ANNUAL MEETING, NOVEMBER, 1931

    THE Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the Algonquin Club, No. 217 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, on Saturday, November 21, 1931, at seven o’clock in the evening, the President, Samuel Eliot Morison, in the chair.

    With the consent of those present, the reading of the Records of the last Stated Meeting was omitted.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported the death, on May 16, 1931, of George Foot Moore, a Resident Member; on July 16, 1931, of William Davis Patterson, a Corresponding Member; on August 31, 1931, of Clifford Herschell Moore, a Resident Member; on October 5, 1931, of Dwight Whitney Morrow, a Corresponding Member; on October 16, 1931, of William Keeney Bixby, a Corresponding Member; and, on October 24, 1931, of Charles Francis Dorr Belden, a Resident Member.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported the receipt of letters from Mr. Allyn Bailey Forbes, accepting Resident Membership in the Society, and from Mr. John Pell, accepting Corresponding Membership.

    Mr. Zechariah Chafee, Jr., of Cambridge, was elected a Resident Member of the Society.

    The Annual Report of the Council was read by Mr. Robert Walcott.

    REPORT OF THE COUNCIL

    Since the last Annual Meeting the Society has met three times: on December 18, 1930, at the home of President Morison; on February 26, 1931, at the home of Mrs. Bayard Thayer; and on April 23, 1931, at the home of the Reverend James H. Ropes in Cambridge.

    There have been elected during the year the following members:

    Resident:

    • James Duncan Phillips
    • Matt Bushnell Jones
    • Leverett Saltonstall
    • Edward Allen Whitney
    • Allyn Bailey Forbes

    Corresponding:

    • John Pell

    We have lost thirteen members by death during the past year:

    William Keeney Bixby, Corresponding, 1924: died October 16, 1931, in St. Louis; captain of industry and colonial enthusiast, a great collector of manuscripts.

    Dwight Whitney Morrow, Corresponding, 1928: died October 5, 1931; Amherst classmate of President Coolidge, lawyer, banker, envoy to Mexico, Senator from New Jersey, and potential candidate for the presidency of the United States.

    William Davis Patterson, Corresponding, 1924: died July 16, 1931; antiquary and genealogist; deeply versed in the history of Maine and, more particularly, of the town of Wiscasset and of Lincoln County.

    Edward Robinson, Corresponding, 1910: died April 18, 1931; Director of the Metropolitan Art Museum, under whose direction was added the American wing, giving to our overwrought metropolis the vision of a simpler style in colonial architecture, furniture, and silver.

    Michael Joseph Canavan, Associate, 1929: died January 21, 1931; his simple, friendly presence and his encyclopedic knowledge of the occupants of early Boston, both here and in England, will be missed.

    Charles Francis Dorr Belden, Resident, 1927: Harvard Class of 1895, died October 24, 1931; and William Coolidge Lane, Resident, 1897: Harvard Class of 1881, died March 18, 1931; two noted librarians; both always in that employment, the former as head of the Boston Public Library, coming from that of the Harvard Law School, the latter at the Harvard College Library, coming from the Boston Athenæum. It will be well for us should the son-in-law of the latter now succeed the former!

    Robert Gould Shaw, Resident, 1919: Harvard Class of 1869, died April 10, 1931; of the same name and cousin of the subject of St. Gaudens’ famous bronze on Boston Common — the hero of Fort Pillow — donor to the Harvard Library of the great collection of playbills and theatrical papers.

    Edward Channing, Resident, 1915: Harvard Class of 1878, died January 7, 1931; a great teacher; in writing from his own research a history of the United States from the beginning to 1865, he accomplished what has not been done before and will certainly not be done again. Member of a family whose history is that of liberal thought in and out of the pulpit. A personality like one of the apples produced by Colonel Loammi Baldwin — having a sharp tang.

    Clifford Herschell Moore, Resident, 1929: Harvard Class of 1889, died August 31, 1931; another lifelong servant of Harvard, in later years as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences; classical scholar by training, a Yankee by tradition. Student, teacher, and trustee of Phillips Academy, Andover.

