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FUNEBAL INVITATION.
SCREVEN.—The friends and acquaintances
of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Spaulding and Mr.
and Mrs. Janies Spaulding are respectfully
invited to attend the funeral of Mrs. Silvia
Screven from St. Philip’s A. M. E. Church
THIS MORNING at 12 o’clock.
rm:
INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
D. C. Bacon & Co.—Pilch pine and cypress
lumber.
Wanted-Situation by a white woman.
Wanted -Ladles and gentlemen by Globe
M’f'g Co.
Opening of White Sulphur Springs.
Slate and county taxes—Returns for 18?5.
Very nice home and grounds—Kennedy &
Blun.
Round trip tickets to all Summer Resorts by
Central Railroad.
* Early closing of the grocers.
Second annual excursion Washington Social
Club.
First annual picnic Ancient Order of Hi
bernians. ,
Grand local concert.
B. H. Levy & Bro., Clothiers.
Orphan boy’s picnic at Isle of Hope.
Candles and Crackers—Acos l a & Einstein.
To whom it may concern—A. R. Altmayer&
Co.
Dividend No. 3—Savannah Savings and Loan
Company.
Special Sunday schedule.
Sunday schedule for Tyhee.
For rent for the summer—Six rooms.
Summer board—Harnett House.
Wanted—Servant, white or colored.
For rent—Office
Notice—U. H. Md aws.
Daniel Hogan-Dry goods.
David Welsbein—Dry goods.
Wanted—Furnlshed;room.
For rent—Desirable place.
NOTES ABOUT TOWN.
Happenings Here, There and Every a here.
—The Lutheran Sunday-School will have
a picnic at Ebenezer on the 14th of Juue.
A large crowd will be in attendance, and it
promises to be a delightful affair.
—The swimming match between John
Wynn of Savannah and Charles Graham of
Charleston, has been postponed till Thurs
day next. All arrangements will be made in
a few days for the contest.
—Attention is directed to the advertise
ment elsewhere of Mr. J. M. DeLacy, pro
prietor of the celebrated White Sulphur
Springs, Merriwether county, Ga. If you
wish a pleasant place at which to spend the
summer, communicate with Mr. DeLacy.
—Mr. Harry Solomons, son of our well
known fellow citizen, M. J. Solomons E s q.,
who has been at Bingham school, North
Carrlina, returned home yesterday to spend
phis vacation. He had a hearty welcome
' from his young friends.
—Capt. Peter Paulsen has been commis
sioned and sworn in as Deputy Sheriff of
Tybee Island. Capt. Paulsen is a large man
and a brave one, and if any persons commit
any depredations at the seaside resort, they
need be careful, as he will be down on them
like a hawk on a June bug.
—The Buckingham House, at Isle of
Hope, can be rented or leased on the most
reasonable terms. An enterprising man can
make money by securing this place for the
summer. Isle of Hope is one of the most
popular resorts around Savannah. In years
. gone by the Buckingham House was a fa
vorite resort with pleasure seekers, and in
proper hands it could be made so now. Mr.
Henderson, the owner, will give great in
ducements to a desirable tenant.
Marriage Licenses.
During the month of May, which closed
to day, the Clerk of the Court of Ordinary
issued fifty-eight marriage licenses. Os this
number eighteen were for white and forty
for colored applicants. This number for the
month of May is a very good one, and
demonstrates the fact that though business
be dull and money scarce, people will be
married anyway.
Opening of New Brighton,
To-morrow night tbe famous New Brigh
ton Hotel, Sullivan’s Island, will be for
mally opened for the season. A number of
Savannahians will take advantage of the
liberal rates offered by the Charleston & Sa
vannah railway to enjoy a couple of day’s
recreation at a very small c-st. The atten
tion of those who wish to have a pleasant
trip is called to the advertisement in an
other column.
A Rare Musical Treat.
The production of Rossini’s “Stabat
Mater on Thursday evening next, under
the direction of Prof. Leo W. Mehrtens,
promises to prove one of the finest musical
treats our city has enjoyed in some time
The rehearsals have been very satisfactory
and the chorus will be very strong and is
thoroughly trained, while the solo parts
will be rendered by artists of ability. The
sale of tickets indicates that there will be
an excellent audience present.
State aud County Taxes.
The office of the Receiver of Tax Returns
for Chatham county is open for the purpose
of receiving returns on polls and professions
and on personal property, fully described
elsewhere in a notice issued by Capt. John
R. Dillon. As the time for receiving re
turns is limited, those who come under the
provisions of the law relating to them will
do well to look after the important matters
of making returns, as the laws compel the
receiver to assess and make a double tax
against these who are in default.
Superior Court.
Court convened yesterday morning at 10
o’clock, . Hon A. Pratt Adams, Judge
presiding when the following proceedings
were had :
Martha A. Bourke vs. Robert H. Eourke.
' Alimony. After hearing arguments on both
sides of the case the time was extended un
til June 6, in which defendant was required to
comply with the decision of the court ren
dered several days ago. Several orders
t from the country were takdn in chambers.
W The June term of this court will be con-
W vened to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock, at
™ which time the grand and pettit jurors are
expected to be prompt in attendance.
Savannah Savings A Loan Company.
