183 
in bringing him from the sacred precincts 
of Boston (for although Forest Hill was 
not then legally within the municipality, 
it was de-facto a part of Boston) to make 
his home. He came here a young unmar- 
ried man; he is here with us now, the 
father of ten living children, but he is as 
young, as active, and insistent and crea- 
tively aggressive as the first day he set 
foot within our grounds and took com- 
mand. I will not in his presence say more 
than to ask you to look about and see 
what he did, for it is his work, and I 
know, for my service as director precedes 
the period of his superintendency about 
two months, that he cannot say that the 
directors have thwarted him or forced 
him to do that which his judgment did not 
approve. They have in the development of 
the cemetery been silent partners, while 
he has been the untrammeled executive 
head. No lots have been sold for more 
than twenty-five years not under perpetual 
care, the price of the lot invariably includ- 
ing 40 cents per foot which is put into the 
perpetual care fund. This fund, with be- 
quests, on the first of January, 190 7, 
amounted to $387,773.15. 
In 1880 the directors saw the necessity 
of establishing' a permanent fund for the 
care of those parts of the cemetery not 
used for burial purposes, including roads, 
paths, etc., and thereupon voted to put 
aside 13 cents a foot for all lands sold in 
the cemetery and for that thrown out into 
avenues and paths, which sum has since 
been increased to 15 cents a foot. This 
permanent fund, on the first of January. 
1907, amounted to $’97,571.67. 
It is intended by the directors, though 
there has been no corporate vote on the 
subject, that this sum shall accumulate 
until it amounts to $500,000.00 before any 
part of it — principal or interest — shall be 
used, and thus make sure that even if all 
of the lots within the grounds have been 
sold there will be funds to take care of 
those portions not under perpetual care. 
By legislative enactment the perpetual 
care fund is safe-guarded by very strict 
limitations as to the class of securities in 
which it can be invested. The same re- 
strictions have been placed around the 
Permanent Fund, as it can be easily seen 
that special demands may make it neces- 
sary to use temporarily portions of the 
fund to meet unforseen emergencies — but it 
is believed that -the fund will be as care- 
fully conserved in the future as it has 
been in the past. 
The absence of gravel paths has not only 
reduced the labor of caring for them, but 
we think that the beauty of the landscape 
has been enhanced by sodding, while their 
slight depression sufficiently defines their 
location. 
Especial care has been taken to plant 
shrubs, vines and trees of every variety 
that will stand our climate, which is more 
vigorous than in the cities south of us, 
but is, with the exception of Newport, 
much less severe than in any other part 
of New England, and to limit to the mini- 
mum the use of bedding plants, annuals 
and other flowering plants which are de- 
stroyed by the first killing frost which 
may befall early in September, leaving an 
aching void of bare ground for two months 
or more during which period Solomon in 
all his glory was not arrayed as these 
trees, vines and shrubs are in their brilliant 
autumnal hues. 
This address was followed by a 
most impressive memorial service for 
William Stone and David Woods, 
who had been members of the Asso- 
ciation since 1888 and 1890, respective- 
ly. The report of the Memorial Com- 
mittee, consisting of George W. Cree- 
sy, Wm. Falconer and H. Wilson 
Ross, was read by Mr. Ross and trib- 
P ARK AND CEMETERY. 
t 
PHOTOS BY SID J. HARE 
1. Office Building, Swan Point. 
2. Shelter House, Entrance Swan Point. 
3. Group of Charter Members (See Note). 
4. Shrubbery Background. Swan Point. 
utes were paid the departed members 
by Mr. Creesy, Mr. Falconer and Mr. 
John R. Flooper, and the service con- 
cluded with a vocal solo by Mr. John 
C. Dix, who sang with much feeling 
“The Vacant Chair,” the members 
joining in the chorus. 
The afternoon was devoted to in- 
specting the cemetery. In groups, 
the party numbering more than one 
hundred and fifty, traversed the 
grounds which comprise 200 acres. 
The unique boulder wall and en- 
trance; the new office building with 
its maps and records, and the new 
receiving vault, well lighted and thor- 
oughly ventilated; the fine specimen 
trees and shrubs, the river drive skirt- 
ing the Seekonk river and overhung 
with a variety of native trees and 
flowering shrubs were a few of 
the more noteworthy attractions that 
held the attention of the admiring 
visitors until they were invited to 
luncheon. A roomy tent had been 
pitched on the river bank for this oc- 
casion and one of the city’s leading 
caterers served a buffet luncheon that 
was pronounced fit for a queen’s taste. 
After another stroll over the grounds 
to the tent near the office a business 
session was held. Secretary-Treasur- 
er Lawson having received his bag- 
gage read his annual report in which 
he stated that 21 new members were 
enrolled at the Detroit meeting, 18 
having joined since that time, 2 have 
died, 6 resigned and 11 were dropped 
for non-payment of dues. The total 
receipts were $718.60 and disburse- 
ments $683.10, with no outstanding 
indebtedness. 
The committee appointed at the 
Detroit meeting to perfect arrange- 
ments for having this association rep- 
resented at the convocation of horti- 
cultural and kindred interests to be 
held at the Jamestown Exposition, re- 
ported that it was impracticable to 
m.ake such arrangements. They sug- 
gested that members of the Associa- 
tion who expected to attend the Ex- 
position at the time of the convoca- 
tion be appointed as a committee. 
Roll call by the Secretary showed the 
attendance of members to be the larg- 
est ever present at a convention of 
the Association, to-wit, 117, which in- 
cluded 22 new members. 
The report of the Membership 
Committee and subsequent discussion 
brought out the fact that the associa- 
tion has been widely advertised dur- 
ing the past year and much good seed 
has been sown. As shown by the Sec- 
retary’s report results were accom- 
plished and the committee was con- 
tinued. 
