•A 



14 SECRETARY'S ANNI'AL report. 



1885. 



Februaiy 24. " Rome " (Illustrated) . . James Nilan, D.D. 



March 9. " Dutch Village Communities on the Hudson River " 



Irving Elting, Esq. 



March 16. " Evolution in Literature " Mr. Wallace Bruce. 



March 23. " Mans Place in Nature *' Mr. Edward Burgess. 



At the annual meeting of this section, Charles JB. 

 Herrick, Esq., was elected chairman, and Mr. James H. 

 Hamill was reelected recording secretary. 



The Art Section has held no meetings and made no 

 effort, during the past year, to organize the work which 

 w T as planned by it, and approved by the trustees over a 

 year ago. It is possible that there may be no "public 

 demand " which will justify any effort in this direction, 

 but your secretary begs to suggest that a proper concep- 

 tion of official duty should prompt the officers of this 

 Section to, at least, hold the regular meetings as instituted 

 by the by-laws, and thereby permit the Section itself to 

 determine as to the expediency of organizing its work. 



There are several questions relating to the future policy 

 and work of the Institute which, in the opinion of the 

 secretary, demand careful consideration, and sugges- 

 tions thereon are not embodied in this report, for the 

 reason that a special committee has been appointed to 

 revise the by-laws, and it is not desirable to anticipate 

 in any way the work of this committee. 



On surrendering the official trust, held since the Society 

 was incorporated, your secretary may be pardoned a 

 single personal allusion when he states that it has been 

 his endeavor — whether acting in an official or individual 

 capacity — to advance the interest of the Institute in all 

 ways and at all times, believing that thereby the educa- 

 tional object for which the Society was organized was 

 being promoted for the good of individuals, and for the 

 benefit and honor of our city. 



That a moderate success, at least, has been attained 

 all are assured, and that still greater success may be 