The annual meeting of the Savannah
Savings & Loan Company was held at Met
ropolitan Hall on Friday afternoon. The
report of the treasurer was submitted, and
showed the company to be in a flourishing
condition. There is a surplus on hand and
the net earnings amounted to 7 per cent.
The election of officers was entered into and
resulted as follows:
President—Herman Myers.
Vice President—E. J. Acosta, Jr.
Treasurer—F. X. Douglass.
Directors—H.-Blun, J. J McDonough, A.
Vetsburg, B H. Levy, J. W. Fret well, Les
ter Hubbell, V. S. Studer,
SAVANNAH DAILY TIMES: SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1885.
THE UNION SOCIETY.
ITS PRESENT AND PAST MANAGE
MENT.
The Alleged “Radio Changes” Propos
ed by Capt. Purse—A Calm Com
prehensive Review of the
Situation.
Savannah, Ga., May 30th, 1885
J?. 77. Richardson, Esq., Editor and General
Manager Savdnnah Daily Times :
Dear Sir—The enclosed copies of corres
pondence explain themselves.
The communication over my signature de
clined by Col. J. H. Estill, and for which 1
now ask space in your columns, was delivered
to him at 11 a. m. o’clock, yesterday,,and
his decision and reply to my request, though
asked lor at 5 p. m. o’clock, did not not reach
me until 0 P m. o’clock at the hands of my
own messenger, who 1 had sent for it.
Yours Truly,
D. G. Purse.
[COPY.]
Savannah, Ga. May 29,1885.
Col. J. H. Estill, Editor and Proprietor Morn ing
News, Savannah, Ga.:
Dear Sir—ln the report of the proceedings
of the special meeting of the Union Society,
held on Saturday, 23d in-t., and published in
Sunday’s News, 24th inst., there are a num
ber of errors and mistakes which, I think,
misrepresent my position, and certa n im
portant facts which I have the data to sub
stantiate. Believing that the report, as pub
lished, creates a false and njurious impres
sion of my relations to and interest in the
Union Society find the beneficiaries of that
nobie charity, I respectfully ask the use of
your columns to correct the erroneous state
ments made in the above report, as published
in your paper, and ask that you permit the
inclosed cornu unication to appear in your
next issue. Respectfully yours,
D. G. Purse.
[COPY.]
Savannah, Ga., May 29, 1885.
Capt D. G. Purse:
Dear Sir—Yours of 29th at hand, concern
ing communication. The two objections you
claim to have to the report of the Morning
News relative to the Union Society meeting,
could in my opinion, be stated in a quarter of
a column. lam willing to accord you that
much t-pace in which to state them. At the
same time Ido not wish it to be understood
as admitting that the report was incorrect.
I decline topublish your lengthy review of
the Union Society and other matters you
discuss. Ido not think the public is suffi
ciently interested in the points which you
present to justify me in giving so much space
to your article. Yours respectfully,
J. H Estill,
Editor and Proprietor Morning News.
Editor Morning News.—Ln your report of
the proceedings of the special meeting of the
Union Society, held at Metropolitan Hall,
on Saturday the 2 id inst., to consider certain
resolutions offered by me at the annual meet
ing, which under the rules w re required to
lay over one month before being considered
and acted upon, I am represented i i your
head lines as seeking to bring about “radical
changes in the managements being com
pelled, in order io escape defeat, to withdraw
all my proposed amendments, except two.
Such a report is calculated to produce the
impression upon the public that 1 bad sought
in a Quixotic manner to change the rules and
regulations for the government of the Union
Society, and where I bad not avoided it by
withdrawals, my efforts had met defeat, with
asingle exception. The facts in the case, as
they occurred at that time, do not justify
this position taken in your report.
Again, one reading your report of the pro
ceedings of that afternoon could not avoid
reaching the conclusion, that for the s «ke of
controversy, 1 had gone out of my way to ex
cept to the price paid for Hour to support or
phans, aud was in favor of feeding them upon
the cheapest food, when the facts of the case
are, that this matter of the price of fluur had
simply been the means of calling my atten
tion to what 1 considered a deviation from the
safe and prudent policy to be purs led in the
purchase of supplies for the orphanage, to
which end one of my resolutions was offered.
It is a positive mi-statement of the fact,when
I am made to say:
“He (the writer) and some of the other
members of the Union Soc ety were eating
bread made ofcs and 86 Hour.’
I did say, h wever, that it did not seem
right that 87 should be paid for Hour between
the Ist of March and the Ist of October, 1884, a
price so much greater lor dour to be used by
the orphans al Betbesda than what was paid
for flour by those who were contributing to
their support, tbe average price of flour con
sumed withinthat period, as far as I have
been able to learn. being from $5 50 to $6, and
considered good enough lor those in the most
respectable circumstances and who were not
depe dent on charity for support. This mat
ter of the Hour is therefore magnified in your
report, aud made to a sume proportions as a
leading factor in ihe effort 1 made to bring
back the society to theancient moo; ings of its
constitution, unjustified t-y anything that I
said aud unsustained t-y tbe facts that I shall
produce in the progress of this cornu, uni ca
tion.
