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(1906.)
Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland.
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REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
For the Year Ending February 20, 1906,
Baltimore, February 20, 1906
Mr. President and Gentlemen:
I have the honor herewith to submit the Twentieth Annual
Report of this Society.
In assuming the duties of Secretary in October last, I did
so with an apprehensive sense of misgivings as to my ability
to meet all the expected requirements incident to the varied and
important duties and responsibilities of the position, more
especially when considering the singular ability marking the long
and pre-eminently successful record of my esteemed predecessor,
the Rev. F. Ph. Hennighausen.
DEM VERDIENST SEINE KRONE.
The following is a brief synoptical review of the Society's
activities for the year 1905-1906.
MEETINGS.
During the past year the Society held nine monthly meet-
ings, at three of which—March, April and May—in the absence
of the President the late Vice-President, Mr. Georg Wilhelm
Gail, presided.
Whilst the attendance at the stated meetings left much to be
desired occasionally, yet there was no indication of a loss of inter-
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est, spirit and determination of purpose in promoting the object
of the Society; on the contrary, the meetings were invariably of
more than passing interest, in fact, there prevailed at all times an
inspiration and confidence thoroughly in touch and keeping with
the motto of the Society : "Ohne Hast, Ohne Rast," thus demon-
strating that whilst numbers in many instances materially con-
tribute to success, it is not always conclusive that important
achievements, especially those relating to organized bodies, are
solely due to numerical strength.
However, notwithstanding this temporary lull of interest,
there has never been the shadow of a doubt but what the promis-
ing field of this Society for historical research, together with the
exceptionally brilliant array of its active membership will, as in
the past, succeed in maintaining its enviable standing among the
sister societies.
OFFICERS.
The following changes occurred among the officers of the
Society during the year: the position of First Vice-President
became vacant by the death of Mr. Georg Wilhelm Gail, and Mr.
J. Leonard Hoffman, a member of the Executive Committee, was
elected Secretary, vice Rev. F. Ph. Hennighausen, resigned. It
was deemed inexpedient to fill the two vacancies until the annual
election in February.
MEMBERSHIP.
At this the close of the twentieth year of the Society's exist-
ence there are thirty-nine (39) active and seven (7) correspond-
ing members on the roster of the Society.
The record shows that the Society sustained a loss during
tbe year of two (2) active members by death—First Vice-Presi-
dent Georg Wilhelm Gail, and Mr. Alexander H. Schulz, which
was offset, however, by a corresponding gain of two new members
—Prof. Albert B. Faust of Cornell University, and Mr. Max H.
Quitt; thus leaving, numerically, the active membership the
same at the close as it was at the beginning of the year.
By a most singular co-incidence, both Mr. Gail and Mr.
Schulz, had, by seven years, exceeded the biblical limit of three
score and ten years, both being born in 1828, and both, dying in
1905, in the seventy-seventh (77) year of their respective age.
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LIBRARY.
There were received during the year, from all sources, the
following additions to the library; three bound volumes by
purchase; ten bound volumes by contributions from exchange
list; eighteen copies of periodical publications by subscription
and from exchange list; seven copies of sundry pamphlets,
papers, etc., from various sources.
Notably among the valuable acquisitions to the library was
the bound volume of "Gedenkblätter für das Goldene Buch der
Deutschen in Amerika," presented to the Society by the Presi-
dent Mr. Louis P. Hennighausen; a copy of the "Festschrift der
Zions-Gemeinde, zum 150sten Jubiläum, am 15ten October,
1905," presented by Mr. Robert M. Rother, treasurer; and a
"History of Zions Church of the City of Baltimore, 1755-1897,"
presented to the Society by the vestry of said Church.
The gradual expansion of the library, with the limited space
at command, had become a perplexing problem.
The purchase, two years ago, of two "Sectional Bookcases,"
and their setting-up in the gymnasium of the Germania Club, by
the generous action of that Club, brought only temporary relief.
Acting under a resolution of the Society, a committee of
one consisting of the President, Mr. Louis P. Hennighausen,
was appointed to secure, if possible, some place where the bound
volumes of Der Deutsche Correspondent, the Baltimore Journal,
and the Baltimore Wecker, could be safely stored and preserved.
The President, Mr. Louis P. Hennighausen, subsequently
reported that he had succeeded in concluding a most highly
satisfactory arrangement with the City Librarian, Mr. Wilbur
F. Coyle, whereby all the bound volumes of the various news-
papers owned by the Society, would hereafter be kept in the City
Library, where these valuable publications will at all times be
accessible, as well as permanently safeguarded.
Through the timely and most highly commendable proffer
of the Treasurer of the Society, Mr. Robert M. Rother, Presi-
dent of the Hopkins Place Savings Bank, one of the spacious
fire-proof vaults of that Bank has been generously placed at the
disposal of the Society, thereby securing a safe and convenient
place of deposit for the books, publications and other property
of the Society.
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The president and secretary, acting under a resolution of the
Society, after a careful survey, relieved the congested condition
of the bookcases by transferring sixty-six(66) volumes to the
vault in the Hopkins Place Savings Bank, also 251 unbound
copies of the Society's publication of 1900-1901, to be followed
by all the publications, books, etc., now on storage in the loft of
the schoolhouse of St. Matthews' Lutheran Church by courtesy
of the chairman of the Executive Committee, Rev. Edward
Huber.
LEGACY.
By the last will and testament of our late Vice-President
and charter-member, Georg Wilhelm Gail, the Society was be-
queathed a legacy of $1,000.00, being the first in the history of
the Society.
The money has been paid by the administrators and is now
in the hands of the treasurer.
To Col. Edward Raine, publisher and proprietor of "Der
Deutsche Correspondent," and to Mr. August Gisin, General-
Manager and Treasurer of "The Baltimore Journal Company,"
this Society is under a lasting obligation for the many years and
still continued invaluable donation of their respective news-
papers.
'Tis said that distinctions are invidious, more especially does
this truism apply where so many have given their unstinted
measure of time, service and substance; and yet, in justice to all
concerned, it would savor of the rankest ingratitude were this
report closed without calling attention to the inestimable ben-
efits this Society has derived from the long and continuing
enjoyment of the exceptionally generous hospitality gratui-
tously extended by the Germania Club, since April, 1891.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
J. LEONARD HOFFMAN,
Secretary.