Report of the Council of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, for the Year 1896[1]

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, New Series, No. 22 (1898)]

 

Annual, general meeting : 12th January, 1898

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

The annual general meeting of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec was held on Wednesday morning, the 13th January, in the library of the Society, at 10 o'clock. There was a fairly large attendance of members. After the minutes of the last annual meeting were read, the reports for the past year were submitted.

 

REPORT OF COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1896.

 

It is a matter of regret to myself, who have unworthily filled the office of President of this Society for the year lately closed, that I should have so little to communicate, in the way of information, respecting past or present, and so little to hold out of substantial hope for the future. As regards the past, I am really not qualified to speak with any authority, inasmuch as I know very little practically of the important word which this Society has so well carried on, and it would be simply waste of time to recapitulate that which is well known to all active members of the Society, or can be gathered from previous reports of the Council. I can state that, in company with our excellent Librarian, my friend Mr. Peter Johnson, I have visited several prominent citizens of Quebec, in the hope that they would give some assistance to our Endowment Fund. "We only received one refusal to-our plea for aid, and we can aver with satisfaction that, as a rule, we were not only kindly received but that the just grounds for our appeal were always admitted. We entertain good hopes that we may be enabled at all events to raise the sum of $5,000, the interest accruing from which, will, we trust, if due economy be practised, meet the cost of publishing our transactions. I grieve to announce that my efforts to obtain help from some worthy citizens of Montreal were unsuccessful. The accumulated wealth among the residents of Montreal seems to blind them to the less favored condition of citizens in this their sister city and they lack the public spirit which would lead them to interest themselves in a Society which has done much for the history of this Dominion. Again, several deputations of the Council have waited upon the Provincial Premier and Treasurer for the time being, in the hope that some yearly grant would be bestowed, as of old, upon the Society, to aid to the publication of its records and other scientific and interesting information. Our reception was invariably most courteous, and our petitions were promised every consideration. Still, as we all know, economy is the order of the day and although our Society claims, and I apprehend with justice, to be the most ancient of the Dominion, and although up to within the last few years it has always been in receipt of a Government grant, and although it takes a high rank in the estimation of literary men, yet, as we are told, we are only one of a large number of similar organizations, and the Government cannot create a precedent, and aid one, however deserving, when it would certainly be compelled to refuse others.

 

You are aware, from the last report of the attempt made to obtain from the Provincial Government some equivalent (in the form of money) for the valuable historical manuseripts obtained from us, and which are now Parliament Buildings. We trust that this most equitable request may be duly considered and fully acquiesced in. We cannot hope for more than this just recognition of the rights of the Society. It is obviously hopeless to look with any confidence for any yearly Govenrment grant. It is, therfpre, most desirable that we should be able to publish our transactions, as a matter of course, out of the intrest of our Endowment Fund. It would be a melancholy prospect institution may be, up to a certain point. Also, while our stock of books is large out means do no enable us to keep pace with the needs of the day, and the pprogress of public opinion. We are precluded, owing to our pverty, from enriching our shelves by purchasing fresh works on literary or scientific subjects. Moreover, forbearing as our sister societies have proved themselves to be, by continuing to supply us with many valuable works intended as exchanges, without receiving any return whatsoever, we cannot nevertheless expect that such forbearance will be eternal, and it must undoubtedly cease at an early date, if we cannot resume the publication of our transactions, and other useful and desirable information.

 

I grieve to say that this Scoiety and the community at large have to deplore of the loss of death, during the past year, of the following members:    Messrs. J. T. Dawson, Wm. Hossack, A. J. Maxham, W. C. Gibsone and Wm. Rae.

 

It would be invidious to particularise minutely in the case of these well-known names, but I would observe that Mr. Hossack was one of our Vice-Presidents for many years, that Mr. Maxham's venerable figure was familiar to us all, and that Mr. Rae was one of the most benevolent of our citizens.

 

We have also lost owing to various causes, the following members : — Messrs. Walter Chalk, J. M. Johnston, Thos. Gregor, Miss Clifford and Miss Vial.