Other matters, in your report under review,
in which 1 u ink gross injustice has been
done me, will be referred to at the proper
time, butthit my position in this entire mat
ter, published by you to the community un
der th» disadvantage of your misapprehen
sion of it, may be fully understood, it is
necessary that I should digress for a few mo
ments for the purpose of clearly definingand
defending myself against what every fair
minded man must agree with me in, after he
has read my full statement, has been a most
unwarranted and unjustifiable attack upon a
member of the Union society, who has ever
been ready and quick to respond to every call
made upon him, whether in the discharge of
duty or for pecuniary aid when the require
ments of the society made necessary such a
demand upon those actively at worn, in its
management.
Sometime prior to the annual meeting, in
a friendly conversation with 101. J. H. Estill,
the President of tbe Union Society, in refei
ence to the sale of its proper y, he took what
I thought a most extraordinary position, to
wit: that the President of the Union Society
possessed the power, without the consent or
concurrence of his Board of Managers, to
alienate any of its property: that the Board
of Managers were simply advisory, and that
in the President was vested plenary power.
In that conversation I stated to Uol. Eat ill it
was my purpose to offer a resolution at the
next meeting ol the Board to prohibit the
sale o‘ the property of the society, except by
consent of its members, and to cause the ex
penditures to be kept within the society’s
income, and, further, that 1 proposed to also
introduce resolutions to this effect at the an
nual meeting. Subsequently, my attention
was called by a member of the society, an
honored ex President, whose devotion to its
interests caunot be ques'ioned, that the pur
chases of provisions for the support of the or
phans, were made very largely from a retail
house (an highly respectable and reputable
dealer, it is true) and asked that I would
look into the matter at the next meeting of
the board. Ihe next meeting was convened
for the purpose, among other things, of hear
ing tbe report of tbe Treasurer. At that meet
ing, in order to acquaint myself with the cor
rectness or incorrectness of the above state
ment, I moved that a committee of three be
appointed to examine the Treasurer’s books;
I was made Chairman of the committee. The
result of that examination showed that my
informant was correct. I then decided, for
re isons it is unnecessary to state, not to
bring this matter up before the board but to
put my objection to this and other matters
reierred to in my conversation with the
President, into the shape of resolutions to be
offered at the annual meeting of the society
amendatory of its by-laws.
At the annual meeting, in pursuance of
this determination, I did introduce the reso
luti ms acted upon at the meeting last Sat
urday.
Immediately upon the organization of the
meeting on Saturday I arose and, after call
ing attention to the fact that the day was the
Hebrew Sabbath, to the unsectarian and com
posite character of the society (having been
organized by a Jew, a Roman Catholic and
Protestant) and to the spirit and purpose of
rule 6th of the by-laws, moved that this meet
ing adjourn until the following Tuesday.
This motion was seconded by Mr. Adams,
who called special attention to the absence of
Mr. Abram Minis, an old and tried friend of
the society, and who, he stated, was probably
kept from the meeting by his strict observ
ance of the day. This rule 6th, as far as re
lates to this question, Is as follows:
“The anniversary of this society shall be
celebrated at Bethesda on the 23d day of
April annually, except when that day shall
fall on Saturday, Sunday or Monday; it shall
then take place on the Tuesday following,
on which occasion the officers for thecnsu'ng
yfear shall be elected.”
It seemed to me then and now that it was
notin keeping with this rule, and the senti
ment which g <ve birth to the society to hold
an important business meeting on Saturday
(the inhibition in the rule to Monday was
doubtless designed to prevent the prepara
tion for the anniversary on either the Jewish
or Christian Sabbath, more especially when
one of the resolutions was amendatory of
rule Gth. I stated also that we would not
have called a business meeting for Sunday
had that been the thirtieth day and had this
been done our Hebrew co-lanorers w mid
have been prompt to move an adjournment,
Just as should be done now by us.
In opposition to this motion, Dr. L. A. Fal
ligant arose and said in substance that he
did not think the day made any difference,
as he had often known tbe rector of an Epis
copal Church, of which church Mr. Purse was
a member L- high standing, to announce
from his pulpit that a meeting wo ’ld be held
after servlets were over, and request the
members to remain, and he cou<d see no
reason for adjourning on account of its being
the Jewish Sabbath.
The President, Col J. W. Estill, concurring
tn the opposition of Dr. Falligant, then Gated
that tbe meet! g had been called for the 23d
without his noticing it was on Saturday—that
it was the thirtieth day after the former
meeting; that when he noticed it was on Sat
urday he made it a point to see some of the
Hebrew members a d was informed by them
that Saturday suited them as well as any
other day; and that the,' had signified their
intention of attending the meeting; that he
could not understand how the day snould
make any difference as we all knew the Jews
attended to their other business on Saturday,
the same as Cnrßtians; that they kept their
stores open and did any work that came to
hand.
At about this juncture, a prominent mem
ber arose and asked in substance, if any. He
brew number had requested an adjourn
ment of the meeting. No answer came, be
cause nomemb r, who like myself, knew of
t he existence of Rule 6th, could have thought,
for a moment, that the meet ing would have
been held so clearly in violation, at least, of
its spirit and, therefore, did not deem it nec
essary to take counsel with those to be ad
versely affected by its disregard. But was
not the absence of every orihordox Israelit
ish member a more potent request than
could have been uttered by proxy for them
through Gentile lips? Yet the m .mber mak
ing the inquiry permitted the meeting to
proceed so far as his vote could influence it,
as did others who, I could not but think did
so, bee-me I presumed to differ with Colonel
Estill, the President, and that no good could
come from any suggestion of mine, though. I
was only asking that, in equal justice to all,
that the spirit, if it be not the very presence,
of the society’s by-laws be respected.
