Page:1883 Annual Report of the German Society of the City of New York.djvu/10

Rh The following officers were chosen: The next meeting, designated as the "first quarterly meeting," took place January 3d, 1785, in the Lutheran School-house, and was preceded by a prayer by Dr. Kuntze, "upon which Vice-President Von Weissenfels opened the meeting with a suitable address." At this meeting a committee was appointed "to hand in a petition to the Assembly with regard to a 'charter.'" This committee consisted of Baron Von Steuben, Colonel Von Lutterloh, Colonel Von Weissenfels, Dr. Kunze, Pastor Gross, Henry Sheaff, Henry Will.

At an adjourned meeting held February 7th, 1785, the following resolutions were adopted:

"That the name and title of the Society is 'The German Society in the State of New York for the encouragement of emigration from Germany, the assistance of needy emigrants, and the dissemination of useful knowledge among their countrymen in this State.' "

"That our thanks be presented to Baron Von Steuben for the honor which he has done the Society by placing his name on the list of its members."

The first cases of need which were presented to the Society were those of Peter Paltzgraaf, with a wife and three small children; Adam Berling, with a wife and three small children; Jerich Creyer, with a wife and one small child; for their relief the sum of seven pounds was allowed. (The pound, at that time, was worth $2.50.)

At the January meeting, October 3d, 1785, Baron Von Steuben was unanimously chosen President. The Minutes state that

"The Baron named several reasons which stood in the way of his accepting this appointment. After much persuasion, however, he agreed to accept the office."

Particular rules were drawn up for the interment of