Scharf, Thomas J., History of Delaware, 1609-1888. Volume Two- pp. 834-841. CHAPTER XL. LITERARY AND MUSICAL SOCIETIES. WILMINGTON— (Continued). THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF WILMINGTON— The initiatory steps toward the establishment of a library in the borough of Wilmington, for the benefit of the public, was taken in 1787. On the 12th of December of that year, a notice appeared in the Delaware Gazette calling for a public meeting in the Town Hall. At this meeting held December 15, Charles H. Wharton, Nicholas Way, Jacob Broom, James Lea, Jr., and Thomas Lea, were appointed a committee to prepare a plan for the contemplated association. Their report which also presented a constitution was read and adopted at the meeting held on January 5, 1788. The name selected was "The Library Company of Wilmington." The constitution provided that each member should pay forty shillings current money in the State of Delaware, and afterwards one dollar per annum. On January 9th the directors chosen were: Patrick Murdock, Peter Brynberg, William Poole, James Robinson, Jr., William Hemphill, Joseph Warner, John Hayes, John Ferris and James Lea, Jr. Jacob Broom was elected treasurer. Books to the value of £29 14s and 1d were bought March 25th. The library was located in the Town Hall, and on April 14th, opened for the use of members, and regularly thereafter on Saturdays from 3 to 5 P.M., in summer, and 5 to 7 P.M., in winter. A charter was obtained June 11, 1788, and under it the first election for officers was held on the first Monday of December following, when John Hayes was chosen president; Jacob Broom, treasurer; Isaac Stanton, Patrick Murdock, Joseph Capelle, William Poole, George Clark, Isaac Henderson, Peter Brynberg and Joseph Warner, directors. In 1790 Robert Coram was appointed librarian, and the library removed to his school-house, on Fourth Street, between Market and King. In 1793 the number of books was eight hundred and ninety-one, and there were fifty-four members of the association. In 1797 a present of twenty-eight pounds was made by a society called the Friends of Justice. In 1803 William Poole, in behalf of the "Amicable Society, lately abandoned," presented the library with $8.50, and in 1805 Governor John Dickinson gave it five shares of Spring-Water Company stock. On March 23, 1816, the library was returned to a room in the Town Hall by permission of the Council. An attempt was made in 1817 to sell Rees’ "Cyclopaedia" from the library to liquidate a debt, but the Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends advanced a loan of two hundred dollars, which was not paid until some time after. In 1822 Carey & Lea, of Philadelphia, took the "Cyclopaedia" in exchange for other books. The Franklin Lyceum, in 1846, was merged into the Library Company, and the books, valued at five hundred and fifty dollars, and philosophical apparatus, costing four hundred dollars, were transferred to the Library Company, with the understanding that each member of the Lyceum should receive a share of stock in the Library Company. In 1851 the library was removed from the room occupied since 1816, in the City Hall, to the building owned by the Athenaeum Company, over the market-house at Fourth and Market Streets. The amount of one thousand dollars was borrowed to pay off all debts. It was then decided to have the library open every evening from seven to ten o’clock. In 1853 the books of the Botanical and Horticultural Societies were placed in the Wilmington Library. In 1855 it was decided to allow any one the use of the library by paying two dollars a year. The first attempt to unite the Wilmington Library Company and the Young Men’s Association for Mutual Improvement was made in 1856 and completed December 15, 1857. THE YOUNG MEN’S ASSOCIATION FOR MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT was instituted September 22, 1855, and incorporated February 10, 1857, and occupied rooms in a building on Third Street a few doors west of Market. It was the offspring of a literary society, organized in 1847. Any person could become a member by the payment of one dollar admission fee and three dollars annually. Its membership increased very rapidly, soon numbering three hundred and fifty, and during a short independent existence displayed great vigor and energy. It had a reading-room in which were placed the leading magazines and newspapers of America and England; had regular courses of lectures, given by distinguished Americans, and obtained the privilege of using the Wilmington Library. In 1857, under the presidency of T. Clarkson Taylor, an attempt was made to form a stock company to build a large public hall. John Wales, C.W. Howland, J.R. Latimer, D.M. Bates, Joseph Shipley and W. Tatnall were appointed a committee to present a plan for a hall. About this time negotiations were entered into which resulted in a union with the Wilmington Library Company, under the name of the Wilmington Library and Young Men’s Association. This association agreed to pay and cancel the bond of one thousand dollars against the Library Company. The members of the combined associations of four hundred and fifty members have equal privileges in the library of four thousand five hundred volumes. WILMINGTON INSTITUTE.