' f ' ( , _ i- . '1-, *> ^ ^ \ *. c^-.r £- ' " -[ t - ^ * ¦^ c ^ Keruarks cuiiceniu ' 1 >_ in tlie i.i.a.s ,acj '-¦ ' • Boston, 1B94. — 1 S-^^-TT^ A^i^ Chi "I give tke/e Mooii fan Vie fowndmg nf a, CoUegt in- this Colony" Gift of REMARKS CONCEKNING LONG TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE MASSACHUSETTS .HISTORICAL SOCIETY. At a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society, held in Boston, on Thursday, May 10, 1894, Dr. Samuel A. Gjreeis- spoke as follows : — Mt At the present time the Historical Society has the remark able distinction of bearing on its roll of living members the names of three gentlemen whose connection with the Society began at least half a century ago. Mr. Winthrop was chosen a member on October 31, 1889, more than fifty-four years since ; and now for, twenty-one jeirs he has headed the list of mem bership, where the names are given in the order of election. Dr. Ellis follows Mr. Winthrop as a close second, having been chosen on October 28, 1841, two years later ; and- at the meet ing to-day Dr. Paige completes his connection of half a century with, the Society. At the time of his election the meetings were held, as a rule, on the last Thursday of the month, and he was chosen on May 30, 1844 ; but according to the monthly meetings he has rounded a period of fifty years. It seems eminently fit that now there should be some record of this remarkable conjunction of long and contemporary member ships ; and to that end I wish to say — and I feel sure that the other members will agree with me — that we all feel not only great gratification in the fact, but also a deep pride in the association with these venerable gentlemen, who for so many years have adorned the meetings by their punctual attendance. There have been but three other members who have given so long a service to the Society, — but not all covering a com mon period of fifty years, — and they were John Davis, Josiah Quincy, and James Savage. Mr. Davis's membership lasted from December 23, 1791, to January 14, 1847, a term of fifty- five years ; Mr. Quincy's from July 26, 1796, to July 1, 1864, sixty-eight years ; and Mr. Savage's from January 28, 1818, to March 8, 1873, sixty years. Such cases of continued mem bership are necessarily rare, but in all those just mentioned it is worthy of note that they comprise some of the most active and valuable workers in the Society during a period of more than a century of its existence. From these instances is it not fair to assume that labors in the historical field are conducive to health and long life ? In common with President Quincy, Dr. Paige alone has the distinction of having reached the advanced age of ninety- two years ; and of the other associates six have lived, to be nonagenarians: David Sewall, at the time of his death, on October 22, 1825 ; John Adams, on July 4, 1826 ; John Welles. on September 25, 1855 ; and Thomas Aspinwall, on August 11, 1876, who all reached the age of ninety years ; Jacob Bigelow, on January 10, 1879, and Theron Metcalf, on November 14, 1875, each aged ninety-one years. Among the ten original members of the Society, at its formation on January 24, 1791, William Baylies, of Dighton, was the eldest in years ; and so he may be considered as the senior associate until his resignation, which took place on April 27, 1815. As such he was followed by William Tudor, who remained the senior member until his death on July 8, 1819 ; and he in turn by James Winthrop, who died on Sep tember 26, 1821. On that date Thomas Wallcut attained the distinction of being the eldest in years, which he held until the death of James Freeman, one of the original ten, on November 14, 1835, when he became the senior member, ac cording to the present use of the phrase. At Mr. Wallcut's death, on June 5, 1840, John Davis, who was chosen a member of the Society during the first year of its existence, became the senior associate, and he held this relation until January 14, 1847, when he died. He was followed by Josiah Quincy, whose death took place on July 1, 1864 ; and he in turn by James Savage, who remained the senior member until March 8, 1873, the date of his death. Since that time, now a period of little more than twenty-one years, Mr. Winthrop's name has stood at the head of the list ; and it is within the bounds of moderation to say that, during his long membership, no person has ever done either so much or so good service in the interest of the Society, as the distinguished scholar and statesman who for thirty years presided at our meetings with so much dignity and grace. Of the ten original members at the formation of the Society, on January 24, 1791, James Freeman was the youngest, hav ing been born on April 22, 1759; and he remained such until December 23, 1791, when John Davis (born on January 25, 1761^ was chosen. Of the eight senior members already mentioned, four at the time of their election were also the youngest, namely : John Davis, Josiah Quincy, James Savage, and Robert C. Winthrop. The following is a list of the junior members of the Society, with the dates of their birth as well as of their election : — Names. Dates of Birth. James Freeman .... April 22, 1759 John Davis January 25, 1761 Daniel Davis May 8, 1762 . . William Dandridge Peck . May 8, 1763 . . Alden Bradford .... November 19, 1765 John Thornton Kirkland . August 17, 1770 . Josiah Quincy .... February 4, 1772 . William Sullivan . . . November 30, 1 774 John Langdon Sullivan . April 9, 1777 . . Obadiah Rich November 25, 1777 William Smith Shaw . . August 12, 1778 . Joseph Stevens Buckmin- ster May 26, 1784 . . James Savage July 13, 1784 . . Francis Galley Gray . . September- 19, 1790 Edward Everett . . . . April 11, 1794 . . James Bowdoin .... July 23, 1794 . . Francis Wil liam Pitt Green wood February 5, 1797 . Joseph Willard .... March 14, 1798 . Charles Wentworth Upham May 4, 1802 . . Robert Charles Winthrop . May 12, 1809 . . George Edward Ellis . . August 8, 1814 Peleg Whitman Chandler . April 12, 1816 . . Francis Parkman . . . September 1 6, 1823 Henry Austin Whitney . October 6, 1826 . Alonzo Hall Quint . . . March 22, 1828 . Samuel Abbott Green . . March 16, 1830 . William Henry Whitmore . September 6, 1836 . William Sumner Appletoa . June 11, 1840 . . Henry Cabot Lodge . . . May 12, 1850 . . Arthur Lord September 2, 1850 . Arthur Blake Ellis . . . July 24, 1854 . . Edward Channing . . . June 15, 1856 . . Abbott Lawrence Lowell . December 13, 1856 Dates of Election. January 24, 1791. December 23, 1791. May 29, 1792. October 8, 1792. January 2, 1793. January 26, 1796. July 26, 1796. April 29, 1800. April 28, 1801. March 5, 1805. November 7, 1805. April 25, 1811. January 28, 1813. January 29, 1818. April 27, 1820. August 27, 1821. April 28, 1825. January 29, 1829. January 26, 1832. October 31, 1839. October 28, 1841. January 25, 1844. February 26, 1852. March 11, 1858. July 8, 1858. _ January 12, 1860. February 12, 1863. May 13, 1869. December 14, 1876. February 9, 1882. March 9, 1882. December 11, 1884. December 11, 1890. Since the organization of the Society, one hundred and three years ago, there have been eight different senior members, and during the same period thirty-three different junior members. Of the latter class John Langdon Sullivan was the youngest, being 24 years and 19 days old at the time of his election ; and Abbott Lawrence Lowell the oldest, being 33 years 11 months and 28 days. Peleg W. Chandler held the position during the longest period, having been such for 8 years 1 month and 1 day ; and Arthur Lord during the shortest period, namely, 28 days. ISaylord Bros. Makelra Syraause. I*. V. PM.i«i(.n,i«» . ^ '^^ '- ' ^ ' I , -¦' S'i- - < >- j^ w ,.?j f - ''" U r'i. ¦'.. -r.-''. '" r* 'i(.r 1.'; ':% ¦^ C '''S^ ^ ''*$r' '".