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"It convened November 6, 1871, within the shattered walls of the court house, in the ruins of the county court room, adjacent to the late library rooms of the Institute.

"Smoke still rose from the ruins of the city, and the deliberations of the meeting were more than once interrupted by the falling of crumbling portions of the masonry of the court room. The meeting was large and the interest profound. Upon full and earnest discussion it was determined forthwith to relay the foundations of the library, and as speedily as practicable to restore the Institute to the degree of usefulness it had attained before the fire. To that end, an assessment for the current year, amounting to one-fourth of the par value of the stock of the shareholders, was levied; a liberal provision for the admission of new members was adopted, and its affairs were committed to the charge of a board of managers, selected from among the most eminent members of the profession."

Having been instrumental in founding the institute originally, it was thought best that I should try my hand at it again, and I was accordingly elected President, and set about the task of refounding it. Rooms were, after a considerable delay, procured in the new structure, erected by the city at the corner of Adams and LaSalle streets, where it has remained ever since. The Bar took a great interest in restoring the library, and to-day it has about 13,000 volumes.

It has had for its Presidents, Judge John M. Wilson, Judge Walter B. Scates, Judge George Manierre, Hon. Van H. Higgins, Elliott Anthony, Judge W. K. McAllister, Hon. Wm. H. King, Hon. James P. Root, John M. Rountree, John N. Jewett, Charles W. Reed, George Payson, Lambert Tree, Sidney Smith, Julius Rosenthal, Robert Hervey and George Gardner.

Julius Rosenthai was for years the librarian, and to him the institute is greatly indebted for the judicious care exercised by him in the purchasing and procuring of books, and the members of the Institute, in order to show their appreciation of his services, did, at the annual election in 1879, vote him an honorary member for life.

Among those who took a prominent part in the organization of the Institute were Sanford B. Perry, George Manierre, James P. Root, William H. King, John A. Thompson and Ira Scott. The number of members of the Institute at the present time is 406.

The Philosophical Society of Chicago.

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THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF CHICAGO.

When the burned-out city had rebuilt most of its former centers, and the heart of the city again began to be a place of resort for men and women of common aims and feelings, there arose a new society, The Philosophical Society. The suggestion of it came from Dr. Hiram W. Thomas, then pastor of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, whose place of meeting is at the corner of Clark and Washington Streets. He thought it desirable to draw together men and women of thoughtful minds and earnest character, who were interested in the discussion of topics of philosophy,social science, natural science, in its broader aspects, history, as showing the lights of human experience, and of moral philosophy; people who loved truth so much as to feel free in discussion, and tolerant of the differing sentiments and views of each other, and of the world at large.

Dr. Thomas soon drew into council with himself, a few of like spirit, and a preliminary meeting was held Sept. 8, 1873, at which a committee on organization was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Dr. H. W. Thomas, A. B. Keith, Dr. T. A. Bland, E. F. Abbott, and T. B. Taylor. The next meeting was held Sept 16th, and the final organization was effected Oct. 11th, in the rooms of the First M. E. Church; and there the Society held its meetings for a while. The course of lectures was begun, even before the constitution was adopted, with a lecture by Col. A. N. Waterman, Sept. 23, on the influence of Modern Philanthrophy upon Law. At the same time, the plan was adopted of criticising each lecture, members of the society offering comments in brief speeches.

From the first the Society insisted upon perfect freedom of utterance in its lectures and discussions. Its constitution was the simplest possible form of organization, the preamble to which was as follows:

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Being profoundly impressed with the unity of Truth in its origin, and of its infinite value to man, and being equally impressed with the blinding effects upon the human mind of Ignorance, Prejudice and Superstition, it has seemed desirable to us (believing the time for such a movement has arrived), to seek the organization of a society, whose sole motto shall be What is Truth? Whose members, regardless of past associations, preconceived opinions or expressed convictions, shall, in a spirit of simplicity and candor, associate for the investigation of questions that are peculiar to our time, pertaining to human welfare"

Upon this basis of common agreement the Society seeks to bring together earnest, thinking men and women, to listen to and to share in discussions of important topics: to develop clear views wise thoughts, and just practice: to foster a love of Philosophy, and a taste for the discussion of principles. A Society with such purposes must necessarily include persons holding a great variety of views. It has enrolled in its ranks at the same time materialists and idealists in philosophy; catholics, orthodox, heterodox and atheists in religion; and scientists of opposing theoretical views. No one should impute to the society any opinion or set of opinions because of doctrines put forth in its lectures or by its members individually, or because of questions suggested for discussion: it is its doctrine that the surest way to destroy error and to make truth illustrious, is to bring them both alike into the light of reason and the fire of discussion. Nowhere can a lecturer find a freer platform, nor greater surety of various, discriminating, and candid criticism.

The principal exercises are lectures every Saturday evening, from the first of October in each year to the end of the ensuing April. At the close of each lecture, a discussion of it is opened by one or more of the members of the Society previously ap pointed by the president: these are followed by such other members as see fit to join in the discussion; but no member is allowed more than five minutes in which to discuss the lecture, except the appointee of the chair, who is allowed ten minutes: the lecturer himself closes the discussion. In these discussions, adverse and conflicting views are freely and frankly presented. An Executive Committee of five persons has charge of the exercises, and is responsible for the lectures which are delivered before the Society. Only such persons are invited to lecture by the committee as are believed competent to treat topics with philosophical candor, learning, and completeness.