— The Wilmington Library and Young Men’s Association, formed in 1857 by the union of the two associations, was changed to the Wilmington Institute, the name which it now bears, under an act passed by the Legislature, and approved January 27, 1859. The title, chosen at the time of the union and embodying the names of both the organizations out of which it was formed, was declared to be too long and cumbersome. At the same time a seal was procured containing the date of incorporation and the design of a lighted torch presented by one hand to another extended to recieve it, with the legend "Per Manus Lampus Traditur." Misses Mary and Sarah Hamilton, Hon. James A. Bayard, Hon. William G. Whitely and the heirs of James Canby each presented to the library a valuable collection of books in 1859, and the same year nine hundred and twenty-eight new volumes were purchased. The entire library then had over five thousand volumes. The first officers of the Wilmington Institute were as follows: President, Joshua T. Heald; Vice-Presidents, William S. Hilles and George W. Bush; Recording Secretary, William D. Dowe; Corresponding Secretary, Edward T. Taylor; Treasurer, William H. Billany;, Directors: Harris Stewart, Charles W. Howland, Hanson Harman, Alexander Kelley, Dr. A.H. Grimshaw, Joshua L. Pusey, William Canby, T. Clarkson Taylor, John P. McLear and Dr. Wm. R. Bullock. A definite move was now set on foot to procure an eligible site and upon it erect a large building. A committee, of which William Canby was chairman, purchased the property on the corner of Eighth and Market Streets, for thirteen thousand dollars, and the corner-stone of Institute Hall was laid on Tuesday, July 24, 1860. The members of the building committee, who superintended the erection of Institute Hall, were William Tatnall, William S. Hilles, Charles W. Howland, George W. Bush, William Canby and James Bradford. It is eighty-seven and one-quarter feet front on Market Street, one hundred and eighteen feet on Eighth Street to Shipley. The original library-room was thirty-six by fifty feet, and adjoining it on the same floor was a scientific lecture-room, now part of the library-room. The main audience-room up-stairs is seventy-three by seventy-eight feet and thirty-one and one-half feet high, with seating capacity for twelve hundred persons. The entire cost of site and the erection of the hall was fifty thousand dollars; of this, seventeen thousand dollars was raised by voluntary subscription. S.D. Button, of Philadelphia, was the architect, and Henry F. Dure, carpenter. There were at this time six hundred members, and the certificate of membership was fixed at forty dollars each. The hall was dedicated January 31, 1861. Samuel Biddle, the president, made the opening speech; Rev. G.F. Wiswell, of Central Presbyterian Church, delivered an address; and was followed by Daniel M. Bates. The Amateur Glee Club furnished the music for the occasion. A course of lectures was given the next winter by Bayard Taylor, Wendell Phillips, John B. Gough, John S.C. Abbott, Schuyler Colfax and E.L. Youmans. In 1860 the circulation of books of this library was 18,000; in 1870, 26,904; 1880, 28,640; 1886, 30,410; and in 1887, 32,331. The total number of members is six hundred and twenty-four. Thomas K. Porter is corresponding secretary; Mark M. Cleaver, recording secretary; J.A. Richardson, treasurer; Mrs. M.A. Resag, acting librarian; and Miss Lucy Barnes, assistant. The following is a list of those who have been president: 1859. Joshua T. Heald. 1860. William Canby. 1861. Samuel Biddle. 1862. William S. Hilles. 1863. George W. Bush. 1864. Dr. Wm. R. Bullock. 1865. Dr. J.F. Vaughan. 1866. John H. Adams. 1867. John P. McLear. 1868. S.M. Harrington. 1869. Daniel W. Taylor. 1870. William H. Swift. 1871. Anthony Higgins. 1872. William M. Canby. 1873. George H. Bates. 1874. Mahlon M. Child. 1875. Rev. T. Gardner Littell. 1876. Howard M. Jenkins. 1877. William S. Auchincloss. 1878. John C. Cole. 1879. Samuel A. Macallister. 1880. Henry C. Conrad. 1881. Frederic H. Robinson. 1882. David W. Harlan. 1883. Stansbury J. Willey. 1884. George A. Elliott. 1885. T. Allen Hilles. 1886. Dr. Charles R. Jefferis. 1887. Isaac T. Johnson. THE FRANKLIN LYCEUM.— The Young Men’s Library and Debating Society was founded by enterprising young men of Wilmington in 1834. The name was subsequently changed to the Franklin Lyceum. It was an organization which prospered for many years. At one time it had a library of eight hundred volumes and philosophical apparatus which cost four hundred dollars. Interest in the association ceased, some of the books were lost, and in 1846 a union was formed with the Wilmington Library Company, to which organization all the books and apparatus were transferred, with the proviso that each member of the Lyceum be granted a certificate of stock in the library company. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DELAWARE was organized May 31, 1864. The executive committee of Wilmington Institute took the initiative step by calling a meeting of prominent persons for organization and inviting the attendance of a committee from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. At this meeting Hon. Willard Hall was chosen chairman and W.D. Dowe, secretary. A committee composed of Hon. John M. Read, LL.D., Hon. Oswald Thompson, LL.D., Colonel J. Ross Snowden and Horatio Gates Jones was appointed by the Pennsylvania Historical Society to be present at the organization of the Delaware society, and to express the interest of the society they represented in its institution. These gentlemen, except Mr. Thompson, were present. Hon. John M. Read spoke in behalf of the Pennsylvania society and Colonel Snowden delivered an address on the history of Pennsylvania and Delaware. The society organized by electing Hon. Willard Hall, president; W.T. Read, of New Castle, Hon. Samuel M. Harrington, of Dover, and Governor William Cannon, of Sussex County, vice-presidents; Rev. Leighton Coleman, corresponding secretary; W.D. Dowe, recording secretary; J. Franklin Vaughan, M.D., librarian; W.S. Hilles, treasurer; Henry F. Askew, M.D., Wilmington, Rev. George Foot, Glasgow, Major John Jones, Middletown, Hon. J.W. Houston, Milford, Charles M. Cullen, Esq., Georgetown, directors. The original members of this society were Hon. Willard Hall, Daniel M. Bates, Rev. Charles Breck, Right Rev. Alfred Lee, Rev. Leighton Coleman, Rev. William Aikman, Rev. George Foot, Major John Jones, Jacob B. Vandever, Dr. Henry F. Askew, William D. Dowe, Esq., Dr. J.F. Wilson, Samuel Biddle, William T. Read, Esq., Samuel E. Thompson, Daniel Lammot, John C. Cole, Francis Vincent, John P. McLear, Alfred Nones, Dr. William R. Bullock, Charles B. Lore, Esq., H. Robert Penington, Governor William Cannon, Chancellor Samuel M. Harrington, Hon. John W. Houston, Charles M. Cullen, Esq., and William L. Hilles. The society now owns and, through the work of the present librarian, carefully arranged in the rooms of the old Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, a very valuable collection of historical material. It is composed of rare books, newspaper files, manuscripts, documents, portraits, relics, etc., of great historical interest. The following is the list of officers: President, Leonard E. Wales; Vice-Presidents, Thomas F. Bayard, Charles C. Stockley and Chief Justice Comegys; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. L.P. Bush; Recording Secretary, George W. Bush, Jr.; Treasurer, Henry R. Bringhurst; Librarian, Dr. R.P. Johnson; Historiographer, Dr. Horace Burr; Directors, Christian Febiger, John P. Wales, M.D., Willard Hall Porter, George H. Bates, Esq., and William A. La Motte. THE FEMALE HARMONY SOCIETY was organized in 1814 in the Hanover Street Presbyterian Church, "for mutual instruction and Christian labor." This society in the same year started the first Sunday-school in Wilmington on the old Stone Church, corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets. The first superintendent was Miss Anna M. MacMullan (afterwards Mrs. George Jones). She was succeeded by Miss Mary Harbison. A charter was obtained from the State Legislature January 28, 1817, for the establishment of Sunday-schools and charity school. The persons named in the act were Mary Read, Ann Porter, Maria Smith and Lydia Monro. The operations of this society originated the State law of 1822, appropriating money to Sunday-schools and for the teaching of poor children. In 1818 this society erected a building for Sabbath-school purposes on Fifth Street adjoining the old church. THE HARMONIC SOCIETY, which had for its object the study of sacred music, was organized in 1814 in the old academy on Market Street, where an upper room was fitted up with platform and raised benches. So successful was this society that in 1816 it was composed of four hundred members of the town and vicinity. Each member paid fifty cents a quarter of twelve weeks. Several teachers were employed. Monthly concerts were given and large audiences were in attendance. Instrumental music was introduced into the town largely through the influence of this society. There were a few pianos in the town as early as 1800. THE FEMALE HOSPITABLE SOCIETY was Organized in 1835 to furnish food and clothing and secure employment for the worthy poor of the city. Among its members then were Mrs. John McLear, Mrs. A.M. Jones, Mrs. Willard Hall, Mrs. George Jones and Miss Jane Cochran. For many years it was instrumental in accomplishing much good. THE ATHENAEUM was a building erected over the east end of the Fourth Street Market in the year 1830 by a literary society of the same name, organized in 1828 in a two-story brick building on Shipley Street, east side, above Fifth. The officers and directors by whom it was built were Charles