The entire absence of Hebrews from the
meeting was a very noticeable feature, and I
have been asked by several, since the meet
ing, who were the few that Col. Estill saw who
were so indifferent to the day. No names
were given and as none were present, I, there
fore, could not answer the question. Ihe in
formation can, however, be furnished, and
will be cheerfully given, I have no doubt, by
tbe chaiiman of the meeting.
it is remarkable in reference to the Israel
itish part of the population of Savannah,
aud, particularly, as it relates to the Union
Society, that although regular contributors
to it (and some of them active and zealous
supporters), in only one or two instances, in a
long period of years, have they availedltbem
seives of its privileges by placing Hebrew
children within its fold, and in one of those
instances as a pay scholar.
The meeting differed with me, and sustain
ed the President, as you correctly stated, in
the vigo ous opposition of his friends and
himself to an adjournment. This, however,
could not in my Judgment do away with the
evident intention of Rule Gth, the funda
mental principle upon which the society was
organized
The meeting being organized for business,
the President stated that the object was to
take action upon certain resolutions offered
by the writer. The first preamble and reso
lution ottered by me read as follows:
“Whereas, The membership of the Union
Society is almost exclusively resident in Sa
vannah, and, whereas, the official head
quarters for the management of its affairs
(save that of persons in immediate care of
tbe beneficiaries) is in Savannah, and doubt
may be cast upon the validity of elections
held at Bethesda; and lastly,
“ Whereas, It would be more convenient and
satisfactory to all the members to hold the
e ections for officers in the city, therefore
be it
“Resolved, That the election to be held to
day be postponed to this day one week, to
such public or convenient and accessible
place in the city of Savannah as may be de
signated by the President and Board of
Managers, and notice of place and hour of
such election be published in Monday morn
ing’s paper.”
This preamble and resolution was with
drawn by me because it related to the post
ponement of the annual election whicn had
taken place. This de ire on my part to post
pone the annual election to an adjourned
meeting to be held in the city, was with a
view of reviving the interest in the society,
which no one acquainted with its history can
fail to admit the necessity for in the present
lukewarmness and indifference of its mem
bership.
On a similar occasion, following the resig
nation of the late Co onel Wm. M. Wadley,
Colonel Estill ottered this resolution, to be
found on the twelfth page in the report of the
128th anniversary:
“Resolved, That inasmuch as there is not a
sufficient number of members in attendance
to warrant the transaction of important busi
ness, which the present condition of the so
ciety makes imperatively necessary, this
meeting now adjourn to meet in the City of
savannah on Tuesday the 14th of May.
“Resolved further, i hat each member be
summoned to attend.”
The resolution wa seconded by General Law
ton and unanimously adopted, and at this
adjourned meeting, Colonel Estill was elect
ed President upon the recommendation of a
com m ittee of which the wrlter was U hairman.
Could it be that the “Spectre of the Ides of
March” stimulated the President’s vigorous
opposition to an adjournment of the annual
meeting when his own motion was duplicat
ed by another?
The President’s report at the Anniversary
showed that there was need for a fuller at
tendance than e eveu members, tbe number
present at Anniversary, out of the 300 on the
roll, to act upon the important sugges
tions contained in his report, which report
showed that the society continued in debt,
that a taxation one ous and oppressive was
dwarfing its usefulness, and that it was “nec
essray to urge upon every member renewed
zeal in the behalf of the Union Society,”
in his report. From the Treas
urers report it also appealed
that of the 300 m mbers claimed as being
upon the rolls, only 205 had paid their dues
during the year ending March 31, 1885.
My next resolution < r as read as follows:
“Resolved, Tnat hereafter the annual elec
tion for President and other elective officers
be held in the city of Savannah, on the
Thursday preceding the Anniversary in
e ch year and that the President and Secre
tary be required to give at least ten days
notice of such election in the public prints
of be citv.”
My object in as stated to
this meeting was, that I thought by bringing
the elections back to the city where its mem
bership was resident and where tor over 100
years prior to 1855 they had annually been
held, that an increased interest in tbe we
fare and i rosperity of the society might be
secured and the; Anniversary following the
election held in the city be more popularized
and-.more largely attended, an 1, possibly,
revive the periods, when for months before
the Anniversary, every carriage and vehicle
in the city were under contract to parties
contemplating to attend the celebration at
Bethesda. Those a tending the meeting on
Saturday differed with me as to the wisdom
and policy of this change, and it was de
feated.
As a well wisher of the society I earnestly
hope that in the!»• superior wisdom, my de
feat will be the society’s gain,
The next resolution, readingas follows, was
adopted:
“Resolved, That as the dues of the society
are due and made payable annually in
advance, that do member who has not com
plied with this requirement shall be entitled
to vote at any election of the society to be
held after the adoption of th is resolution, and,
that all elections shall be by ballot as required
by the rules and regulations of the society,”
is simply an enlargement of rule 4th of the
by-laws in tbe additional provision, that no
member shall be eligible to vote at any meet
ing who has not complied With the by-law.
