On account of inclement weather the annual celebration was postponed to the above date. The Members and Honorary Members gathered in their Hall at the usual hour, and found a fair audience of respectable numbers to greet their arrival, after repairing to which, the exercises were commenced with prayer by Honorary Member Sam[ue]l Weston, the President then announced Mr. R. S. Holloway as the Orator on for the occasion, who, after expressions of congratulations upon the recurrence of the happy event, then with becoming grace, and modesty, addressed his audience on the “advantages accruing from a cultivated mind”—the proper conceptions it gave Mankind of himself—his wonderful physical organization, his capability of comprehending, and appreciating the revelations, and operations of Nature, and the qualifications it imparted for extended, and increasing Usefulness, enforcing his position with illustrations at once striking and forcible—thus giving fresh impetus to the March of Mind. He then specially addressed his fellow members invoking them to renewed efforts in the cause they have espoused, exciting their ambition by a bright array of blessings consequent thereon, and thus he closed amidst the applauses of a delighted assembly. The exercises ^were^ then concluded with the benediction, and the audience dispersed for their but not without expressions of their gratification and pleasure.

A^n^ regular extra meeting of the Society was afterward held, which was called to order by the President. Mr. H. Cardozo Jr. then arose and offered a resolution that in order to a better attendance the Society meet hereafter monthly—on the first Monday evening of every month, which was seconded by Mr. S. W. Beaird with the amendment that the members be summoned, Page 130 →and thus unanimously carried. Mr. Cardozo also offered a resolution that the “Committee on general Interests” be empowered to examine the books of the Secretary & Treasurer at the end of every Term, and any Two of that committee when all cannot be procured, also seconded, and carried. Mr. S. W. Beaird then offered a resolution that the arrears of such members whose (probably unavoidable) absence had increased to a heavy amount, be so lightened as to require ^payment^ only to the first of May/54, inclusive the time to ^which^ the regularly attending members had ^last^ paid—and that from that time the Semiannual contributions be ^also^ altogether discontinued, and the monthly contribution only kept up, these were also seconded, and unanimously carried. Mr. H. Cardozo now moved that ^arose and said that^—from a sense of duty, and not simply a compliance with custom—he would move that a copy of the speaker’s address just delivered be requested of him for the benefit of the Society, which was seconded, and unanimously carried. All business of importance being now concluded, the Society on motion adjourned.

H. Cardozo Jr., Secretary

A regular meeting of this Society was held on the evening of the above date. In the absence of the President and Vice—Mr. B. E. K. Hampton was called to the Chair—the meeting was then called to order, the first roll called, and the proceedings of the last meetings read and approved. Mr. R. L. Deas now arose and moved that in consequence of the lateness of the hour, and other reasons together with the general desire to participate in the interesting question—that it therefore be postponed to the next meeting, which was seconded by S. W. Beaird and carried.

The Society now proceeded to the election of Annual Orator for 1857—which resulted in the unanimous choice of Mr. R. L. Deas—and which ^office^ was accepted by the gentleman—declaring—his inducement to yield to the wishes of his fellow members—as the result of a sincere desire to contribute his best endeavors for the advancement of an Institution he so much loved. Business being concluded, the last roll was called, and the Society on motion adjourned.

H. Cardozo Jr., Secretary

A regular meeting of this Society was held on the evening of the above date. In the absence of the President and Vice—Mr. E. G. Beaird was called to the Chair—the meeting was then called to order, the first roll called, ^and^ the Page 131 →pro[ceedings] of the last meeting read and approved. The regular debates were then opened by B. E. K. Hampton one of the appointed, and spiritedly carried on beyond the allotted time—after closing—the President announced his decision in favor of the negative latter portion of the question. The “Committee” then handed [in] their questions from among which the following was adopted—“Is a rude state of Society favorable to Patriotism?” Mr. R. S. Holloway was appointed on the affirmative, and Mr. C. D. Ludeke on the negative of the question. All business being now concluded, the Reporter made his report, the last Roll called. (The Society was notified that the next meeting would be the regular time for the general election of Officers.) The meeting then on motion adjourned.

H. Cardozo Jr., Secretary

At this date a regular meeting was held, and organized by E. G. Beaird, filling the chair of the absent President. The first Roll was then called, and the proceedings of the last meeting read and approved. Next in order came the debates—the regular appointees being absent—the floor was opened to the members at large—which opportunity was embraced—and the question received on both sides good and fair and forcible arguments in its elucidation, and support. after their conclusion—the President announced his decision in favor of the affirmative of the question. The Committee then handed in their questions—from among which the following was chosen—“Is increase of Territory injurious to the permanency of a Government.”¹ Mr. W. S. Lord was appointed on the affirmative, and Mr. S. J. Maxwell on the negative of the question. The general election of Officers now took place and resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen—(See officers list). Business being now concluded, the Reporter made his report, the last Roll called, and the Society on motion adjourned.

H. Cardozo Jr., Secretary

Another month having elapsed—the members of this Society convened for a regular meeting—which was organised by Mr. E. G. Beaird filling the chair of the absent President, after being called to order, the first Roll was called, and the proceedings of the last meeting read and approved.² The regular debates now opened (the appointees being absent from the city) the floor was opened to the members at large—the opportunity was embraced—the question taken up and discussed until the time had expired. The President now arose, and announced his decision in favor of the affirmative of the question.³ The Installation of Officers now took place—the President “pro-tem” now turned to the cheif [sic] Page 132 →Officer-elect—and invited him to the Chair—requesting his acceptance of the office to which he had been called by his fellow members—who—from reasons given—expressed his reluctance to accept—but with overcomed [sic] by a strong desire to serve the Society—he would yeild to their wishes—and endeavor to fulfil the trust committed to him. The President then installed the subordinate that officers that were present—all of whom signified their acceptance of the positions assigned them. The Committee now handed in their questions—of which—the following was adopted—“Which is more conducive to Individual improvement—Solitude or Society?” Mr. W. E. Marshall was appointed on the former and Mr. B. L. Roberts on the latter portion of the question. The last roll was then called, and the Society on motion adjourned.

H. Cardozo Jr., Sec.

1. 1. The Clionians debated a similar question in December 1852.
2. 2. This is the last minuted reference to Enoch G. Beaird, a founding member of the society and brother of Simeon W. Beaird. By 1861 Enoch Beaird was in Washington, DC, employed as a messenger for the Quartermaster’s Department of the US Department of War. He lived in the national capital, where he worked as a tailor, until his death in 1903. Beaird bequeathed his financial assets and other property to Sarah E. Washington, a Virginia-born Black woman in whose lodging house Beaird lived for decades. See US Department of the Interior, Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 … (Washington, DC: GPO, 1862), 108; “District of Columbia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1737–1952,” Ancestry.com (online database), 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9083/.
3. 3. This is the last minuted debate and verdict.