T. Grubb, president; John A. Duncan, secretary; D.A. Upham, Edwin A. Wilson, Dr. Henry Gibbons, John B. Porter, Dr. Henry F. Askew and John L. Hadden. The Wilmington Library for several years was kept in one of its rooms, and many public meetings and exercises of Literary societies were held in it. From a balcony at the east end of it some eminent speakers addressed political meetings, among whom were Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln, the latter when a member of Congress in 1848. The Franklin Lyceum held its meetings at this place in 1842, and took charge of the building. It was removed with the market-house in 1843. A BOTANICAL SOCIETY was organized January 16, 1842, with Samuel Hilles, president; Edward Tatnall, vice-president; J.H. Barkley, secretary; Edward Bringhurst, treasurer; Edward Tatnall, Jr., W.S. Hilles and Dubre Knight, curators. The object of this society was "to arouse and sustain an interest in the study of botany, the most pleasant of all the natural sciences." It had an active existence for nine years. THE CICERONIAN LITERARY SOCIETY, organized in 1840, for many years held its meetings in a building on Orange Street, between Sixth and Seventh. Colonel H.S. McComb, Edward Betts, Pennock Pusey, Carson H. Adams, Hanson Harmon, George W. Bush and William Silver were some of its early members. "Aballibooz abangan arribonean Mokuna" was the name of a literary society, organized in 1847, by a number of intelligent young men. Any person who could pronounce the name correctly was entitled to membership. In 1849 it is said an applicant choked in the attempt, which caused the society to disband. THE WILMINGTON SACRED MUSIC SOCIETY gave its first concert in St. Paul’s M.E. Church, on Thursday evening February 23, 1849. It was composed of members of several churches. This society entertained an audience composed of the "beauty and fashion of the city," Thanksgiving day, 1849. Mr. Marsh was its leader. SHIELDS’ LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, in the city of Wilmington, was founded by eight young men, on May 4, 1863. It is named in honor of Gen. James A. Shields, a distinguished officer of the war with Mexico, and of the Civil War. The names of the founders are Robert Elliot, James Sweeny, M.H. Ryan, J. Kane, John Kelley, John McElwee and William McMonagle. They organized by electing James Sweeny, president; J. Kane, secretary; Robert Elliot, librarian. The first place of meeting, and where the library was kept, was in the Mount Vernon House, 308 King Street. Better quarters were next secured in the large building, southeast corner of Fifth and Market Streets. In this place the association regularly met until December 13, 1881, when the building, including the books, furniture and pictures of the library, amounting to nine hundred dollars, were destroyed by fire. The association then met by invitation in the engine-house of the Water Witch Fire Company, until the present beautiful and commodious hall was obtained in the Saville building, southeast corner of Sixth and Market Streets. A charter was obtained January 25, 1869, and renewed February, 1885. The library has a collection of six hundred and fifty well selected books. A large number of the standard daily and weekly newspapers and monthly perodicals are regularly received. The membership is three hundred and fifty seven, each of whom pay five cents a week membership fee. The officers for 1887 were Frank P. Phalen, president; M.F. Keogh, vice-president; John A. Carberry, secretary; and Thomas J. King, treasurer. THE GERMAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION was organized March 12, 1873, by Henry Miller, Frederick V. Bourdon, Andrew Wilhelm, Sebastian Burkhardt, Anthony Hauber, and Kassimer Abberger. The library was first kept in the house of Andrew Wilhelm, at 411 Shipley Street, and continued there until 1880, when a charter of incorporation was obtained, and the library removed to Hertman’s building, on Fourth Street, below Market Street. In 1884 the German Library Association, in connection with the Delaware Saengerbund, purchased the large hall which they now (1888) own, on East Sixth Street, between Washington and French Streets, formerly the Wesleyan Female College. The library has since been in that building. It contains eleven hundred well-selected volumes printed in the German language, and five hundred in English. The officers for 1887 were: President, William Cloos; Secretary, Dr. Emil Hertel; Treasurer, Frederick Bourdon. THE YOUNG MEN’S REPUBLICAN CLUB, whose handsome headquarters are at No. 810 King Street, Wilmington, was organized on July 9, 1880, in the Garfield campaign. Its membership soon increased to eight hundred of the leading young Republicans in the city. Six hundred of its members, under the command of Colonel Samuel M. Wood, First Regiment, Delaware National Guards, were in uniform, and marched with the precision of veterans. The organization was formed by the election of Frederick E. Bach, president; David