Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/261

Rh

We have keenly felt the need of efficient canvassers in every locality of the South; but while we have had a few reliable, efficient agents, we have found it exceedingly difficult to secure them in many localities. Our friends every where would render us most valuable aid by either canvassing for us themselves, or securing suitable agents who will do so.

your Committee would express their daily increasing conviction of the value and importance of the work in which we are engaged, and would beg our friends everywhere who intend to help us to do so at once. The time may not have come when a perfectly impartial history of the late war can be written, but the time is rapidly passing by when you can contribute your mite towards collecting the material from which the historian of the future shall do justice to as pure a cause as any for which patriot blood was ever shed—as gallant a people as ever fought for the right—as noble an army of heroes as ever trod the earth. By order of the Executive Committee. Office Southern Historical Society, Richmond, Va., Nov. 1st, 1876.

The Secretary (Rev. J. Wm. Jones) then stated that the Committee had been very much disappointed in their efforts to secure an annual orator; but that it was hoped that a number of gentlemen present would make brief addresses. Very effective speeches were then made by Rev. Dr. J. B. Jeter, General W. B. Taliaferro, General H. H. Heth, United States Senator (Colonel) R. E. Withers, Rev. J. L. M. Curry, D. D., LL. D., and General Dabney H. Maury.

The Secretary made explanations concerning several matters in the report—the policy and acts of the committee were warmly endorsed by the speakers—and the report was unanimously adopted. The Society unanimously passed resolutions commending to the warm sympathies and liberal contributions of lovers of country everywhere the effort now being made to place in Richmond a statue of our great chieftain—General R. E. Lee.

It was felt by all present that this meeting of the Society was not only a very pleasant one, but that a fresh impetus was given to our important work. We enter upon our new fiscal year with renewed zeal, and quickened hope.