Page:Proceedings at the second anniversary meeting of the Loyal publication society, February 11, 1865.djvu/11

 feelings of our people, or the loving kindness with which they pointed out to us the path of duty in the future, in that memorable letter which makes one of the series of publications of the Society. The war has not yet reached its end, though the end is now in view.

The duties which it imposes, a branch of which we have openly and solemnly assumed to ourselves, are still unfinished. To us it still remains to watch over and preserve the health of public opinion, to show forth the true needs and issues of the struggle, and to keep ever present to the view of the people, in success as in disaster, the glorious future, when from North to South, and East to West, each heart as well as each lip shall pay its homage to the national authority. There will, therefore, be little difference of opinion as to the propriety and the necessity of continuing the Society.

The operations of the Society during the past year have been large. 33 pamphlets, containing 673 pages of printed matter, have been issued, at a cost of about $12,000.

Of these, 470,000 have been distributed, besides 45,000 exchanges. The kindly relations established with the have been agreeably maintained, and publications and opinions have been constantly interchanged, to mutual advantage. The Army and Navy Journal, originated under the care of the Society, has proved a complete success, under the able editorship of Mr. W.C. Church, one of its active members. The attention of the Society has been recently turned to the collection of a complete set of pamphlets connected with the war, and large contributions have been already made by the members. Congratulating the Society on its past success, and in the confident hope that it will not abandon the labor until it objects have been fully accomplished, the foregoing report is respectfully submitted, By their obedient servant, JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary. New York, February 10th, 1865.