33 
sbcketaky’s general report. 
and the Board of Commissioners, nnanimoiisly agreed upon and 
ratified by the entire vote of the Society. The date fixed upon 
was April 2d, and Mr, Studer renewed his offer to guarantee the 
expenses of the Exhibition. 
Shortly after this, and after spending both time and money to 
advance the interests of the Society, Mr. Studer saw fit to retire 
from the Board of Exhibition Commissioners, and also to with- 
draw his offer of financial support. For a time the prospects of 
the Exhibition were in a most critical condition, and the Society 
was threatened with a disaster which would have been almost 
overwhelming. 
In this crisis the Secretary proposed to raise the necessary 
guarantee fund in blew York by subscription, as a loan to the 
Society. The proposition was submitted to Mr. Andrew Car- 
negie, who no sooner heard of the Society’s embarrassment than 
he generously presented the organization, through the Secretary, 
unconditionally, the entire sum needed^ — five hundred dollars. 
This liberal gift, graciously and gracefully given, was neither 
more nor less than the presentation to the Society and the pub- 
lic of the Kew York Exhibition, for without such a fund the 
Exhibition could not have been held. 
At a meeting of the Society held in Bochester on March 9th, 
1883, the gift was accepted, and further action deferred until 
the general meeting. Mr. Studer’s resignation was accepted. 
Dr. Joseph B. Holder, of New York, was elected President to 
fill the vacancy, and the name of the body changed from Board 
of Exhibition Commissioners to Board of Patrons. 
Seventeen persons were elected active members, and the Exec- 
utive Committee instructed in regard to the formation of a 
committee of judges for the Exhibition. 
Although every effort was made to secure a hall for the So- 
ciety in April, it was impossible to find one suital)le which was 
disengaged. As a last resort the Committee was compelled to 
engage Lyric Hall, 723 Sixth avenue, from April 28th to May 
8th, which action was ratified by the Society, and a postpone- 
ment arranged accordingly. 
Invitations to the number of about six hundred were issued 
for the opening reception, which was appointed for Monday 
