Page:1883 Annual Report of the German Society of the City of New York.djvu/15

Rh some time, a dinner was served for all, in which the above-mentioned gentlemen participated. The day's work done, all the members returned to town, and repaired, in company of the Mayor, to the place of meeting, where the Secretary, in the name of the President, thanked them for the services they had rendered."

. (From this date the Minutes of the general meetings were kept in English. It was only in 1845 that the German language regained its rights.)

. The Vice-President, William Wilmerding, reports the death of the President, Frederick William, Baron Von Steuben, who had been chosen President on the 1st of October for the eleventh time, upon which it was resolved, "that the Society wear the usual mourning badges for six weeks, and that a committee request the Rev. Dr. Gross, on a day convenient to him, to preach a funeral sermon, as is customary in our native land."

1796. . The admission fee, which had previously been reduced to $2.50, is again raised to $5, and the rate of subscription fixed at 50 cents quarterly.

. A Standing Committee was appointed for the protection of German emigrants.

1797. . The Committee for the Protection of German Emigrants reports having sought out the passengers of the ship "Minerva," recently arrived from Hamburg, and having received, on questioning them, the unanimous assurance of their having been extremely well treated during the passage. In consequence, the committee spent 14 shillings in the purchase of a gallon of brandy for a "drink of welcome."

. As the Lutheran School-house, where the meetings had until now been held, was found too warm during the hot season, it was resolved that the Society should in future assemble at Lovit's Hotel, formerly Hunter's Hotel.

. Two members were expelled from the Society, on account of their loose habits and personal abuse of their families. A draft of a petition to the Legislature for the incorporation of the Society was submitted.

1798. 1799. During these years most meetings were