ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13th JANUARY, 1916

 

The Annual Meeting was held on the 13th January, 1916.

 

There were present:—Dr. J. M. Harper, president, in the Chair, and Colonel Neilson, John T. Ross, P. B, Casgrain, J. C. Sutherland, Judge Willrich, F. Lampson, W. Clint, A. Robertson, Cyr. Tessier, Colonel Wood, E. T. D. Chambers, D. D. O'Meara, D. H. Geggie and F. Glass.

 

The Report of the Council was read by the President and made special mention of "the culmination of a long and uninterrupted series of benefactions from Dr. James Douglas, the Honorary President of the Society, namely the conveyance to the Trustees of the sum of ten thousand dollars for the maintenance of the library as well as towards other objects. And during the year of which this is the report, Dr. Douglas has bestowed upon the Society an additional gift of five thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be spent on the purchase of books of the higher grade of literature on History, Geography and Science. The Society, in gratefully accepting this additional generous gift, passed a resolution acknowledging the varied patronage which the Society has received during a period of years from Dr. Douglas, and assuring the donor that it was the unanimous purpose of the Society to carry out his wishes in every respect. According to this resolution, the Trustees were requested to take charge of the amount for investment, these Trustees being Messrs. John T. Ross and A. H. Cook, both Governors of Morrin College. A special deed has been ordered to be drawn up for the administration of this second gift from one of the best friends the Society has ever had."

 

Reference was made to the deaths during the year of two members of the Council:—Messrs. James Geggie, one of the most efficient Treasurers the Society could well have had, and one who took the closest interest in all the Society's affairs, and who had been replaced by Mr. Arthur Ahern, and Mr. Phileas Gagnon, whose antiquarian interest in pamphlets and books of all kinds made him an influence in the Society's deliberations. Other members who passed away during the year were Messrs. Alexander MacAdams, John H. Holt, J. J. Dunlop and W. W. Johnston.

 

The presence of several members of the Society at the seat of war was mentioned. Those referred to were General Turner, General Watson, Captain Tapp, Rev. Father O'Leary, Rev. Canon Scott, Okill Learmonth, W. Lee, F. M. Stanton and G. Fairie.

 

Mr. E. T. D. Chambers, Honorary Librarian referred in his report to the large increase in the circulation of books from the Library, amounting for the last year to 8,797 volumes.

 

The officers elected for 1916 were:—

Hon. President:—Dr. James Douglas.

President:—Dr. J. M. Harper.

Vice-Presidents:—Col. Turnbull, J. T. Ross, A. H. Cook, K.C. and D. H. Geggie.

Treasurer :—Arthur Ahern.

Recording Secretary:—A. Robertson, K.C.

Corresponding-Secretary:—Lt. Col. Lindsay.

Council Secretary:—Win. Clint.

Hon. Librarian:—E. T..D. Chambers.

Curator of Museum:—D. D. O'Meara.

Curator of Apparatus:—F. Glass.

Additional Members of Council:—Rev. F. G. Scott, Rev. Father O'Leary, F. Lampson and J. C. Sutherland.