The next resolution reading as follows:
“ Resolved, That all officers now holding of
fices, or any to be hereafter elected, shall hold
their offices from date of their respective elec
tions for periods elected, and until their suc
cessors are elected and qualify. That the re-
tiring officers shall hold their respective posi
tions until the close of the anniversary cele
bration, submitting their reports on that day,
and that at the close of the celebration the
retiring President shall deliver possession of
the property of the society to his successor,”
was withdrawn as It was fully embraced in
its material points, under rule 2 of the by
laws.
The next resolution read as follows:
“Resolved, That hereafter the President and
Board of Managers of the society be required
to keep the expenditures for tbe support of
the beneficiaries within reasonable bounds of
anticipated net Income for each separate
year, and that they be and are hereby forbid
den to emit notes or other obligations upon
the society’s credit for any other purpose
than the repair or alteration of the society’s
real estate to make it moie tenantable, and
then, not to exceed more than one thousand
dollars at one time, unless a greater expendi
ture be authorized by an approval vote of a
majority of members entitled to vote at elec
tions for officers, at a meeting to be convened
for that purpose upon due and timely public
notice.”
This resolution was withdrawn because
more carefully and completely guarded un
der Rule 12th of the by-laws, next to the last
portion of which, reads as follows:
• “They snail have power to improve and
enlarge the buildings at Bethesda, and erect
others and keep all buildingsand property
in good repair, but they shall not dispose of
any permanent investments of the society
for this purpose, except such as have been
set apart lor it, and shall have no power to
create a debt beyond the amount of 81,000,
wilhout the consent of the society obiained
by vote. They shall also, so manage the
affairs of the society as, to enable it annually
to meet all .ordinary expenses and to add at
lea> 181,000 to its permanent investment.”
For years these wise provisions have been
more Honored in the breach than in the ob
sei vance.
'J he next resolution of this series read as
follows:
“Resolved, That in view of the general dis
appr- -val of the manner in which latterly the
groceries, etc., have been purchased for the
maintenance of the beneficiaries, hereafter
these purchases be based on requisitions to
be made by the Superintendent as often and
in manner his needs may best be served, and
that such purchases be made by the Presi
dent or a member of the Board of Managers
appointed for that purpose from wholesale,
houses whenever practicable, in recognition
of the extreme liberality they have always
shown the society.”
This resolution, as previously intimated in
this communication, wa< the result of criti
cisms of members who did not think that the
bulk of tbe groceries consumed in the support
of the Orphanage should be bought from a
single retail house, though as reputable as any
in the etty, and, by the Superintendent, when
under Rule 13th of the by-laws “the appoint
ment of‘a Committee on Supplies’ ” for such
purposes, is made mandatory upon the Presi
dent, subject to the approval of his Board of
Managers.
The last preamble and resolution offered
by me read, as follows:
“Whereas, All sales of real estate of the
society have heretofore resulted disastrously,
and, whereas, the presently possessed real
estate of the society is in every respect desir
able and so located that its steady enhance
ment may be reasonably expected, and very
soon its improvement will be justified by the
prospect of greatly increased productiveness
and, whereas, in the judgment of the best ad
visers and friends of the society, it is wiser
and safer for its permanent investments to be
in desirable real estate, particularly, in a
growing city like Savannah, rather than in
stocks, bonds, and other personal invest
ments that often take wings and fly away; be
it therefore
“Resolved, That the President and Board of
Managers be and they arc hereby forbidden
to ent rtain or engage in any proposition io
alienate by sale any of the Savannah real
estate of the society, or to lease any of it for
a longer period than ten (10) years without
first obtaining an approval vote of a majority
of the membecs of tne society entitled to vote
at elections, afi er ten days public notice in
daily papers.”
This preamble and resolution was suggest
ed to me b.y what I consi lered a most extraor
dinary assumption by the President in a
conversation previously reierred to, aud
which, in the course of the meeting on Sat
urday was again in effect made, when he
stated that his Boa d of Directors, appointed
by himself, was simply of an advisory char
acter. I did not think, if this construction of
his power was correct, that it was for the
society, that it should continue to be the law
of its government. Its exercise under Col.
Estill m’ght be perfectly safe, but it was not
for the present we were called upon to legis
late, but lor all ti <<e, and, in the changes of
this life, it would be impossible to foresee
that this power would be as safe in the hands
of the successors of the present incumbent;
nor could I bring my mind to believe, though
seemingly unexpressed, that such ever was
or could have been the intention and purpose
of the organizers of the Union Society as to
place all of its power aud authority in the
hands of one officer. Andas an evidence that I
did not misinterpret what seemed to be the
dictates of a sound, healthy legislat on upon
asubject.of this kind, you can well imagine
my surprise when I found as the result of
investigation after the annual meeting, that
as far back as 1859, and again in 18G8, pub ish
edlnthe reports of those years, th .t under
rule il of the by-laws is found:
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
“The Board of Managers shall consist of the
President, Vice-President and managers
elect. Five shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, but incaseof absence
of members from tiie city, or illness, or actual
inab.lity on the part of the President to pro
cure a larger attendance, three may act. Pro
vided, nevertheless, that tbe business trans
acted by them be of an ordinary character,
and by their unanimous concurrence.”
