Many of the great public libraries—North, South, East and West are in receipt of the works issued by our Society, and the same are in constant demand for consultation and reference. Among these public libraries are those of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Troy, Rochester, Oswego, Buffalo, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco and other cities. This is practical work. I know of no other society that in so short a time has done so much of real, lasting value as has ours. Indeed, when we consider all the circumstances, we have done astonishingly well. Many societies hoary with age, in the possession of plethoric treasuries, and constantly receiving large bequests, have done no better, if as well, from a practical viewpoint. Our Society is fortunate in having an indefatigable secretary, who from the start has worked in season and out of season to advance the interests of the organization. A competent secretary is a priceless possession for any society, and we have been especially fortunate in this respect. The Hon. John D. Crimmins of New York City, my immediate predecessor in the office of president-general, has always been ready with purse, services and hospitality to forward the interests of the Society, and under his administration the organization has made splendid progress. Owing to his initiative, a movement has just been started to raise a permanent fund of $10,000 for the organization. This is good news, indeed, and I have no doubt the amount will be speedily raised. With a substantial fund such as this back of it, the Society will be enabled to be of even greater service in the future than it has in the past. The salient work of the organization must be its publications. The more we have of these the better for the cause we have at heart. While a dinner, now and then, is desirable, the organization must never deteriorate into a mere dining club. Too many societies, started with the most comprehensive program, have done this and lost sight of their original purposes. Our Society differs from others in that it is established for historical purposes, to make original research into the records and documents of the past and to place the result of its researches in permanent, tangible form. Careful and frequent publications will enable us to do this. A great deal depends upon the continued issuance of the annual volume of the JOURNAL of our Society. That work has thus far been, and will continue to be, of the greatest possible utility. It gives the Society a recognized standing in the community that would be difficult to obtain by any other means. Its advent, year by year, therefore, is of prime importance.