C. Chalfant, vice-president; George F. Smith, secretary; Elwood C. Jackson, treasurer; and Samuel M. Wood, marshal. In December, 1880, the club was reorganized and placed upon a permanent basis. The officers were re-elected, and, in December, 1881, were again re-elected. In the mean time the organization had established itself in commodious quarters. In December, 1882, Thomas W. Heisler was elected president, and Nathaniel R. Benson, Jr., secretary. During the following spring the club obtained a charter, the members named therein being Francis W. Heisler, Nathaniel R. Benson, Jr., Henry C. Conrad, Francis H. McCaulley, Jacob Eldridge Pierce and Frederick E. Bach. The charter brought renewed prosperity to the club. Secretary Benson was elevated to the presidency in the following December, and T. Jackson Shaw was chosen secretary. In the campaign of 1884 the club took an active part in the election of delegates to the National Convention. Later in the canvass, General Logan, the candidate for Vice-President, visited the city as the guest of the club, which gave him a brilliant reception in the Opera-House. In December of that year Captain Edmund Mitchell, Company A, Delaware National Guards, was unanimously elected president and Harry F. Triggs, secretary. In the spring of 1885 the club purchased the building on King Street, Wilmington, which it now occupies. Elwood C. Jackson was chosen president in December of that year, and Mr. Triggs was re-elected secretary. The club has two hundred active members. The officers elected for 1888 are Edward Mitchell, president; Samuel M. Knox, vice-president; Harry F. Triggs, recording secretary; Henry C. Pickels, corresponding secretary; Lewis B. Morrow, financial secretary; J. Eldridge Pierce, treasurer; and Thomas Holt, marshal. THE WASHINGTON CORNET BAND, one of the first musical organizations of its kind in Wilmington, was formed at the Washington Hotel, September 2, 1834. It flourished for nearly twenty years. In 1846 it joined artillery Company A, of the city. The Independent Band was formed in 1847, and the Wilmington String Band soon afterward. DELAWARE SAENGERBUND dated its origin back to March 17, 1853, and has since had a prosperous and active existence. The first members were G. Huber, L. Roeder, L. Grieb, John Henry Mulhausen, John Fehrenbach, Solomon Brill, C. Keiser, Andrew Witz, Reinhart Reinhold, Henry Baker, A. Hilger, John O. Krauch, Jacob Stuck, Valentine Walter, John Boadhog and A. Hiller. It organized with G. Anton, musical director; William Bopameyer, president; J.H. Mulhausen, secretary; H. Bleyer, treasurer; and J. Fehrenbach, librarian. The object of this society was the study of the musical productions of the best German composers. The present membership is one hundred and twenty. Daniel Maier is president; Henry Zimmerman, treasurer; Henry Koehler, financial secretary; and Albert Ampriester, secretary. George B. Metzner was secretary for several years. The Saengerbund and the German Library Association conjointly, about 1883, purchased a large building, formerly part of Wesleyan College, on Sixth Street between French and Tatnall, for $7500 and expended $4000 in improvements. In this commodious building the Saengerbund and the German literary and beneficial societies hold their meetings. THE MILLARD CLUB was organized January 15, 1875. The original twelve members were Dr. Howard Ogle, J.H. Lewis, W.W. Lobdell, C.B. Rhoads, George W. Stone, W.D. Kavanagh, Dr. A.B. Mitchell, W.D. Pickels, J.H. Cameron, Henry Baird, Julius Hess and Bradley James. Mr. Rhoads was chosen musical director. The club met for practice on Monday evenings at the homes of members, and gave the first concert in West Presbyterian Church June 17, 1875. By July of that year the membership was increased to twenty-one by the election of L. Curran, B.Q. Saville, John W. Todd, D. McClosky, J. Kavanagh, F. Fullmer, M.A. Kelley, William Hamilton and Huxley Harvey. George W. Stone was president. The centennial rehearsal was given June 27, 1876. On "Delaware Day" the club visited the Centennial Exhibition and sung "Comrade in Arms" in front of the Delaware building, to an immense concourse of people. W.W. Lobdell was elected president in 1877. In March, 1878, the club gave a concert in the new court-room at Dover. May 31st, of same year, it gave the first "Floral Concert;" the Mendelsohn Quintette, of Boston, rendered the music, assisted by Miss Ella Lewis. On September 23, 1878, a concert was given for the benefit of the yellow-fever sufferers in Louisiana and seven hundred and ten dollars was sent for that purpose by this club. Harrison Millard and Miss Beese, of New York, were present and sung on this occasion. In 1879 George W. Stone was president; an executive committee was then elected, composed of Dr. J.M. Curtis, W.W. Lobdell, C.B. Rhoads, George Stone and Dr. Howard Ogle. It was then decided to admit ladies to membership and the name was changed to the PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, which was formed with the following fifty-six