ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY That the establishment of the Society in quarters of its own would greatly stimulate the interest and activity of the membership, was fully anticipated. At the close of the most notable year in the history of the Society, it is gratifying to record that quite every expectation has been realized. An increase in life memberships from two to seventy-five, with the likelihood of many more, is a further guaranty of the Society's permanent place as a local institution. The election of 142 new members, 72 life members and 6 honorary members has brought the aggregate up to 755 making this organization, it is believed, the largest local historical society in New England. It is a pleasing coincidence that while our community is everywhere casting off its old clothes and submitting to radical transformation, not only in physical aspect but ethnically and ideally, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the best in what was, should be experiencing a new birth. Not the least notable contribution to the proceedings of the Society during the past year was the address of President Woodbury at the dedication of the Society House on October ninth. The President's extraordinary efforts in advancing the material interests of the Society found ample justification in that paper alone. Had there been any doubt before, it demonstrated that Lynn not only had a history, but a very unique one. The address of the Honorable Samuel Walker McCall, one of our new honorary members, and of his Honor Mayor Newhall also added to the significance of the event celebrated. Prior to the "house warming " on September eleventh the members had continued to assemble in Oxford Club Hall and the Women's Club House. On February thirteenth, Miss Lizzie S. Watts provided much entertainment by her paper on Grandmother's Wedding Journey. On March thirteenth, James E. Odlin, Esq., ably discoursed on the teachings of Jonathan Edwards, and on April tenth, Edward W. McGlennen, Esq., reviewed the voyages of Henry Hudson and other early explorers along our coast. On May eighth, Honorable Alden P. White, of Salem, added pleasing variety to the year's program with a paper on Longfellow's poem of Hiawatha and the Indian legends. which it incorporates. Since the occupany of the Society House, the monthly meetings have been devoted to Lynn subjects. Again must we acknowledge our indebtedness to two members. who have so abundantly enriched our recorded local lore. Former President Martin had retired from a most faithful administration of the Society's affairs, during which the work of publishing the old Town records, soon to be resumed, and of securing the Society House, had begun, only to renew his valuable researches into our colonial history. Glimpses of Colonial Life in Lynn in Indian War Days, presented before an audience which taxed the assembly room of the new house to the utmost, was read by Mr. Martin at the meeting on November thirteenth. The paper of Honorable Nathan Mortimer Hawkes, dealing with those portions of the Newburyport Turnpike within the outlaying parishes of old Lynn, delivered to another large audience on December eleventh, added one more delightful chapter to the many already contributed to the Society's volumes by the author of "Hearths and Homes of Old Lynn." Stereopticon slides of old houses nearby or adjoining the turnpike, made possible by the valuable work of the Committee on Photography under the direction of Mr. George S. Bliss, added much to the enjoyment of the paper. Thus were the proceedings of a memorable year fittingly concluded. The same variety which has marked our indoor program has also made pleasurable an interesting series of excursions under the supervision of Guy Newhall, Esq., Chairman of Committee on Excursions. A Sunday pilgrimage to the restored Christ Church in the "green lane of North Boston," now Salem Street, was undertaken on May eleventh; the Salem historical pageant was attended on June fourteenth and on July sixteenth a very successful steamboat excursion in Boston harbor, with a landing in Quincy, and a trolley visit to the two Adams and Dorothy Quincy Houses was enjoyed by a large number of members, most of whom disembarked in the evening at Nahant. The excursion to Ipswich on August twenty-third included a delightful sail on the land-locked waters in a special steamer. The year has also been signalized by the election to honorary membership of the Honorable Charles Francis Adams, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Honorable Curtis Guild, former Governor of Massachusetts, the Honorable Henry Cabot Lodge, Senator from Massachusetts, the Honorable Abner Cheney Goodell, Editor of the "Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay," the Honorable Samuel Walker McCall, formerly a representative in Congress, and the Honorable Robert Samuel Rantoul, formerly President of the Essex Institute. The Society has continued to be represented by delegates at the meetings of the Bay State Historical League, held at Boston, January 25, Fitchburg, April 26, Marblehead, June 21, and Holliston, October 25, and is anticipating their meeting in our Society House on January 17, 1914, as it has not met in Lynn since December 5, 1908. Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM E. DORMAN, Secretary. |