Colonel Kinney, Captain Tuttle, Robert L. Armstrong, Captain De Hart, General E. B. Dayton, Mr. G. C. Thomas, Mr. Robert H. Cumming.
The Committee report that they have an application from George W. Ford for admission to membership in this Society as eldest son of Major Mahlon Ford and that it appears he is worthy of becoming a member. Having examined the minutes they find a special entry at the stated meeting on the fourth of July. 1799, that a diploma should not be delivered to Major Ford until his original subscription be paid to the Treasurer; and that at present there appears no evidence on the books or otherwise that such payment has been made and they think that the said G. W. Ford should be admitted on his paying or showing that his father had paid such original subscription, which was $26 and two-thirds of a dollar with the interest at 6 per cent, from the said 4th of July, 1799.
William Shute the son of Enoch Shute having made application in the right of his father to be admitted to membership the Committee refer the same for consideration, or further information.
Richard M. Stout, the only surviving son of Col. Wessel T. Stout, made application to be admitted to membership in right of his father, and John A. Hendry made application to be admitted as eldest son of the late Capt. Samuel Hendry. They were admitted.
Francis B. Ogden, having made application to the Standing Committee to be admitted as a member of this Society as successor of his brother, George M. Ogden, late of New Orleans and now deceased, leaving no male issue, the Committee are of opinion that the said F. B. Ogden should be admitted according to the rules of this Society. J. W. Scott, Esq., of New Brunswick, having also made application for admission as a member under the right of his father, the late Moses Scott, who was a Senior Surgeon and Physician in the Army; it is the opinion of this Committee that the said J. W. Scott should be admitted upon his depositing with the Treasurer of this Society, the amount of one months pay, being one hundred and twenty dollars and the further sum of eight dollars, which had been assessed upon, and paid by each member for contingent expenses, etc. Action postponed.
The Standing Committee report, that they have examined the accounts of the Treasurer and find the permanent funds of the Society to consist of the sum of $10,000 in six per cent, stock of the United States.
The Committee further report that since the last settlement the Treasurer has received $1,118, which in addition to $95 balance of last year, makes the sum of $1,213; and there was due on the first of July instant, the further sum of $150, and the Treasurer has expended the sum of $452.27, leaving a balance of $760.23, which, with the sum as above, on the first instant, places at the disposal of the Society the sum of $910.
Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed in case any of the Public stock of this Society should be redeemable in January next, to reinvest the amount in other stock of the United States at a rate of interest not less than six per cent, at his discretion, whenever he shall deem it most for the interest of the Society.
The Standing Committee recommend that the following sums be appropriated for charitable purposes to Mary Hendry, widow of Capt. Samuel Hendry, and Sarah Brooks, widow of Major Almarine Brooks, $50 each. Mrs. Stout, widow of Wessel T. Stout ; Mrs. Seely, widow of the late Samuel Seely; Mrs. Armstrong, widow of the Revd. Mr. Armstrong, $40 each. The recommendations were adopted.
The Society having been deprived by death of its President and Vice-President, General Elmer was appointed Chairman, and proceeded to business.
Resolved, that in honor of the memory of our deceased brethren, viz: General Joseph Bloomfield, late President of the Society; Jeremiah Ballard, Esq., late Vice-President; Major Almarine Brooks; Captain Samuel Hendry, and Dr. Oliver H. Spencer, the Society wear mourning by crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days.
The Military attending, the Society, together with the citizens, walked in procession to the Presbyterian Church to attend the exercises appointed for the day, when, after a prayer by the Rev. Mr. W. Filer and the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Robert L. Armstrong, Esq., an oration was delivered by the Rev. Symes C. Henry, who had been selected for that purpose.
The exercises at the church being ended, the Society returned in the same order of procession to the place of their meeting and proceeded to business.
Resolved unanimously, that the thanks of the Society be given to the Revd. Symes C. Henry for the very eloquent and truly appropriate address publicly delivered by him before the Society this day, and that he be respectfully requested to deliver a copy thereof to the Secretary to be preserved in the archives of the Society.
Resolved, that whenever a member of this Society removes from this State to another in which a State Society exists, he shall be considered in all respects as belonging to the Society of the State in which he shall actually reside.
Resolved unanimously, that while this Society are commemorating on this National Jubilee, those vast events by which, under the pleasure of the Supreme Governor of the universe, the freedom, independence and sovereignty of these United States were achieved and established, and are contemplating with delight and astonishment the present and future greatness and dignity of these growing and rising republics, confederated by indissoluble bonds into one great Empire, they hold in lively and grateful remembrance the zeal and services of their illustrious companion in arms, Major-General Lafayette, and do Resolve, that there shall be a Special Meeting of the Society at such time and place as to the following Committee, viz : General Dayton, General Beatty and Honorable William S. Pennington, may seem most appropriate, in order that on the arrival of this adopted son of Washington in this favored land, the Society in one body may bid him hail and welcome to the hearts of freemen, and present to him some suitable testimonial of their profound veneration and most cordial affection of their highest respect for his private virtues as a citizen, his public character as a patriot and soldier, and as the firm and tried friend of those exalted rights and liberties of human nature, to maintain which, in the arduous revolutionary struggle, he most generously and most nobly fought and bled.
Ordered, that in calculating the mileage of members for attending the Society, no allowance is to be made for traveling beyond the limits of the State, agreeably to the existing rule on that subject.
Resolved, that a Committee be appointed to prepare an address, to be delivered to General Lafayette upon his meeting this Society, and that the President, General Giles and General Beatty be the Committee.