86 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



Rantoul, Miss Sarah B. Blancharcl, Dr. Charles Haddock, 

 Beverly, Charles Piilsifer, Mrs. H. R. Cooke, New York. 

 The Secretary, in his report, says : " The most impor- 

 tant Society eveiit of the year is the acqiiisition by pur- 

 chase, of the estate adjoining Plummer Hall, knowii as 

 the Daland estate. The report of the sub-committee, 

 endorsed hy the directors, will be read later, giving par- 

 ticulars of the piirchase and Information concerning the 

 needs of the Institute in order that the new building may 

 be fitted for occupancy. This report should receive the 

 cordial support of every member of the society. Its rec- 

 ommendations, if carried out, will vastly strengthen the 

 Institute and increase its usefulness; not only this, but 

 members will personally find in the new building many 

 advantages, privileges and comforts not possible in the 

 years past." 



The Secretary closes his report in the following words : 

 " The society remembers with gratitude its members 

 and many friends who have so cordially and so continu- 

 ously supported it, and without whose aid it could not 

 have lived ; from its small beginnings in 1848 to the pres- 

 ent time, its growth has been slow perhaps, but sure ; 

 and soon in a comfortable home of its own it hopes to 

 show the valuable accumulation of books, pamphlets and 

 hi«torical articles, the work of years, properly arranged 

 and in condition for use." 



