THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



PRESIDENT : 

 EDMUND B. WILLSON. 



VICE-PilESIDENTS : 

 Abner C. Goodkll, Jk. Edward S. Morse. 



Danikx B. Hagau. Robert S. Rantoul. 



SECRETARY : TREASURER : 



Henry M. Brooks. AVilliam 0. Chapman. 



AUDITOR : LIBRARIAN : 



Henry M. Batchelder. Charlks S. Osgood. 



COUNCIL : 

 William H. Govk. George D. Phippen. 



Thomas F. Hunt. David Pingree. 



Francis H. Lee. Frederic W. Putnam. 



Richard C. Manning. George M. Whipple. 



8. Endicott Peabody. Alden P. White. 



Report of the Secretary, May 20, 1895. 



It will perhaps he remembered that last year 1 spoke to 

 you on the great lack of interest, by people in general, in 

 society or corporation reports. This year I have a few 

 words to say on another suliject. 



Annual meetings, to a large majority of people, are a 

 horef Some may think this is rather a strong expression. 

 I 8upi)ose it is, but it is the way such meetings are gen- 

 erally regarded and spoken of. Bank officers have to 

 " scratch round " and get a sufficient number of proxies to 

 elect themselves, and so do the officers of many other 

 corporations. I am telling you nothing new, for this is 

 well known. 



But, some will say, how is it with those societies, where 

 they soinefi)nes have /)/// meetings? My answer to this 

 is, that steps have to be taken to enliven the meeting with 

 something besides the regular business. There must be 



