The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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225 been attended with such success as to Wan-ant holding out the hopeof an early date for beginning the work of a memorial to the people who Hfst settled the State of New York. Twelve hundred iif d ll and ty o ars in subscriptions have turned out to be uncollectable, since those making the Sub- scriptions have died, and their executors do not consider themselves under obligations, or, for other reasons, do not feel disposed to pay them. The Committee has appealed, on this ground, to some of the large subscribers to pay in their subscriptions at this time. If this were done, 3 5,690.00 would be added to the sum now on hand, making an aggregate of S,BII,443.4I. This would make nearly one-third of what may be considered a conservative estimate of the sum needed to secure a proper statue. The present outlook is not en- tirely favorable for raising 340,000 for a statue to the man who, above all other men, led the Dutch in their ideas of religious and political toleration, which are gradually being accepted by the world. It is the unwavering belief of your Committee that there could be no more fitting commemoration of the establishment of this colony than with such a statue. American writers of renown and general acceptation have done much to give William the Silent his proper place in the world's history. It would be fitting indeed if here, on the banks of the river which floats the ships of the people whom he made free and independent and for whom he died, an American ,sculptor should recall his great presence to the millions who in this land above all others, see the fruits of h1S labors in a Government founded on the principles of religious and political freedom. n The Committee recommend that a continued effort be made to secure this end. 1 8 i A list of paid and unpaid subscriptlons 13 ' d d. appen e D. B. St. JOHN RooSA. 15

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C227 NOW, Mr. President, before I sit down, I want to say that I had an interview with Mr. Shrady this morning, who has been selected by this SO- ciety to make the statue when the money shall be secured. Mr. Shrady is entirely willing to go on with I this work, first making the models and finally the pedestal, which is a great -thing, and take the chances for the ultimate erection of the statue. Perhaps we are not willing to take the chances, and therefore, until we get more money, we will not, but there are several things which have been held out to us which for the present have succeeded, and I am not at all sure but that the Committee appointed by the new President will succeed where we have failed. i For example, we 'believe that the .ladies of New York the Dutch women and the descendants of Dutch men and -women in New 'York' and Kings County may organize for the securing of the I 'money. You will all remember how many years it was that the Grant statue was in the air and not onthe earth, and it is not yet entirely finished, but we got it. I never knew that it was characteristic of a Dutch Committee to give up anything while they were living, and I do not propose to ask the next Committee,--I hope I may be excused from these annual appearances,-f-but I don 't propose to ask the next Committee to give it up, but I do propose to ask that a resolution be passed to-night adopt- ing the suggestion of his Honor Mayor Van Wyck, which will enable us to get the rest of this money. ' Now, Mr. Shrady would be very glad 'CO make 3 .model of his statue--a small model-at an expense of about 3200, and let that be exhibited t0 the Trustees and the Committee, and then, if satis-