Report of the Council of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, for the Year 1894[1]

 

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

 

Annual general meeting : 9th January, 1895

ANNUAL REPORT

 

The annual general meeting of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec was held yesterday morning, 9th instant, in the library of the Society, at ten o'clock. There was a fair attendance of Members. Mr. Archd. Campbell, President, took the chair. After reading the minutes of last meeting the Council secretary, Mr. William "Wood, submitted the annual report of the Society for the past year.

 

The council of the literary and Historical Society of Quebec submits to the Society the annual reports and statements.

 

We regret that the genial presence of James Stevenson will cheer us no more—the hand of death has removed him from us—for several years he occupied the position of President of this institution. The Montreal " Witness," in a late editorial commenting upon him, stated " that he was a man of great ability, not merely in the practical life of a Banker, but in the difficult walks of the historian, his contributions upon Army bills and other currency questions to the transactions of the famous Quebec Society will secure him a niche in the Pantheon of Canadian Literature." Such testimony coming from so influential a publication in our great sister city must be regarded as a reflection of the public opinion of our country and makes us realize the great loss our Society has sustained in being bereaved of his valuable aid, and we consider it but due to his memory to hereby give expression to our views—the more particularly as we regard as one of the chief functions of an historical society such as ours, is to prevent the able and virtuous men of our body being buried in silence.

 

We have also to deplore the loss by death during the past year of three other members—Messrs. Thomas Brodie, "W. H. Baldwin and W. S. Desbarats, and by resignation, and leaving the limits of three more.

 

Last month the fleet paymaster Shuldham S. Hill, E. N"., favoured the Society with an instructive lecture on the vast capabilities for commerce, if means of communication were opened to that ocean of waters, Hudson's Bay teeming with fish, and whose neighbouring territories are replete with the most valuable minerals—all within the borders of our magnificent Dominion.

 

The financial position of the Society as expressed in our report of last year by Mr. Cyrille Tessier, our late President, has not improved.

 

Not having forgotten the pregnant words of the report of 1890, submitted to the society through our then President Dr. George Stewart, D. CL., L.L.D., F. R. S., and wherein it-was set forth that, " we had to uphold the great traditions of our Society, as the oldest historical body in Canada, from all quarters of the globe came messages and letters asking questions about our annals, disputed points in history and curious questions touching the life, movement and civilization in Canada since it first began to occupy the attention of mankind. To answer, was looked upon as a duty and cheerfully performed, the spread of reliable information regarding our country being one of the great aims of the Society. These views, these great objects were accepted by us and so impressed us that recognizing the importance of maintaining the character and prestige, the Society had earned through the exertions and intellectual acquirements. of our respected predecessors, and to prevent if possible the Society continuing moribund, the Council held numerous ; meetings, having for their object to devise some means whereby to revive, for the honor and advantage of our city and country, the inestimable and special objects of the originators of the Society, and it was suggested to form an endowment fund to take the place of the main prop and. support of the reduced annual grant of $500 ; which the-Government until within the last few years had usually-conceded to us and which, having been withdrawn as is: well known, has led to our present great financial straits. Thereupon a circular was prepared, printed and sent to all whom the Council considered were friends and from their position would be upholders and patrons of such an institution as that which the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, has since its origin shown itself to be, and that they would cheerfully contribute according to their respective means towards the proposed fund.

 

A committee was then formed consisting of the following members of the Council : The Very Revd. Dean of Quebec, Messrs. James M. LeMoine, P. B. Casgrain, Cyrille Tessier, John Hamilton, Peter Johnston and Alexander Robertson who undertook to solicit contributions towards the fund in question, and so far they have been fairly successful as shewn by the following result. The committee undertaking not to call upon the subscribers to the fund for the sums opposite their respective names as set forth below, until a nucleus of $5,000 be promised :

Mr. Frank Ross:     $  500 00

Mr. John T. Ross:       500 00

The Hon. E. J. Price:   250 00

Mr. R. R. Dobell:        100 00

Mr. G R. Renfrew:      100 00

Mr. J. H. Holt:             100 00

Mr. Gus. Stuart, Q. C: 100 00

Mr. T. H. Dunn:          100 00

Mr. Arch. Campbell:   100 00

Mr. Logie Dunn:           50 00

Mr. John Hamilton:       50 00

Mr. Theophilus Oliver: 50 00

and provided the deed of trust is satisfactory, Professor James Douglas, formerly one the esteemed Presidents of this body, has promised to contribute to the endowment fund $500, as also a further sum of $50, towards payment of our indebtedness—a subscription list for that purpose having been opened.

 

The Library and reading room continue to be widely used —though in consequence of our financial straits, no addition has been made thereto by purchase, nor will any be made until the success of the proposed fund be put beyond doubt.

 

Of course no transactions have this past year been published and unless the endowment fund be soon raised to enable the Society from the interest thereon to publish them, the community will lose the valuable exchanges we receive for our transactions from most of the important centres of thought in the civilized world—from literary, scientific and Historical Associations of Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australasia, from the Governments of India, and of our sister Colonies in the Antipodes.

 

In consequence of the absence of our most efficient Librarian, Mr. Fred. Wiirtele, there was no report from him.

 

Dated 9th January, 1895.

(Signed) ARCHD. CAMPBELL,

President.

 

WILLIAM WOOD,

Secretary.

 

On motion of William Hossack, seconded by P. B. Casgrain, the reports were adopted. The election of officers for the year of 1895, was then proceeded with. Messrs John Hamilton and C. P. Champion were appointed scrutineers.

 

The following gentlemen were duly elected.

President:                 Mr Archibald Campbell.

1st Vice-President:            P. B. Casgrain.

2nd Vice-President:            The Very Revd. Dean of Quebec.

3rd Vice-President:            William Hossack.

4th Vice-President:            G-us. Q-. Stuart, Q. C.

Treasurer:                 James Geggie.

Librarian:                   Peter Johnston.

Recording Secretary: T. A. Young.

Corresponding Secretary: Alex Robertson.

Council Secretary:            William Wood.

Curator of Museum and Apparatus: —J. Morgan. Additional Members of Council: —J. M. Lemoine, Cyr. Tes-sier, W. H. Carter, Edwin Pope.