This m ikes the President one of the Board
of Managers, and under rule 12 the powers
andduti s of ihe Board of Managers a»e de
fined and set forth with a clearness that even
he who runs and reads can understand them,
in language is as follows:
“The Board of Managers shall have the en
t re government and control of the affairs of
the society, and its officers and servants, pu
pils, farm, property and business. They shall
have power to appoint and remove superin
tendents, teach rs, and all other officers and
persons in tne employment of the society, to
admit beneficiaries and dispose of the n, to
establish rules and regulations for the gov
ernment of the farm and school, the conduct
of the officers aud ihe discipline of the boys,
and cause the same to be faithfully executed.
They shall have full power to manage, invest
and dispose of the property of the society, ex
cept Bethesda, and except when otherwise
specially instructed by a vote oi a majority
of t ki e society a a regular or special meeting,
and to receive and collect donations and be
quests, and invest the same; but no sale or
transfer of any of the property shall be made
without the order of a majority of the board,
and no payment of money from the treasury
shall be made, except in the mode prescribed
by them.
“They shall have the management and
control of the farm and farming business,and
disposal of the produce, and shall procure
furniture, farming utensils and stock as may
be wanted. They shall have power to im
prove and enlarge the buildings at Bethes ia,
and to erect oth rs, and to keep all the build
ings and property in good repair. But they
shall not dispose of the permanent invest
ment of the society for this purpose except
such as have been set apart for it, and they
shall have no powers to create a debt beyond
the amount of 81,000 without the consent of
the society, obtained by a vote.
They may, with the approval of the Presi
dent, add to their number such ex-members
of boards of managers as will continue to la
bor for the prosperity of the society; the
Board for the time being retaining the right
and privilege of voting exclusively upon any
measure or business upon which they, or any
one of them, may desire or suggest an exclu
sive vote.
“Their special attention shall be given
and they shall give some tssistance to the
work of a prompt collection in the beginning
of the year of the annual dues not paid at
Bethesda. It shall also be the duty of the
members of the Board to keep up and add to
the roll of membership.
“They shall also manage the affairs of the
society as to enable it annually to meet all
ordinary expenses, and to add at least
to the permanent investment.”
With these by-laws upon the Statute Book,
my resolutions though their counterpart
and embodying their very substance and
spirit, were withdrawn, as superfluous and
unnecessary.
That it may not appear that the last por
tion of rule 12th by-laws has always been dis
regarded, we quote from the report of the
late John M. Cooper, who in 1862, filled the of
fice of President so honorably and so accept
ably, the following language: “Yet tne offi
cers congratulate themselves, therefore, that
notwithstanding our troubles, they have
been able to enter upon the new year with
a balance in hand greater than the amount,
(81,0')0,) required of them by the rules for the
annual increase of our funds.”
My last resolution, whlen was defeated,
read as follows:
“Resolved, That hereafter the Board of
Manager’s be elected at the same time as the
President and other officers now elective,
and if it be necessary to have an amendment to
the charter to accomplish this end, that the
President and Managers, be and they are
hereby instructed, to apply to the Legisla
ture for such amendment to the charter as
shall make the Managers elective and place
them Jointly in charge of the property of the
society with the President and Vice Presi
dent,and that the charter name of the society
oe made the Union Society of Savannah.”
All of the foregoing after the words, “and
if it be necessary to have an amendment”
were stricken out at my request, as I had
found that it was unnecessary to amend the
charter inorder to make the Board of Mana
ger- elective, and tha t by an aot of the Legis
lature, which had escaped me. the name of
the Boci ty, which was formerly “The Presi
dent and Vice President of the Union Society in
Savannah, ” had been changed to that of “The
Union Society of Savannah.”
The first thing that suggested the Impor
tance of making the Board of Managers a
body of elected office i s. Instead of appointed,
was the assumption of supreme power by the
President, which I had sought to restrain in
previous resolutions, withdrawn when found
to be the exact counterparts of by-laws al
ready in existence, and for the further reason
that tbe Union Society stands very nearly
alone in making its management appointive,
and not elective, nearly all other bodies of a
similar character, and corporations of all
kinds, as far as my knowledge goes, pre
serving the sounder policy of always requir
ing that the managers, whether with or
without emoluments attached to positions,
should be chosen from among its member
ship by their free ballot, at their respective
anniversaries. It cannot be claimed for this
peculiarity in the Union Society, that it has
sec ired for it a better or more economic
management, or that has it otherwise illus
trated the wisdom of the course pursued. I
believe that this change would have added
greatly to the interest in the society, and that
it would have made many who now take no
interest in it, come more earnestly to its sup
port.
Looking back over the resolutions and the
action upon them, probably the first thing
that suggests itself to the mind of an impar
tial reader, is, why the writer, a member of
the society, once very actively engaged in its
management, should have been so ignorant
of its by-laws when he proposed the resolu
tions at Bethesda, and why the President and
the membership present at both meet
ings were equally uninformed. It
shows the necessity for constantly
keeping before the minds of the mem
bers, the fundamental rules oi its govern
ment as is done in many other corporate
bodies. When the resolutions were framed,
the writer is free to confess that it was done
in utter ignorance of the fact that those who
directed the destiny of the society a half a
century back, had conceived in almost the
same language the same code of laws, such as
were prescribed in the resolutions offered by
him. It was a most remarkable coincidence,
and instead of justifying the extravagant head
line in your report, Mr. Editor, of tho pro
ceedings of that meeting that “Mr. Purse
seeks radical changes in the management," it
should have accorded him the credit of an
honest and determined effort to bring back
the society to its ancient moorings and fun
damental laws.