    George Foot Moore, Resident, 1910: died May 16, 1931; graduate of Yale College and Andover Theological Seminary, and a most loyal and enthusiastic son of Harvard, to which he gave so much in perfect scholarship and delightful personality. A lover not alone of Hebrew lore but of all learning of the field and forest and the mountains.

    Morris Gray, Resident, 1919: Harvard Class of 1877, died January 12, 1931; lawyer, trustee, and poet, for a short time head of the Boston Art Museum; member of a family noted for its achievements in the life of this state for 150 years past. A man of the greatest refinement and charming delicacy.

    George Wigglesworth, Resident, 1893: Harvard Class of 1874, died November 26, 1930; with his brother, Edward, among the first members of this Society; lawyer, trustee, and president of New England manufacturing corporations. Fifth in descent from Michael Wigglesworth, the minister and poet who graduated at Harvard in 1651, who better could qualify as of colonial descent? No line has shown a stronger list of first scholars in that college. He was an exponent of high ideals and gentlemanly conduct. He taught Christian principles not by preaching, as did his ancestors—the first two Hollis Professors of Divinity — but by practice. A friendly, gracious man, of keen intelligence, broad education, and wide charity: a charming personality.

    The Treasurer submitted his Annual Report, as follows:

    REPORT OF THE TREASURER

    In accordance with the requirements of the By-Laws the Treasurer submits his Annual Report for the year ending November 14, 1931.

    CASH ACCOUNT

    receipts

    Balance, November 14, 1930, Principal Cash

    $1,311.62

    Income Cash

    21,694.79

    $23,006.41

    Receipts of Principal:

    Detroit Edison Company 5’s, 1940, $5,000 called

    $5,250.00

    Detroit Edison Company 6’s, 1940, $5,000 called

    5,250.00

    Mortgage of Nazira Gannum, No. 4441, paid in full

    5,000.00

    Horace Everett Ware Fund: Income transferred to Principal

    321.85

    Henry Herbert Edes Memorial Fund: Income transferred to Principal

    240.21

    Commutations: Two life memberships

    200.00

    Interest on Warren Institution for Savings Account

    113.7

    Interest on Provident Institution for Savings Account

    1.55

    Total Receipts of Principal

    $16,377.31

    Receipts of Income:

    Interest

    $6,643.68

    Dividends

    1,749.00

    Annual Assessments

    690.00

    Sales of the Society’s Publications

    62.00

    Admission Fees

    50.00

    Contributions

    355.00

    Total Receipts of Income

    9,549.68

    Total Cash Receipts

    25,926.99

    Total

    $48,933.40

    disbursements

    Disbursements of Principal:

    $5.000.00 Western Union Telegraph Company 5’s, 1960

    $5,137.50

    $5,000.00 Texas Corporation 5’s, 1944

    5,012.50

    Interest on Warren Institution for Savings Account, added to Principal

    113.70

    Interest on Provident Institution for Savings Account, added to Principal

    1.55

    Total Disbursements of Principal

    $10,265.25

    Disbursements of Income:

    Editor’s Salary

    $1,000.00

    Tolman Print, Inc

    738.07

    Folsom Engraving Company

    54.42

    P. B. Sanford Company

    55.75

    Annual Dinner

    464.30

    Stewart, Watts & Bollong, accounting services

    250.00

    Clerk hire

    200.00

    Postage and clerical expense

    244.05

    Thomas S. Longridge, insurance (net)

    18.63

    Union Safe Deposit Vaults

    20.00

    American Historical Association (net)

    717.00

    New England Quarterly

    2,000.00

    Bibliography of American Historical Writings

    100.00

    Consolidated Index (contribution)

    350.00

    Miscellaneous expense

    67.50

    Interest accrued on securities purchased

    145.14

    Interest on Henry Herbert Edes Memorial Fund, added to Principal

    240.21

    Interest on Horace Everett Ware Fund, added to Principal

    321.85

    Total Disbursements of Income

    6,986.92

    _________

    Total Cash Disbursements

    $17,252.17

    Balance, November 14, 1931:

    Principal Cash

    $7,423.68

    Income Cash

    24,257.55

    31,681.23

    Total

    $48,933.40

    The funds of the Society are invested as follows:

    $10,500.00

    in

    first mortgages on improved property in Greater Boston

    127,540.00

    in

    bonds and stocks elsewhere described in this report

    37.94

    on

    deposit in the Provident Institution for Savings in the Town of Boston

    2,612.57

    on

    deposit in the Warren Institution for Savings

    $140,690.51

    The investments of the Society yield an average annual income of approximately 5.57% on book value.

