Fourth Annual Meeting.

THE fourth annual business meeting of the Governor Thomas Dudley Family Association was held in the Quincy House, Boston, October 20, 1896. In the absence of the President, Dr. Albion M. Dudley, of Salem, the Senior Vice-President, Rev. James Henry Wiggin, called the meeting to order shortly after four o'clock.

The Secretary, Dudley R. Child, read the minutes of the previous annual meeting, held at the Hotel Vendome, October 15, 1895.

Col. L. Edwin Dudley, the Treasurer, made the following report, which was duly accepted.

This is to certify that I have examined the above report and statement, with vouchers annexed, and find them correct.

Oct. 20, 1896.

JAMES HENRY WIGGIN, Auditor.

The Chairman appointed, as a Nominating Committee, to prepare a list of officers for the coming year: Sanford H. Dudley, Esq., of Cambridge; Dr. Elizabeth Abbott Carleton, of Boston; Charles F. Dudley, of Abington; Miss Laura B. White, of Roxbury.

While this committee was attending to its duties, the Secretary read his annual report, as follows:

Secretary's Annual Report.

The fourth annual report of your Secretary is hereby submitted.

The first matter of importance following an annual meeting is the preparation and publication of the Report of the meeting, in which the year's work is included. This was done under direction of the committee appointed for the purpose, and 150 copies were issued at the usual price, fifty cents. The edition is nicely illustrated by reproductions of original oil

paintings of Chief Justice Paul Dudley, and Lucy Wainwright, his wife; and photographs of the old Parting Stone in Roxbury.

Your Board of Directors has held three meetings during the year, at which the affairs of the Association have had full discussion. A committee was early appointed to prepare a membership certificate and badge, but reported that it seemed advisable to wait before issuing these, in the hope of obtaining, through research in England, facts which would add greatly to the accuracy and interest of any species of insignia which we might adopt. Another committee was empowered to make arrangements for careful search in England, for the ancestry of Gov. Thomas Dudley, and to issue a call for the subscriptions necessary to this end. Information as to agents and methods has been obtained, but no definite action taken. However, it is our firm belief that no step could be of more vital interest and importance to the Association.

It was early decided to have a summer excursion, preferably to Maine, and the Treasurer and Secretary journeyed Down East with this end in view; but the matter of attendance seemed so uncertain that it was decided to try instead, a trip to Lexington, Concord, and the "Two Brothers" in Bedford. This in its turn was deemed unadvisable, as the time had slipped along toward the annual meeting, and majority opinion favored Boston for that occasion. It is still hoped that we may, in the coming summer season, bring about a successful gathering.

The old Roxbury Burying-ground is not yet become a park. We must regard this result as a matter of time. The tomb is remembered on each Decoration Day.

The march of time, in the shape of building operations on the corner of Centre and Roxbury Streets, where the old Parting Stone has stood for so many years, has recently caused quite a wave of excitement. The Press, societies, and individuals have shown the widespread interest which the old landmark claims, and it is now understood that it will be properly cared for and retain its original position.

Your Secretary takes this opportunity to apologize to you all for much remissness, particularly in the matter of correspond

ence. If your letters have been half answered, or not answered at all, it has been chiefly on account of press of work; and he is glad to retire from office in order that the affairs of the Association may have the attention they need.

Respectfully submitted,

DUDLEY R. CHILD, Secretary.

Colonel L. E. Dudley referred to the faithful and multifarious services of Secretary Child, and hoped that he would not withdraw from the office; and this opinion was endorsed by the Chairman, who had never so fully realized Mr. Child's value, as when this gentleman was associated with himself and others, on the Literary Committee having charge of the present reunion.

The Secretary's report was then accepted; after which the following amendments were considered:

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution.

That Article III. of the Constitution be amended so as to read: Any descendant of Governor Thomas Dudley of the age of eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, may, upon the nomination of a member of the Association, and approval of the Board of Assistants, become a member of the Association, by signing the Constitution and By-Laws, and paying the initiation fee of three dollars. Husbands and wives of members are also eligible to membership. The General Court, upon recommendation of the Board of Assistants, shall have the power to drop from membership, by a two-thirds vote, any member who shall prove unacceptable to the Association.

That Article IV of the Constitution be amended so as to read: The Officers of the Association shall be a Governor, a Deputy-Governor, as many Lieutenant-Governors as there are States represented in the membership of the Association (one from each State), a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Registrar, a His