fold the strayed sheep of Christ's flock. It is our mission to gather the fragments of truth that lie scattered along the highway of time, and to place them before the world in the mosaics of history. It is not for us to make arguments or to teach dogma, but simply to hold up to the world the exemplifications of Christ's doctrine upon the world for nineteen hundred years. First and foremost we are of course concerned with the history of the Church in our own country, and in this alone we have a great task before us. There is no brighter or more edifying epoch in the history of the Church than that during which the Faith was planted, cultivated and brought to its present state of maturity in America. In it can be found many a picture to offset the gloomy pages which darken the period of the Reformation. To the student of history it is indeed a refreshing change to turn from the persecutions for conscience' sake instituted by self-seeking men in the name of religion in the old world to the bloodstained footprints of the pious missionaries carrying the cross of Christ to the untutored Indian in the new. No one can read of the altruistic deeds of a Las Casas, a Mark of Nice, of a Xaurez, of a Martinez, of a John Baptist de Segura, of a Marquette and of a Jogues and of thousands upon thousands of others, heroes and heroines, without feeling better for it and experiencing a sense of pride and gratitude at possessing the same Faith that actuated them.

How speedily we will accomplish the great work in which we are engaged will depend upon how well we will succeed in bringing it before the Catholics of this country. No Catholic can learn of this work without being inspired with a desire to help it. What we have already accomplished in our obscurity proves this. When our scope of work becomes fully known and properly understood it will meet with that measure of success which it deserves. For the bringing about of this we may well continue to work with courageous hearts and firm reliance upon that Providence which has guided us so far.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

For the Year Ending November 30, 1896.

The year which has just closed marks an era in the existence of the American Catholic Historical Society.

Heretofore, content to work its quiet way along, building up its library and collections in modest quarters, it has at length emerged from its seclusion and established in a commodious home presents to seekers after Catholic historical truth a fitting place for the examination of its treasures, and in return for the aid and encouragement of its members, offers a wider field for advancement in the maintenance of so well arranged and convenient Reading Rooms and Library. This has not been accomplished except by the expenditure of great labor, and those into whose hands the work was intrusted by the Board deserve the hearty commendation of the whole Society; and in this connection mention must be made of the very efficient service of the clerk and assistant whose multiform duties have been performed to the entire satisfaction of the Board.

Among the occasions which have brought attention to the Society must be noticed the brilliant and most successful reception to Cardinal Satolli, who, in acknowledgment of his gratification, has left behind him some memorials of his official life in this country.

In its financial aspect the past year has been fraught with some anxiety for the outcome on account of the extra drain on the resources of the Society caused by improvements, cost of moving and many other expenses incidental to the occupation of larger and more extensive quarters.

This has in a great measure been met and it is with Some satisfaction that the Board is able to present to you financial statement which considering the unusual demands upon our resources is very encouraging.

The entire receipts during the year from all sources were $6,833.61. Of this amount $4,856.16 have been expended on account of improvements and furniture of the building, leaving the modest sum of $2,849.67 as the actual cost of the management, including the printing of three numbers of the "Records." Excepting the funded debt of the Society represented by a mortgage on its Hall of $8,000 and $2,179.55 still due Mr. Charles McCaul for improving the building, the Society owes but $550.00, including the cost of the next issue of the "Records." The Committee confidently hope that with the dues from active members it will be possible to pay the running expenses of the Society and leave a surplus to be applied to the indebtedness during the coming year, and that with the receipts from other sources enough may be raised to enable us to pay off our debt, with the exception of the mortgage on the Hall. The most serious obstacle to the financial management of the Society has been the difficulty experienced in collecting membership dues. The statement furnished by the Secretary shows an aggregate indebtedness of about $11,000. With this amount paid into our Treasury we would be not only free from debt, but have a handsome surplus.

In the opinion of the Board, there is no reason for any feeling of discouragement on the part of those who have the welfare of the Society at heart. It is hoped that the interest that has been aroused by the organization will steadily increase the number of members in good standing and maintain the interest of those who have faithfully supported the Society in the past.

In the line of Catholic historical research considerable progress has been made. Through the generosity of a number of our members a fund has been established for the purpose of maintaining in Rome an Archivist whose duty it would be to copy valuable and interesting papers relating to the history of the Catholic Church in America. This post for some time was ably filled by Rev. Ferdi

nand Kittell, some of the results of whose labors have already appeared in the "Records." His resignation having been received, the position is now vacant, but it is hoped that it will soon be filled.

During the year 1896 the "Records" have been issued, as in former years, and have contained a number of papers of historical interest. The most important among these is the History of Commodore John Barry, written by Mr. M. I. J. Griffin and edited by Mr. Francis T. Furey. Of this History about one-fourth of the entire amount has been printed in the June and September numbers, and the balance will appear in the December issue and in Volume VIII of the "Records" to be published during 1897. The first of the gleanings of our Archivist in Rome were printed in No. 3, Volume VII, and your Committee hopes to continue the publication of these researches in each succeeding number. The December issue of 1895 contained a poem by Miss Donnelly, the concluding chapters of the "History of St. Patrick's Church, Carlisle," by Rev. H. G. Ganss; "Historical Notes of St. Ann's Church, Phila.," by Mr. M. I. J. Griffin; "Some Forgotten Records of Prince Demetrius Gallitzen," by Rev. H. J. Heuser, and "Reminiscences Connected with St. Mary's Churchyard, Phila.," by Mr. Joseph Willcox.

"An Old Time Pioneer of Lansingburgh," by V. Rev. Thomas C. Middleton, D. D., O.S.A., and a "Biography of Rev. Patrick Kenny," by Mr. Joseph Willcox, together with extracts from the Diary of Rev. Mr. Kenny, and a sketch of the "Catholic Church in Yonkers," by Miss Brunowe, were published in the March issue. A Valuable Document entitled "The First Vicariate of America " was furnished by our Corresponding Secretary, the Rev. Herman J. Heuser, and a poem by Miss Donnelly entitled "The First Catholic Fourth of July" and Mr. Steckel's paper on "The Catholic Church in Wisconsin" were published during the year.

The cost of publishing the "Records" was about $1,250.

The exact amount cannot be stated as the bill for printing No. 3, Volume VII has not been received. The cost of publication of the three numbers (No. 4 Vol. VI, No. I and No. 2 Vol. VII) was $952.06.

The outlook for the publication of a number of interesting papers during the coming year is very encouraging.

LIST OF DONORS.