    A Trial Balance of the accounts as of November 14, 1931, is hereto annexed and made a part of this report.

    William C. Endicott

    Treasurer

    Boston, November 14, 1931

    TRIAL BALANCE

    debits

    Cash, Principal

    $7,423.68

    Income

    24,257.55

    $31,681.23

    Provident Institution for Savings

    37.94

    Warren Institution for Savings

    2,612.57

    Mortgages

    10,500.00

    Bonds:

    $5,000 Cedars Rapids Manufacturing and Power Company, First Mortgage Sinking Fund Gold 5’s, due 1953

    $4,450.00

    5,000 Central Manufacturing District, Inc., First Mortgage 6½’s, Series C, due 1944

    5,100.00

    5,000 Chicago Junction Railways and Union Stock Yards Company, Mortgage and Collateral Trust Refunding Gold 5’s, due 1940

    3,762.50

    4,000 Cleveland Union Terminals Company, First Mortgage Sinking Fund Gold 5½’s, Series A, due 1972

    3,930.00

    5,000 England, Walton & Company, Inc., First Mortgage Sinking Fund Gold 6’s, due 1942

    4,932.50

    2,000 Kingdom of Belgium, First 6’s, Sinking Fund Extension Loan, due 1955

    1,750.00

    5,000 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company, First Mortgage Refunding 6’s, Series A, due 1946

    5,000.00

    5,000 New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, First Mortgage Gold 5’s, Series A, due 1952

    4,875.00

    12,000 New River Company, First Mortgage and Collateral Trust 5’s, due 1934

    11,130.00

    5,000 New York Edison Company, First Lien and Refunding Mortgage Gold 6½’s, Series A, due 1941

    5,000.00

    5,000 Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, First and Refunding Mortgage 4’s, Series A, due 1961

    4,105.00

    5,000 Texas Corporation, Convertible Sinking Fund Debenture 5’s, due 1944

    $5,012.50

    5,000 Union Pacific Railroad, Series A, Equipment Trust 7’s, due 1932–1934

    5,000.00

    4,000 United States Cold Storage Company, First Mortgage Real Estate, Chicago, Illinois, Gold 6’s, due 1945

    4,000.00

    2,500 United States Cold Storage Company, First Mortgage 6’s, Sinking Fund Bonds, due 1946

    2,500.00

    20,000 Western Telephone & Telegraph Company, Collateral Trust Gold 5’s, due 1932

    16,960.00

    5,000 Western Union Telegraph Company, 30 Year Gold 5’s, due 1960

    5,137.50

    5,000 Wickwire-Spencer Steel Company, First Mortgage Sinking Fund Prior Lien Collateral and Refunding Gold 7’s, due 1935

    5,000.00

    ________

    $104,500

    $97,645.00

    Stocks:

    35 Shares American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Common

    $6,825.50

    100 Shares Electric Bond and Share Company, Cumulative $6 Preferred

    10,600.00

    240 Shares General Electric Company, Common

    5,719.50

    50 Shares United States Cold Storage Corp., 7% Preferred A

    6,750.00

    50 Shares United States Cold Storage Corp., Common

    _________

    29,895.00

    Total

    $172,371.74

    credits

    Income

    $24,257.55

    Funds:

    Publication Fund, established in 1893 by gift of $100 from Quincy Adams Shaw: composed of sundry small gifts and portions of the income which were added from year to year. Income only to be used for Publications

    $10,000.00

    General Fund, established in 1893: composed of Admission Fees and Commutations added to Principal. Income only to be used for Current Expenses

    32,571.89

    Benjamin Apthorp Gould Memorial Fund, established in 1897 and 1898 by subscriptions in his memory. The income only to be used

    10,000.00

    Edward Wheelwright Fund, established in 1900 under his will without restrictions as to use

    20,000.00

    Robert Charles Billings Fund, established in 1903 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    10,000.00

    Robert Noxon Toppan Fund, established in 1904 by a gift in his memory from his widow. Income only to be used

