Page:1883 Annual Report of the German Society of the City of New York.djvu/31

Rh A. Witthaus, worthy ex-President of the Society, resolutions of condolence were passed.

1879. . The Legislature amends the Charter to the effect that the German Society shall be permitted to act as executor and to administer property consisting in personal and real estate.

. Captain Schwensen, of the Hamburg Steamship "Westphalia," hands over to the President of the German Society and his successors, for administration, a Schwensen Fund, established for the benefit of two minor children, Dora and Mina Stiel, whose parents had perished at sea.

1880. . The general meeting resolves to alter the by-laws of the Society to the effect that the Board shall in future consist of fifteen members, who shall be elected for three years, and five of whom shall be elected every year.

1881. . Resolutions of condolence for the decease of the President of the United States, James A. Garfield, on September 19th.

Appointment of a committee to receive the descendants of Major-General Von Steuben, who were invited by the Government of the United States to take part in the centennial celebration of the siege of Yorktown.

. Celebration by the German Society of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, in honor of the centennial of its incorporation, September 22d, 1781.

1882. . Rudolph Kanz, for many years a member of the Society, bequeathes to it $5000.

. Death of Willy Wallach, member of the Board since 1855, First Secretary from January, 1859, to April, 1870, and First Vice-President since March, 1879.

. Memorial of the Board to Congress, in favor of national legislation in matters pertaining to emigration.

. In consequence of a report by the President on the reduced condition of the Emigrant Commission, and the embarrassments in Castle Garden occasioned by want of funds, the Board resolves to authorize the President to give aid to needy German emigrants from the funds of the Society in such cases where it would otherwise have been afforded by the