[p. 173]
The committees.
AT a special meeting held one Saturday evening just before the summer vacation a plan of work was brought forward by
President Wait and met a very favorable reception.
It was, in brief, to invite each member of the Society to join one or more of the standing committees and assist in the work of such committees.
As a farther step towards vitalizing the committees it was proposed that each one of them should have certain Saturday evenings assigned to it for report and discussion of its work or of some phase thereof.
The informal Saturday evening gatherings around the hearthstone have long been one of the pleasantest features of the Society for the few who have participated in them.
The president's plan will, it is hoped, encourage a larger attendance, and increase the interest in these Saturday evening gatherings, thus developing the social side of the
Society's life and correspondingly enlivening the interest in its more serious work.
In accordance with this plan each member has received a letter from the president inviting an alliance with some committee or committees.
The response has not been as prompt and encouraging as was hoped, but a better understanding of the purpose of the new departure may bring in the returns.
Some of the members have felt that this call summoned them to work for which they had not time, and perhaps not inclination.
It should be well understood that this is an opportunity that is offered, not a requirement that is imposed,—an opportunity for those historically inclined to do as much as they wish along the lines most interesting to them, and by so doing to add so much to the activity of the society of which they form a part.
It is not intended to burden any one with onerous responsibilities, and it may be hoped that as the members come
