On motion of Mr. Hamilton, the matter of placing bars on the windows of the log cabin was referred to J. D. Lewis, with power to act. On motion of Mr. Abbott: Resolved, That an edition of 500 copies of the Big Tree Treaty book be published and that the Society be responsible for the expense of the same. On motion of Mr. Doty the following amendment to the constitution, proposed at the last annual meeting, was adopted: Resolved, That the annual meeting of this Society hereafter occur on the third Tuesday of August. On motion of Mr. Doty: Resolved, That the Committee on Membership be authorized to admit persons to membership on payment of initiation fee. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Abbott: Resolved, That the Secretary cause the annual proceedings to be published within three months after the annual meeting. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Doty: Resolved, That the Council determine in what manner the Big Tree Treaty book shall be sold. Adopted. Reports from Town Committeemen called for. No response. On motion of Mr. Kingsbury, J. D. Sullivan, Miller S. Gillette and Stephen B. Wheaton of Livonia were elected members of the Society. The meeting then adjourned. L. R. DOTY, Secretary. Thereafter President Sears announced the appointment of the following Standing Committees: Publication-L. R. Doty, Wm. A. Brodie, J. B. Abbott. Twenty-Fourth Annual Meeting AUGUST 15, 1899. The first mid-summer meeting of the Livingston County Historical Society was held at Long Point, Conesus Lake, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1899. President E. W. Sears called the meeting to order at 11 a. m. Secretary H. D. Kingsbury read report of the meeting held Jan. 31, 1899, in Geneseo, prepared by his predecessor, L. R. Doty, which was approved and accepted. He also made Mr. Doty's report of moneys received and paid by him, from the date of the Geneseo meeting to May 13, 1899, when he placed the Treasurer's accounts and the balance of cash in the hands of his successor, H. D. Kingsbury. On motion of Mr. Brodie, this supplementary report was referred to the Committee on Finance. Treasurer's Supplemental Report. By dues received.. RECEIPTS. By fees, D. Morris, M. S. Gillette, J. D. Sullivan, W. S. $31 00 4 00 35 00 PAYMENTS. To balance .$13 51 Feb. 1. To cash paid Kingston, service at cabin. 275 The following persons were proposed and accepted as members of the Society: Mrs. O. D. Lake, Mt. Morris; Walter B. Sanders, Nunda; Geo. Fridd, Geneseo; Dr. Cyrus Allen, Stephen Hosmer, Avon; Wm. B. McNair, Lima; Newton B. Gorham, Dansville; John F. White, A. W. Wheelock, Leicester; E. Fred Youngs, Geneseo; William Stewart, William N. Stewart, York; Robert Wiley, Springwater; Isaac B. Knapp, J. C. Scott, Ossian-postoffice, Dansville. On motion of Dr. F. M. Perine, Rev. Charles M. Herrick of Dansville was made a member without fees or dues. The name of B. F. Dow of Buffalo was ordered printed in the proceedings of 1899 as an Honorary Member. On motion of Mr. Brodie, James Toole of Geneseo and Robert D. Boyd of Groveland were, for services rendered, made members without payment of fees. On behalf of Mrs. M. H. Mills of Mt. Morris, Mr. Doty presented the Society with a fine portrait of her late husband, Dr. M. H. Mills, one of the founders of this Society, which was received with grateful thanks. The Secretary stated to the Society an offer made by Mrs. Sarah A. Walsworth, to present as a permanent loan, a solid mahogany bedstead, once the property of Gen. Robert E. Lee, that came into the possession of her late husband, Rev. E. B. Walsworth, one of our honored deceased members. The proposition was awarded a vote of thanks, but was declined, with regret that the Society had no suitable place to keep it. Memorials of deceased members could not be read for want of time. By motion of Mr. Brodie, they were referred to the Committee on Publication. On motion of Dr. Perine, A. O. Bunnell, W. A. Brodie and Dr. Moyer were made a committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year. The committee reported as follows: President-Joseph D. Lewis, Geneseo. On motion, the said persons were duly and unanimously elected. The following were also, on their recommendation, elected as Councilmen: Dr. F. M. Perine, William Hamilton, A. O. Bunnell, J. A. Dana, Dr. F. H. Moyer, C. K. Sanders, L. R. Doty, and H. D. Kingsbury. The Town Committeemen elected were: Avon-F. A. Van Allen, Livonia-H. D. Kingsbury, North Dansville-J. J. Bailey, The meeting then adjourned for dinner. AFTERNOON SESSION. The afternoon public meeting was favored by excellent music by the Geneseo Cornet Band. Rev. H. H. Kellogg, of Lakeville, opened the exercises by prayer. The President, Rev. E. W. Sears, made a very appropriate address. Mr. Herbert Wadsworth, of Avon, and William Hamilton, of Caledonia, delivered spirited, earnest, practical addresses, that were listened to with close attention. Address by Herbert Wadsworth. