1784] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. . WJ 



"The late president, Dr. Peters, having died July loth, 1776, and it 

 being now proposed to appoint a chairman to open business, Dr. Smith 

 was chosen for that purpose. The Rev. Benjamin Moore, afterwards 

 the venerable Bishop Moore, of New York, acted as the secretary. The 

 first thing was the appointment of a committee of three clerical and 

 three lay members — Drs. Smith, White and Provoost, being appointed 

 from the former, and Messrs. Duane, Peters and Livingston, from the 

 latter — ■' to examine into the affairs of this Corporation since the last ^ 

 meeting at Philadelphia, on Tuesday after the feast of St. Michael, in 

 the year 1775, and to report thereon as soon as may be.' Having 

 adjourned to attend divine service at St. Paul's Church, New York, on 

 Wednesday the 6th, where the annual sermon was preached by Dr. 

 Magaw, the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, the Corpora- 

 tion then afterwards proceeded to ballot for twenty-nine new members. 

 Their names appear upon the roil of corporators, under the date of 

 1784. It is interesting to note the names of General Alexander Ham- 

 ilton, then in his 27th year, and of John Jay, among those from New 

 York, and of both Robert and Gouverneur Morris, among those from 

 Pennsylvania. Officers were also elected ; Dr. Smith, now venerable 

 for his years, and deserving such honor from his long and great service 

 to the Society, was appointed president ; and the Rev. Benjamin 

 Moore, already mentioned, secretary. The treasurers were, for New 

 York, John Alsop ; for New Jersey, Joshua Maddox Wallace ; and for 

 Pennsylvania, Samuel Powel — this last reappointed. Standing com- 

 mittees of correspondence, and for obtaining an alteration and confir- 

 mation of the charter, were also elected — Dr. White and Mr. Peters, 

 for Pennsylvania; Messrs. John Stevens and J. M. Wallace, for New 

 Jersey ; and Messrs. Duane, Robert R. Livingston, with the Rev. Mr. 

 Provoost, for New York — the first and second named gentlemen in 

 regard to the charter, and the first and third as a standing committee. 



" Dr. Smith, after the adjournment of the meeting at New York, 

 remained behind in that city to preach there on the following Sunday, 

 both morning and afternoon, which he did with so good effect as to 

 have added ^112 igi". \od. to the corporate moneys." 



