suggestion was adopted, and the secretary was
directed to communicate this action to similar organizations interested
in the anniversary.
Communications were read from the Maine Genealogical Society, of
Portland; the Minnesota Historical Society, of St. Paul; the
Pennsylvania Historical Society, of Philadelphia; the Presbyterian
Historical Society, of Pennsylvania, and the Pejepscot Historical
Society, of Brunswick, Me.
A letter was read from the Navy Department, stating that the torpedo
boat _O’Brien_ would be launched at Elizabethport, N. J., on or about
July 1, this year. It was voted to hold the annual field day of the
Society at that time and place, and the secretary was empowered to make
all necessary arrangements for the event.
Secretary-General Murray announced that since the last meeting four
members of the Society have died, viz.: Hon. Patrick Walsh, Augusta,
Ga.; Hon. John H. Sullivan and Col. Patrick T. Hanley, Boston, Mass.,
and Hon. Eli Thayer, Worcester, Mass.
Resolutions were adopted expressive of the great loss sustained by the
Society in the death of those four gentlemen, and of condolence with
their respective families.
Hon. John D. Crimmins, of New York, personally subscribed five hundred
dollars for the general purposes of the Society.
Stephen J. Richardson, of New York, was introduced by Hon. John D.
Crimmins, and explained the plan and scope of a projected “Encyclopædia
Hibernica.” He asked the Council’s endorsement of the enterprise, and
the same was gladly accorded, after certain suggestions had been made
regarding the work.
The draft was read of a proposed circular to be sent to each member of
the Society, inviting financial contributions to assist the organization
in its publication work. The Secretary-General was instructed to have
copies of the draft made and one submitted to each member of the Council
for approval or emendation before the circular is finally issued. After
the admission of about forty new members the Council adjourned.