    $5,000.00

    Robert Charles Winthrop, Jr., Fund, established in 1905 under his will. Increased by $2,000 in 1924 under will of Elizabeth Winthrop. Income only to be used

    5,000.00

    Andrew McFarland Davis Fund, established in 1908 by a gift from him to be added to the permanent publication funds. Income only to be used

    2,000.00

    William Watson Fund, established in 1916 under his will without restriction as to use

    1,000.00

    Horace Everett Ware Fund, established in 1916 by a gift of $500 from him. Increased under his will by sundry installments of cash since 1919. To be accumulated and used for Massachusetts Bay Colony monument or other memorial

    5,685.94

    George Vasmer Leverett Fund, established in 1920 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    30,000.00

    Henry H. Edes Bequest, established in 1923 under his will. To accumulate until it reaches the sum of $3,000 when it shall be called the Martha Rebecca Hunt Fund. Income only to be used for special purposes

    2,612.57

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund, established by sundry subscriptions from 1923 to 1925. To be expended for a memorial to Mr. Edes

    4,243.79

    George Nixon Black Fund, established in 1929 under his will without restriction as to use

    10,000.00

    148,114.19

    Total

    $172,371.74

    REPORT OF THE AUDITING COMMITTEE

    The undersigned, a Committee appointed to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for the year which ended November 14th, 1931 have attended to their duty by employing Messrs. Stewart, Watts & Bollong, Public Accountants & Auditors, who have made an audit of the accounts and examined the securities on deposit in Box 1052-E in the Union Safe Deposit Vaults.

    We herewith submit their report which has been examined and accepted by the Committee.

    Nathaniel T. Kidder

    Matt B. Jones

    Auditing Committee

    Boston, November 21, 1931.

    The several reports were accepted and referred to the Committee of Publication.

    The following minute on the resignation of Mr. William Crowninshield Endicott as Treasurer was read by the Recording Secretary, and was unanimously adopted:

    William Crowninshield Endicott was elected Treasurer of the Society in November, 1922, in succession to Henry Herbert Edes. During a period of extraordinary inflation and equally amazing deflation he has managed the property of the Society with such acumen and fidelity that its financial condition today is thoroughly sound, and the capital value of its investments has actually increased. Upon his retirement as Treasurer the Society wishes to express its grateful appreciation of his ability and of his devotion to their interests.

    On behalf of the Committee appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year, the following list was presented; and a ballot having been taken, these gentlemen were unanimously elected:

    PRESIDENT

    • SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON
    • VICE-PRESIDENTS
    • ARTHUR PRENTICE RUGG
    • JAMES HARDY ROPES
    • RECORDING SECRETARY
    • JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER, 3rd
    • CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
    • ROBERT WALCOTT
    • TREASURER
    • JAMES MELVILLE HUNNEWELL
    • REGISTRAR
    • ROBERT DICKSON WESTON
    • MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THREE YEARS
    • KENNETH BALLARD MURDOCK

    After the meeting was dissolved, dinner was served. The guests of the Society were Professor Walter E. Clark, Mr. Howard Corning, the Reverend C. Leslie Glenn, Lt. Col. Edgar E. Hume, Mr. Philip A. Means, Mr. J. C. Miller, Dr. Perry Miller, Professor Sigurthur Nordahl, Mr. Robert E. Peabody, Mr. Clifford K. Shipton, and Professor Friedrich von der Leyen.

    After the dinner the President read the following minute adopted by the Council on the retirement of Albert Matthews from that body:

    ALBERT MATTHEWS

    This year completes his twenty-ninth year of service on the Council of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts.

    The unremitting pains, the exact scholarship, and the good taste which he spent on the Society’s publications, are evident throughout the twenty-one volumes he has edited.

    His many communications have thrown light on the most difficult problems in colonial history, literature, and philology.

    To the Council of the Society he has brought no less valuable gifts of character and judgment. His influence has kept the Society true to her best interests, yet alert for new opportunities of usefulness.

    Upon the occasion of his retirement from the Council, his present and former colleagues unite in this testimonial of their gratitude and affection.

    The President then presented to Mr. Matthews an illuminated manuscript containing the text of the above minute.