members: Sopranos, Mrs. J.P. Wales, Mrs. J.N. Cooling, Mrs. S.A. McAllister, Mrs. M.A. Taylor, Miss Addie Connor, Miss Eva Crouch, Miss M. Monaghan, Miss Etta Springer, Miss M. Horn, Miss Louisa Schmidt, Miss Eva Zebley, Miss Sallie Lowry, Miss Mary Connor, Miss Eva Cooling. Altos–Miss Virginia Connor, Miss Agnes Ogle, Miss Mamie Connor, Miss Alice Lobdell, Miss R. Gallagher, Miss Agnes Monaghan, Miss Ida Carswell, Miss Julia Huffington, Miss Rose Megary. Tenors— W.W. Lobdell, S. Curran, J.L. Robeson, Thomas Tucker, Joseph Coley, H.P. Rumford, Samuel McC. Barber, S.F. Osbourn, James H. Cameron, J. Hess, T. Allen, W.H. Sincock, N.B. Danforth, John Cannon, J.M. Curtis, T.D. Gambrill, E.H. Booth. Bassos— A.B. Mitchell, F. Fullmer, George W. Stone, C.T. Howell; H. Baird, Howard Ogle, J.H. Lewis, Joseph H. Jones, John Ripperger, J.H. Blyer, W.J. Fisher, W.D. Pickels, Fred Weyl, W.A. Blyer, Alexander Nurick. C.B. Rhoads was musical director. The new society, after singing other music for a time, took up "Trial by Jury" and presented it to the public with the following caste: Judge, George W. Stone; Plaintiff, Mrs. M.A. Taylor.; Counsel, James H. Cameron; Defendant, W.W. Lobdell; Usher, C.T. Howell; Foreman, J.H. Jones; Director, C.B. Rhoads; Pianist, F. Fullmer; Stage Manager, Dr. J.M. Curtis. It was repeated before an audience of fifteen hundred people. Nov. 28, 1879, "Pinafore" was rendered with this cast of characters: Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., C.T. Howell; Captain Corcoran, George W. Stone; Ralph Rakestraw, W.W. Lobdell; Dick Deadeye, W.J. Fisher; Boatswain, N.R. Benson, Jr.; Josephine, Miss Clara J. Rau; Buttercup, Miss Eva Crouch; Hebe, Miss Ida Carswell. The Philharmonic Society continued an organization for several years and was composed of members who possessed rare musical talent. THE TUESDAY CLUB, composed of ladies and gentlemen, is the most proficient musical organization that Wilmington has yet produced. Its members come from the higher circles of society in the city, and many of them are trained musicians. This club since its organization has exerted an elevating and ennobling influence in the community, and is a happy illustration of what can be done when the best musical talent of a community in which there is intelligence and refinement associate themselves together, for further improvement in the highest of all the fine arts-music. It was in the fall of 1884 that Charles T. Howell, organist and leader of the choir in Grace Church, himself a skilled musician, began to train his choir of a dozen members on Tuesday evenings to sing a variety of sacred music of classic selection, and during the succeeding winter gave three public rehearsals or praise services in the audience-room of Grace Church. The next year the membership increased and they began, then, to hold their Tuesday evening meetings for practice in Baynard’s music-room, corner Fifth and Market Streets. In June, 1886, Mr. Howell removed from Wilmington, and, of necessity, severed his connection with his society, at that time composed of forty members. It was then decided to form a permanent organization. The members elected N.R. Benson, Jr., president, with power to choose other persons, who, with himself, constituted a committee to formulate rules for the government of the body and to select a musical director. As a permanent name, "Tuesday Club" was then decided upon and N.R. Benson, Jr., was elected president; James H. Cameron, vice-president; Henry Baird, secretary; W.N. Hamilton, Jr., treasurer; J.T. Clymer, librarian; and John T. Craig, pianist. The first meeting of the club under its present name was on the first Tuesday of October, 1886, and the membership soon thereafter increased from forty to one hundred. D.H. Morrison, of Philadelphia, was chosen the musical director, whose knowledge of classical music and ability as a leader won the confidence of the members of this club and exerted a beneficial influence in increasing the popularity of the organization. The oratorio of "The Creation" was taken up and rendered with a chorus of eighty-four voices before a large audience in the opera-house January 12, 1887. The success of this presentation established the reputation of the Tuesday Club. In May, 1887, this club repeated "The Creation" with the Memorial Choral Society, of Philadelphia, in the Memorial Baptist Church of that city, and in the latter part of the same month gave a very successful concert of miscellaneous music in the Wilmington Opera-House. In October, 1887, the Tuesday Club began to hold its meetings in the Unitarian Church, on West Street, and took up the oratorio of "Elijah." The officers for 1888 are,— President, N.R. Benson, Jr.; Vice-President, Henry Baird; Secretary, H.R. Triggs; Treasurer, W.N. Hamilton, Jr.; Librarian, James H. Cameron; John T. Craig is pianist. THE CHORAL CLUB, an active and progressive musical society, was organized with sixty-five members in the month of April, 1887. Its membership has since increased to ninety. The