 

To counterbalance this serious list of various names, eleven in all, lost to our Society, I can submit ten, either already elected, or proposed members, Rev. F. G. Scott, M. A., Capt. Thacker, R. C. A., H. R. Ross, M. D., Mr. W. J. Ray, Mr. L. R. Ross, Mr. C. W. Walcot, Mr. Wm. Gillespie, Mr. Raoul Renault, Rev. Lennox Williams, M. A.

 

I trust that the loss referred to may be very soon fully made up.

 

Three lectures were delivered during the year in the Library of the Society.

 

1.         By Mr. L. G. Holme, on March 2nd Subject : " The

Vandals in Africa." Part 1st.

 

2.         Also by Mr. Holme, March 23rd ; same subject. Part 2nd.

 

3.         On Dec. 2nd, by Rev. Dr. Macrae, Principal of Morrin College. Subject : " Wit, Humour, and Scottish Humour."

 

All three lectures were well attended and much appreciated.

 

It is hoped that others will be delivered during the winter.

 

It is with infinite pleasure and satisfaction that I remind you of the recent, well-deserved honour conferred upon one of our Vice-Presidents, Sir J. M. LeMoine, who filled the , office of President for seven consecutive years. He has received the distinction of Knighthood at the hands of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. It is a recognition of the literary ability, the painstaking research, the sympathy with all that is good and great and pure, on the part of a distinguished follow-townsman. This Society feels that it shares the dignity thus flowing from the Fount of  Honour, that a portion of this distinction is reflected upon its shield, while its members hope that a new period of future prosperity may dawn upon it, connected with the honour paid to one of its oldest friends and most prominent officials. In conclusion, I would venture to express the belief, that pur sun is not yet set, and that if we all hope and work in the interests of the Society, the tide will turn, and we shall float past the rocks of adversity into a smooth sea of what I trust will be permanent prosperity.

 

The efficient and obliging Assistant Secretary, Mr. J. W. Strachan, continues to give the Council every satisfaction.

 

R. W. NORMAN, D. D.,

President.

 

It was moved by Sir J. M. LeMoine, seconded by P. B. Casgrain, Esq., that the report of the Council be adopted.

 

The Treasurer's report was read and adopted on motion'of P. Johnston, Esq., seconded by W. Wood, Esq.

 

The Librarian's report was read and adopted on motion of F. D. Tims, Esq., seconded by C. B. Langlois, Esq.

 

Messrs. D. H. G-eggie and J. T. Ross were appointed Scrutineers and the following gentlemen were then elected for the ensuing year :—

 

President:                 The Very Revd. Dean of Quebec,DD..

Vice-presidents :        P. B. Casgrain, Esq.

                                   J. T. Ross, Esq.

                                  .G. G. Stuart, Esq., Q. C.

                                  Sir James M. LeMoine.

Treasurer:               James Geggie, Esq.

Recording Secretary: A. Robertson, Esq. Corresponding Secretary.. J. F. Dumontier, Esq.

Council Secretary:     Capt. W. "Wood.

Librarian:                   P. Johnston, Esq.

Curator of Museum:  .F. D. Tims, Esq. Curator of Apparatus....Wm. Clint, Esq.

 

Additional members of Council:—G-. R. Renfrew, Esq., Cy. Tessier, Esq., Théo. Ledroit, Esq., Jas. Morgan, Esq.

 

In charge of the rooms, J. W. Strachan.

 

On motion of W. "Wood, Esq., seconded by A. Robertson, Esq., the thanks of the meeting were given to the scrutineers.

 

On motion of Arch. Campbell, Esq., seconded by Sir J. M. LeMoine, it was

 

Resolved,—That the President and Messrs. A. Robertson, P. Johnston and J. T. Ross be requested to wait upon the subscribers to the Endowment Fund with a view of collecting the amounts already subscribed by them.

 

The meeting then adjourned, after which the periodicals were auctioned for the year.