Second Annual Report
OF THE
SECRETARY
OF THE
Society for the History
Germans in Maryland,
AND
LIST OF MEMBERS
.
N reviewing the history of the Society for the past year, we
cannot boast, it is true, of any great progress toward the object
set before us. We have, nevertheless, reason to believe, that
our efforts in the cause, have not been without some result for
good. Our first annual report, containing the synopses of sev-
eral valuable articles on historical subjects read before this
Society, seems to have given general satisfaction. And judging
from the considerate attention given to our meetings and their
proceedings by the daily Press, we may feel encouraged to believe
that a greater interest in the share our German ancestors bore
in the cultivation, the liberation and the general development of
our country has been awakened not only in our own immediate
circle, but in many parts of the United States, and even beyond
the borders of our land.
The Society owes thanks to our worthy Chairman for the
fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of his office, and
also for an interesting list of travels in, and descriptions of North
America published by German visitors, as well as by German
settlers as early as the year 1673, down to the present time.
Rev. B. Sadtler entertained the Society in the June meeting
by the relation of personal reminiscences concerning German citi-
zens and German society-life in the earlier part of the present
century.
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Mr. Ed. F. Leyh contributed a full share toward the enter-
tainment of the meetings by a series of instructive and in many
cases humorous explanations concerning the origin, the meaning
and the changing of a number of German family names.
The most important paper of a historical character that
came before the Society was that compiled from original as well
as other sources by Louis P. Hennighausen, Esq., treating of the
origin, the character and the final abolishment of the so-called
"Redemptioners" System.
As it has been resolved that this valuable paper shall be
printed and published together with the annual report, any fur-
ther comments upon it here would be superfluous.
You will pardon your Secretary for somewhat anticipating
the probable action of the Society to-night, by adding to the
above, the paper which has been announced for this meeting, and
which will no doubt be found of sufficient value and interest to
be added to the above ordered publication.
Up to the end of the last year the Society had been made the
recipient of thirteen books and papers of historical value by
donation.
To these were added during the closing year:
1.
Almanacs, dating from 1822—55, by Dr. L. H. Steiner.
2.
History of Gen'l G. Washington, by Rev. M. L. Weems,
translated and published in the German language in 1838.
3.
A number of German Ecclesiastical Reports of earlier
dates. Both of these publications were donated by Mr.
Basil Sollers.
4.
"Kurzer Katechismus-Unterricht, etc.," printed by Benj.
Franklin in 1742, by Mr. Theo. Staeblein.
5.
Report of the 100th Anniversary of the "Otterbein" Church
by Rev. Wm. Mittendorf.
6.
History of the Revolutionary War, in 4 vols.. published by
the French historian F. Soules, donated by Mr. Wm. G.
Gail.
7.
Copy of the 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the
German Society of Pennsylvania.
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8.
27th Annual Report of the German Hospital in Philadel-
phia, both by Rev. Dr. B. Sadtler.
9.
Copies of the "German Pioneer" by Consul Gen'l F. Raine.
10.
Copy of "The Freiheit," international organ of the Anar-
chists using the German language, by Rev. F. Ph. Hennig-
hausen.
11.
Some fifty volumes of diversified character, donated by a
number of German booksellers through Mr. Alfred Voerster
of Leipzig.
12.
Map of Baltimore and its surroundings,
13.
Official map of Texas, both by Prof. C. F. Raddatz.
The Society added but one book to its library by purchase,
viz.: "Hallische Nachrichten." The proprietors of the two daily
German papers of Baltimore, viz.: "The German Correspondent"
and "The Baltimore Journal" have kindly furnished this Society
with a copy of their issues without any further charge, than that
of the carriers. These papers are being filed and preserved for
future use in our library.
On the 20th of March, 1887, the Society met with a loss as
heavy as it was sad in the death of one of its founders and most
active members, Mr. Christian Ax.
His departure from this earth, where he had ever been
zealous in doing good, was announced in proper terms in the
April meeting, and the Society gave expression of its high esteem
of the deceased and its regret for his death by constituting the
May meeting a "Christian Ax" Memorial meeting.
Not only the members of the Society, but in answer to a
general invitation, many personal friends of the deceased were
present at this meeting. A number of eulogistic addresses testi-
fying to the excellent character of the deceased were made by
members of the Society, and suitable resolutions were offered and
unanimously adopted. As the proceedings of this meeting have
been ordered to be published and are about to be distributed by
the committee named for that purpose, it is not necessary to refer
to them in this report at greater length.
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The Society at the close of the first year numbered 71 active
and five corresponding members. 16 active and one corresponding
member were added during the present year, making a total of
87 active members. One member died, five withdrew and the
names of two were dropped from the list, leaving at the end of
the second year an active membership of 79; corresponding
members—six.
Respectfully submitted,
F. PH. HENNIGHAUSEN, Sec'y.
Baltimore, Md., February 14th, 1888.