SECRETxlRY'S REPORT. 



When the present Board of officers entered npon their duties, 

 such was the feeling among the members of the society, — such di- 

 versity of opinion in regard to the course to be pursued in the 

 future ; some wishing to change the location of the annual exhibi- 

 tion, othei'S opposing an^^ change in location ; some advising the 

 giving up of the charter and fonuing a new society with new mem- 

 bership, others wishing to sell the propertj^ pay the debt, and give 

 up the charter altogether, — that the success of the twenty-fourth 

 annual exhibition was a matter of doubt. The exhibition was, how- 

 ever, a success, not oulv upon the ground.^' and in the hall, but 

 financially, as will be seen by reference to the statements of the 

 treasurer upon the last pages of this book. What has been done to 

 bring about this result ? We have contended, from the first, that no 

 amount of good management on the part of the officers, could, of 

 itself, insure a successful exhibition. Good management must be 

 accompanied by the hearty co-operation of the members. This 

 co-operation the officers have had the past year, to some extent. A 

 more hearty co-operation, and from all the members, woald insure 

 greater success. From one year's experience, we are satisfied that 

 many of the members take a deep interest in the welfare of the 

 societ}', and some are willing to make personal sacrifices for the 

 good of the whole, but there is room for improvement in this direc- 

 tion. The committee apjDointed by the Society, at its last annual 

 meeting, of which Levi Stockbridge was chairman, have in their re- 

 port, some very good suggesti(ms upon this subject. We regret 

 exceedingly, that the society did not order this report printed, 

 and a copy placed in the hands of every member, instead of simply 

 ordering it placed on file, where not a dozen members will ever 

 see it. The report says, among other things : "As the stream can- 