It is proper to state in this connection that
the result of investigations soon after the
annual meeting, developed the similarity be
tween the existing, but disregarded, by-laws,
and all my resolutions except two. one of
which was adopted, and the other defeated;
and, further, that I disclosed to Mr. W. W.
Rogers, the society’s Secretary, and others, in
confidence, the above state of facts, and indi
cated what would be my line of policy at the
special meeting, first in regard to an adjourn
ment, and if that was overruled, the resolu
tions I would withdraw, as quite as fully in
each case provided for under existing r”les.
Had I knownof these rules when theanniver
sary meeting was convened, I should never
have offered those withdrawn, and upon tbe
points they were framed to cover have sim.
ply invoked the majesiy of ihe recorded law.
In view of the preceding developments,
one of the first and most important things
that should engage the management at this
moment is the matter of keeping the ex
penditures of the society within its receipts.
It is poor business management to exceed
them for any excuse. It may serve a tempo
rary use in enlarged benefactions, but is as
certain to result in time, if continued, in
permanent injury and curtailment of the
society’s usefulness. No c msideration shoul 1,
therefore, be allowed to suggest or warrant
the conduct of its affairs upon other than the
safest business principles, if «>ven this line of
policy should make necessary a reduction of
the benefic aries to 15 instead of 50 or GO.
Better close each year, as provided in the
by-laws, with a surplus than continue a rec
ord of uncancelled at each anniversary,
a record which wiki naturally divert from us
the benefactions of the charitab e to other
and better managed institutions.
The manner of purchasing supplies for the
Union Society as now conducted, cannot fail,
I think, to be productive of dissatisfaction.
In years goneby it was always the purpose to
distribute the purchases among the member
ship wno never failed to place the society up
on the most favorable terms. It kept them
interested in the society; it kept them with
the name of tbe society before them, and
while the trade was not a profitable one to
them, because of their very Interest in the
society, it was a pleasure to be among its
creditors.
In the examination of the year's disourse
ments of the Union Society, closing 31st
March, 1885, the vouchers showed that nine
b trrels of Hour had been purchased, eight of
which had cost 87 each, and one 86 50. It was
stated at the meeting by President Estill
that tbe price had had ranged from 87 toßs 50.
My answer to this is that. if. in ihe period em
braced in the last annual report of the treas
urer, the purchase of flour was at less figures
than above stated, no voucher appeared in
his accounts to justify it, as I hold certified
copies aud the original of these vouchers in
my hands at this writing. It might have
been that the purchases made and not paid
for ranged below 86.50, the cost ol the last and
only barrel less than 87, as embraced in the
treasurer’s statement; but of that I could
Know nothing, as the unpaid bills did not
come before my committee for examination.
But if such be the case, and flour was bought
after the war rumors in Europe had caused
an advance in all articles of food, for
less than pi ice paid for it in the middle
of the year when the lowest range in price
for years prevailed, it only gives greater
force to my criticism, that the price paid for
flour from March to October was too high,
and that a grade of flour not costing exceed
ing 85 50 could have been procured, sound
and suitable for the purpose, and of a char
acter that I venture to predict would have
equaled in quality that used by many members
of the Society. Your report upon this point
would seem to attempt to place me in the at
titude of desiring to feed the orphans upon
flour to be selected simply for its cheapness
As to the justice of this assertion, unwaran
ted by any of the facts developed at either
meeting. I am willing that this community
should sit in judgment. The whole tenor of
my position upon this point was in the line
of economy within proper bounds in all pur
chases to secure the largest usefulness to the
society, and not, as your report would seem
to indicate, either to stint the orphans or
feed or sustain them upon improper food in
order to save a few dollars.
Upon the point of leasing the Union
Society’s property, known as the Pavilion
Hotel, it was charged by Dr. Falligant that I
was opposed to a lease of the property, be
cause I wanted the hotel in front of my resi
dence, when it is a matter of record that I
not only agreed to consent to a lease of the
Pavilion Hotel property for the purpose of
building a hotel upon it, but signified my
•willingness in the same connection, to sub
scribe 8 ,0 0 to tbe construction of such hotel.
I did, in that same communication, enter my
protest against an exchange of the United
Slates Barracks property for that and the ad
joining property owned by Chatham Acide
mv, not because 1 objected to the construc
tion of a hotel upon the I'avilion site, but
because I was opposed to any ex
change of it (the Barracks site) for
any other property that wonld defeat
the erection of a hole! upon the Barracks site,
feeling convinced that this site was and is still
the most desirable aud eligible location
tor a hotel, at present presenting itself in the
city of savannah In the purchase of the
Barracks site, the associates in that pur
chase bound themselves to each other
to buy it solely r and exclu
sively for a hotel location.