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: This is the Livingston County Historical Association, and I have been asked to say a few things in regard to the history of Livingston County. I know very little of the past, nothing of the future, so what I say will have special reference to the present. Once when on top of one of the mountains of Switzerland, I saw a fellow there cleaning out the stables, and trying to enrich the pasture, which lay along the hillside. Walking up to where he stood at work I said: "Why is it that you stay here in these mountains? Have you never heard of that great country of America which is so rich in grain and cattle and many other things-where a man can make a living so much easier?" He looked at me with such scorn and contempt that I shall never forget it, and I hope none of you will ever be looked at in a similar way. For an answer he replied: "This is Switzerland, and I am a Swiss," which implied that he was perfectly satisfied where he was; and, as for us Americans, we could go and be hanged. Now this is an idea that I do not find in this land-such a close association of man with his surroundings and the institutions of his country. If we meet a man to day he may talk something about his father and mother. Next time it may be Klondike, and the third time something else. His thoughts are everywhere. He must not be an Englishman, but could be any kind of an American in any part of creation, and one place is almost of as much interest to him as another. Did our forefathers who came to Massachusetts come simply to make a living? Were they men of principle? And had they those qualities which would inspire their grand-children to high and noble endeavor? They had indeed. I am very thankful for my grandfather's business judgment, but I am most thankful for the interest he took in the schools of his time. He realized that if the young and rising generation was not educated and enlightened, the future manhood of our country would not amount to anything. When we have in Livingston County a feeling that a man belongs here that it is his home-that he is the kind of a man he likes to be, and can live and associate himself with the men of his day to mutual good, we will have a history of Livingston County of which we may be proud. I wish that the trend of my thought to-day could be studied, so that we could know where we are. Are we progressing? I hope we are not mistaken in regard to this generation in which we live. I contemplate its future with terror. The patriots of war seem to be greater than the patriots of peace. I wish that I could see men taking an interest in our different institutions, in public affairs, improvements, etc. But it is a disgrace to every man of us, and a dishonor to our forefathers after they brought us up properly, and established a foundation on which we were to build. This seeking for office tor the sake of the rake-off. Not until we have men of principle in positions of power who care more for the condition and development of a community than for the boodle they receive for their services, will this Nation be what it should be. And until this Historical Association compares the thought of our grandfathers, and draws the curtain over their unwise actions, and picks out those men whose deeds are inspiring to us, we will not attain that for which we are striving. Now we have principles in our Constitution and our Laws; let us adhere to them. We have institutions which make it better for us to live where they are than to live anywhere else. Let us interest ourselves in them. I hope the Society will induce the young, the middle-aged, and the old, to study the true life of this country. I could speak of a great many instances to illustrate what I mean, but it may perhaps tire you to listen to them. Think about it yourself, and find out whether what I have said is true or not. There is a painful apathy at the present time in the whole community in regard to the tendency of the community. The President said just now, "I am willing to allow every man to think as he pleases." Now I do not agree with him. If I could get a man to think as I think on a great many questions, he would think rightly. We do not want to be Republicans and Democrats who are antagonistic when the good of all is to be considered. We should think and work for our mutual benefit. I hardly know how this Historical Association can be organized and study up these things, but if you will think along this line I feel confident that we could get a good deal of help and profit out of the study. An earnest vote of thanks was extended to the speakers for their excellent contributions to the enjoyment and benefit of the occasion. Mr. W. A. Brodie then read a very concise and valuable report of the Committee on the purchase of Historic Sites as follows: |