first board of directors were W.J. Fisher, president; N.D. Cloward, secretary; Fred. Weil, treasurer; Frank Kane, John Braunstein, William Gibbons, Samuel McAdams. Mayor C.B. Rhoads, who has for many years been an able and popular instructor in music, and musical director in Wilmington, is the leader of the Choral Club, which first learned the cantata. "Joseph’s Bondage," and made two public presentations of it in the Opera-House before a large audience during the summer of 1887. The club next took up the "Chimes of Normandy," under the same musical director. T. Lesley Carpenter is the accompanist, and J.M. Clayton stage manager, and John M. Braunstein chorus master. The Choral Club is a co-operative organization, and divides the proceeds of its public entertainments equally among its members. It is doing an excellent work in stimulating young people who possess good voices to improve themselves in the art and science of music without coat. The officers for 1888 are,— President, Frank Kane; Secretary, N.D. Cloward; Treasurer, Fred. Weil. SHIPLEY STREET THEATRE.— A theatrical troupe appeared in Wilmington in 1833, and presented several plays in a large room of the Bayard Hotel. An admission of fifty cents was charged. A few months later a hall was fitted up at the corner of Front and Orange Streets, and a number of Shakespeare’s best plays was presented to enthusiastic audiences. Great interest was taken in the histrionic art about this time in the newly incorporated city. The Wilmington Theatre Company obtained a charter in 1834, and the same year erected a building at the southwest corner of Sixth and Shipley Streets, seventy-eight by forty-three feet, twenty-six feet to the dome, with an audience-room to seat six hundred persons. The architect was John Wisdom, of Philadelphia. The scenery and decorations were executed by James Carr. The opening performance was given December 22, 1834, by Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, with good support, by the presentation of a comedy, "The Soldier’s Daughter." Admission to "boxes 75 cents, pit 37½ cents, gallery 25 cents. The performance began at seven o’clock sharp." This company played one week "to houses of the beat kind with unbounded applause." It was invited to remain two weeks longer. A large number of the citizens of Wilmington shook their heads in dismay, and said the whole town was destined to go to ruin if so many of their friends and neighbors patronized "so wicked a thing as a theatre." It brought forth some lively newspaper correspondence. The character of the performances at this little theatre seems to have been good, and it continued to prosper the first season. In 1835 James R. Hall became manager, and secured good talent for that year. F.C. Wemyiss leased it in 1837. The building was used as a theatre until 1839; in the mean time its ownership passed from the hands of a company, and was bought by William W. Baker, M.D. ODD FELLOWS’ HALL was erected by a company chartered by the General Assembly, February 10, 1847, with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, in two thousand shares of ten dollars each. The company elected its first officers January 24, 1848, when Jesse Sharpe was chosen president; Edward McInall, secretary; William Campbell, treasurer; and William R. Sellars, Henry C. Banning, William Morrow, James Elliott, J. Fleming Smith, Zenas B. Glazier, William Thatcher, John H. Stidham, Delaplaine McDaniel and Jacob Barr as curators. Considerable feeling arose in regard to the location of the building; one faction advocated the purchase of a lot at the northwest corner of Seventh and Market Streets, and the other the lot on which the hall now stands, at the northwest corner of Third and King streets. The corner-stone was laid with the usual ceremonies and a fine display of the order. Among the distinguished guests present were Horne R. Kneass, Grand Sire of the Grand Lodge of the United States, and Prof. Patterson, of Philadelphia. The interesting ceremonies of dedication took place May 28, 1849. It was a public holiday in the city, and thousands of people were on the streets to witness the display of the order with its glittering regalia and gorgeous banners. Hon. H.M. Ridgely on this occasion delivered an eloquent oration in Asbury Church. Odd Fellows’ Hall was then the largest building in the State. The lecture-room was opened by the Germania Society, a musical organization from Prussia. David Paul Brown, the great Philadelphia orator, lectured in this hall in 1849. J.R. Scott, an American tragedian, followed in "Othello"; and an Italian opera company also appeared in it soon afterwards. This room was refitted in 1865, and in 1878 it was thoroughly remodeled at a coat of two thousand dollars. Other improvements have since been made. The officers of the company since its organization, in addition to a board of nine curators, have been: Presidents— Jesse Sharpe, twenty-six years; Dr. Henry F. Askew, two years; Daniel Farra, four years; John G. Yates, seven