No such narrow minded idea of benefit to
one man or another's property had any influ
ence in controling its purchase. And many
not interested in,the purchase, and some op
posing a hotel being located upon It, will be
among those most benefited whenever a hotel
is built upon it. So that opposition to an ex
change was not in any way significant of an
opposition on my part to the location of still
another hotel upon the Pavilion and Chat
ham Academy properties, for ir the commu
nication offering to subscribe 81,000 to the
building of a hotel upon these sites, I went
urther, and wrote to the gentleman who was
engineering tbe sitheme, tnat if he could find
still another eligible site, other than the Bar
racks for the location of another hotel. I
would subscribe another 81,000 to that, fori
was then, and am now, firmly of the belief
that the building of one hotel here is but the
precursor of many, and that Savannah will
be capable of supporting as many as capital
is ready to construct.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I am willing to
admit, if there be any comfort to you in the
admission, that the meeting held on Satur
day would have defeated the resolutions
withdrawn, had it been allowed to act upon
them, but as shown, the reflection from such
defeat would have fallen not so much upon
me as upon our predecessors— upon men who
many years ago passed laws embodying the
same ideas In such good company, lam con
tent. to remain, even although these resolu
tions seemed to you to propose “radical
changes in the management" of the affairs of
the Union Society. D. G. Purse,
Savannah, Ga., May 28, 1885.
To Whom it May Concern.
From Monday, June 1, we shall offer in
every department of our store various lines
of goods at a sweeping reduction, thus giv
ing to the ladies of Savannah and vicinity
an opportunity for genuine bargains sei*
dom presented. Upon inspection you will
find in many instances the goods offered are
about half what they are worth, and they
are all fresh,desirable goods—no old stock.
In making public announcement of this
great aud all important transaction it will
be necessary to dwell briefly on certain
facts, so that a true and correct concoption
of the actual particulars of this sale may be
conveyed to the public mind First and fore
most we would impress on our patrons the
very important fact that in a few months
we will vacate our present store and occupy
the spacious building now in course of con
strue* ion on the corner of Broughton and
Bull streets. When finished it will be by far
the largest retail store in the State and will
compare in size and style of architecture
with any in the entire South. We are
overstocked, and our New York buyers ad
vise us to close out our stock of goods no
matter at what price, as the enormous con
tracts which they are now making with
manufacturers in the North and East Ere
much lower than what present stock was
bought. Therefore we are compelled at
once to close out the balance of our stock in
most instances without one cent of profit to
ourselves, counting ourselves sufficiently re
paid by the opportunity afforded us to close
our entire stock so that we will be able to
move into our new building with an entirely
new line of goods. It also enables the house
of A. R. Altmayer & Co. to achieve that
which all heretofore have been powerless to
accomplish, namely: To offer a prime new
stock of goods, which, in a large majority of
instances, fall far short of covering their cost
of production, and are throughout the most
thorough and positive values ever been of
fered to the people of Savannah and vicinity.
We will not name prices as prices give no
definite idea of value, but ask you if you
have anything in our many departments to
purchase, or if you are likely to need any
thing in the near future it will repay you to
visit us evenif you are compelled to make a
long journey, as we propose to sell most of
our goods without one cent of profit, a state
of things which we think never before exist*
ed in this city. A public benefit remain?*
for the house of A. R. Altmayer & Co. to
accomplish, which they submit with all their
privileges and advantages to their number
less kind and appreciative patrons.
A R. Altmayer & Co.
The Orphans’ Mammoth Picnic.
On Tuesday, June 9, it will be remem
bered, St. John the Baptist T. A. & B. So
ciety gives its mammoth picnic for the ben
efit of Barry Male Orphanage. It promises
to be truly a gigantic affair, tickets being in
brisk demand. The object is most com
mendable, ard the committee, an energetic
one, backed by the active aid and sympathy
of the ladies of St. Mary’s Temperance So
ciety, and of the lady collectors for the par
sonage, all of whom, it is expected, will
meet for the perfection of plans in the
Cathedral basement at 4:30 o’clock this
afternoon. The committee and the ladies
will gladly welcome the assistance of any
other ladies who may desire to aid them in
their most noble work.
BE NOT DECEIVED.
“All Is Not Gold That Glit’ers.”
Do not deceive yourselves by believing
that you can wear cheap and worth
less jewelry without its being known;
such trash can be detected even by the in
experienced.
Parties offer you goods for half what the
gold or silver would be worth if honest
goods; yet they would not sell you coins for
half their value. A very common practice
of these parties is to stamp watch cases 18k,
or chains 14k, when, in reality, if gold at
all, are not more than Bk.
A “Gilded” watch case will stand an acid
test.
“Oleomargarine is not butter.”
I refer with pride to the record of the
past
twenty years,
during which period I have furnished the
best goods, both foreign and DOMESTIC, to
be had.
I refer with pride to the thousands of
Watches and Clocks that I haye sold during
the past
twenty years.
I refer alto to the thousands of articles of
ornament with which hundreds of houses are
to-day beautified.
I propose to do in the future as in the past,
to keep the very best goods in the mar
ket, and ask a continuance of
the patronage so liberally bestowed during
the past
twenty years.
SAMUEL P. HAMILTON,
corner Bull and Broughton streets,
Savannah, Ga.
Numbers of ladies visit Acosta & Einstein’s
handsome retail department.
THIN PEOPLE.
“Well’s Health Renewer” restores health
and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, Impotence
Sexual Debility $1
Our fine candies are unequalled in Savan
nah—Acosta & Einstein.
The cry is common, L. Freid’s is the
cheapest place yet for shirts, underwear col
lars, cuffs and ties. btaM
5