The first president was Rev. Joseph Haven, D. D., noted for his philosophical learning, his candid and tolerant spirit, and his firm adherence to the orthodox creed of his church. He died just at the close of the first year. Next, Dr. Hiram W. Thomas presided for a year. The third and fourth years Hon. Henry Booth, Circuit Judge, was president; he was followed, in the fifth year, by Gen. N. B. Buford; Dr. Samuel Willard, Professor of History, was the president of the sixth year; Dr. Edmund Andrews, the eminent surgeon, followed. In the current year, 1880-'81, Prof. Rodney Welch, one of the editorial staff of the Chicago Times, presides. The membership of the Society was in its first year near 300; but for several years following it varied from 100 to 150; now it is increasing its numbers again. But

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it does not seek popularity so much as usefulness in its own line In the first seven years of its existence, it held 215 meetings, at which 207 lectures were delivered, by 124 different lecturers. Though the society has met with opposition, chiefly from those who fear that truth will not prevail in the arena of free discussion, it has maintained a high reputation among thinking people, and has made itself felt as one of the educating influences of Chicago. SAMUEL WILLARD.

WOLF'S POINT.

Two years after the rebuilding of Fort Dearborn, Gurdon S. Hubbard, though a boy in his teens, came to Chicago in the employ of the American Fur Company, which was in 1818. He is still an active citizen among us, well known, not only to the people of Chicago, but his Historical records and "early experiences have been eagerly sought after by the leading book-makers of the East, also, as well as of the West, and have given him a deserved reputation as one of the few remaining, living witnesses of the process by which a savage wilderness has been metamorphosed into a densely populated State. A few years after he came to Chicago a little cluster of houses sprung up at the Fork of the river, and not without a spirit of rivalry to outstrip the neighboring little nucleus for a village nearly a mile distant, under the guns of Fort Dearborn. This feeling was still manifest as late as 1833, and shared in by those who had settled at this spot, which was then known by the name of Wolf's Point. All this is fresh to the memory of Mr. Hubbard, because he saw it in his youthful days, and his letter is here inserted to give the public the benefit of his views from his own hand:

RUFUS BLANCHARD:

CHICAGO, October 13, 1880.

My Dear Sir-Your favor of 11th is at hand, and I most cheerfully give you what information I possess on the subject matter of your note.

Prior to 1800 the north branch of the Chicago river was called by the Indian traders and voyagers "River Guarie," and the south branch "Portage River." On the west side of the north branch a man by the name of Guarie had a trading-house, situated on the bank of the river about where Fulton street now is. This house was enclosed by pickets. He located there prior to 1778. This tradition I received from Messrs. Antoine Deschamps and Antoine Beson, who, from about 1778, had passed from Lake

Michigan to the Illinois river yearly; they were old men when. I first knew then in 1818. This tradition was corroborated by other old voyagers. The evidences of this trading-house were pointed out to me by Mr. Deschamps; the corn hills adjoining were distinctly traceable, though grown over with grass.

I am of opinion that these branches retained their names until about the time of the location of the first Fort Dearborn, and were afterwards known as the north and south branches.

My impression is that Elijah Wentworth opened his tavern on the West Side, near the present west Kinzie street, in 1830, at what was then called the Forks. About this date Samuel Miller bought a small log cabin on the opposite side of the river from Wentworth's, and south of the present Kinzie street bridge, to which he added a two-story log building, finishing the outside with split clapboards. These two public houses were the first Chicago could boast of. Miller by his influence and enterprise, erected a bridge built wholly of logs, across the north branch, just north of his tavern. He and Wentworth being competitors for public favor, the Forks House getting the most patronage, Jos. and Robert Kinzie built stores there, and here resorted some of the officers of the Fort daily for social intercourse and "drinks" at Wentworth's bar. Wolves were in those days quite numerous; one had the audacity to enter in the day time Wentworth's meat house, and was by him killed. His house had for a sign a tall sapling topped off just above a prominent branch; it extended some distance above the top of the roof, and was a conspicuous notice, to be seen from the prairie and surroundings, that "here was food for man and beast;" it lacked however something to hang to the branch projection, to give it character; how to obtain a proper emblem, puzzled the good landlord, as there was no carpenter or paint shop, or citizen artist; a happy thought struck him, that Lieutenant Allen might condescend to supply the deficiency, if properly approached; this was effected through a mutual friend. The boards of a dry-goods box were obtained, from which was put in shape, under the superintendence of Lieut. James Allen, a well proportioned sign, the Indian Agency Blacksmith putting to it hinges, when Lieut. Allen took it in hand again, producing and presenting to Wentworth the picture of the slethy wolf, which was to serve not only an attractive painting, but a memorial of the landlord's valor in the killing alone and unaided, of a ferocious wolf. Officers and citizens received invitations to be present at the hanging of the sign; the day and hour arriving, found assembled a majority of the people; the sign was brought forth, duly veiled with a blanket, was attached to the branch of the pole, the veil removed, and it

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