years. Secretaries— Edward McInall, one year; Wm. Hemphill Jones, four years; C.P. Johnson, nine years. Treasurers— William Campbell, John McClung, William Graves, Robert R. Robinson, James L. Morrow, Wm. H. Talley and Joshua Maris, served respectively from one year to six years, until the year 1868, when the office of treasurer was merged with that of the secretary, since which time the present incumbent, Henry Eckel, has been continued in the office, making his term of service as secretary and treasurer cover a period of twenty-six years. Mr. Eckel is the oldest living officer now remaining in the service. The assets of the company are forty thousand three hundred dollars; liabilities, twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars. THE MASONIC TEMPLE AND OPERA-HOUSE.— Efforts had been made at various times to secure the erection of an appropriate building in which the Masonic lodges could hold their meetings. In 1867 a committee, with representatives from each of the lodges in the city, was appointed, and on January 28, 1869, the Masonic Hall Company was chartered with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, in five thousand shares of twenty dollars each. On March 22d of that year the following officers were elected: George G. Lobdell, president; James Scott, vice-president; John P. Allmond, secretary. The other directors were Jesse Sharpe, Sr., James H. Beggs, T.M. Ogle, Philemma Chandler, John Taylor, William G. Gibbons, J.H. Simms, Joseph E. Miller, Henry English, Dr. Jacob Derrickson, William S. Hayes and David Woolman. On the 26th of February, 1870, the company purchased the lot, ninety-two by two hundred and twelve feet; upon which the Masonic Temple and Opera-House now stand, from the heirs of John Gordon for thirty-six thousand eight hundred dollars, and the same year the erection of the building was begun. The corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies April 20, 1871, A.D. 5871, Most Worshipful Master Rev. J. Collins McCabe, D.D., officiating. Representatives from the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware and the Governor of the State were in attendance. Thomas M. Ogle was chief marshal of the procession. The Building Committee were James H. Beggs, J.P. Allmond and Thomas M. Ogle; and the Finance Committee were Jesse Sharpe, Sr., James Scott, John Taylor, William Gibbons and George G. Lobdell. Thomas Dixon, of Baltimore, was the architect. The ceremonies of dedication were held April 18, 1872, in the presence of a vast assemblage of people, including a number of prominent persons. The building is ninety-two by two hundred and eleven feet, four stories high, surmounted by a mansard roof. The entire front is iron. The front rooms are used for stores. The building is faced with iron painted white, and very rich in mouldings and ornaments. The auditorium, on the first floor back, is praised for its acoustic properties. It has dress-circle, parquet-circle and gallery. In all there are fourteen hundred and four chairs and four proscenium boxes. It was opened December 25, 1871, by the Caroline Richings Bernard Company, with a drama entitled "Daisy Farm" in matinee, and "Rob Roy" at the evening performance. During the same season Madame Parepa Rosa sang in concert. E.A. Sothern (the comedian), Edwin Booth, Charlotte Cushman, John B. Gough, E.L. Davenport, Lucille Western, Barney Williams, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Florence, Edwin Forrest and the American Opera Company have since appeared in this opera-house. Jesse K. Baylis has been manager of it since 1874. The Masonic fraternity, who own the building, have elegantly-furnished apartments in it. The officers for 1888 are George G. Lobdell, president; James Scott, vice-president; Isaac C. Pyle, W.S. Quigley, Joseph Gould, James Parke, James H. Beggs, J.D. Winslow, H.S. Hodgman, William Baxter and J. Winfield Scott, directors. ACADEMY OF MUSIC.— In 1884 James H. Shoemaker and Lewis P. Buck purchased a lot, and the same year erected on it the Academy of Music, at a coat of thirty thousand dollars. The building has a frontage of fifty feet on Delaware Avenue and extends hack one hundred and twelve feet. It was completed January 1, 1885, and on the 11th of that month was opened by the Boston Ideal Opera Company, which played one week. The proscenium arch is twenty-eight by twenty-eight feet and the stage thirty-five feet deep by forty-six feet wide and fifty feet high. The drapery is made of silk velvet plush and the chairs are covered with mohair cloth. Turcoman and silk velvet plush is used throughout the room. The ceiling has been frescoed. The entire seating capacity of parquet, balcony and gallery is thirteen hundred persons. This place of amusement was managed with varied success from the time it was built until March, 1887, when it was leased to F.F. Proctor, who is the lessee of several other similar buildings throughout the country. He has completed his arrangements to have performances twice every day for forty weeks of the year.