J. Rochester departed for the great beyond, for while we knew that he had been for some time in failing health, our latest information was that he was improving and might soon be able to again resume the duties of life.

Mr. Rochester was born in Salem, Kentucky, and though he lived in New Orleans for sixty-five years of his life, dying at the age of seventy-one, thus having passed the biblical term of three score and ten, and while a loyal and devoted citizen of Louisiana, he never forgot his native state, and was always true to its ideals and traditions. By reason of his father's services as a Kentuckian in the War of the Revolution, Mr. Rochester early became affiliated with the Sons of the American Revolution and held many important offices in the Louisiana Division thereof.

To him, more than to any other person, was due the organization of some years ago, of the Kentucky Society of Louisiana, of which he was the first and, up to the time of his death, the only secretary, and which was the one society of natives of another state which took an active part in connection with this Society and others in historical and patriotic ceremonials.

Mr. Rochester was, for many years, a very active member of this Society, serving on many important committees and taking an active part in the work of the Society in all its celebrations and particularly in connection with the centennial celebrations of 1903, 1912 and 1915, though the condition of his health did not enable him to work as actively in the last event as in the others.

As chairman of the committee of the Society to receive the "New Orleans" in 1912, the replica of the first steamboat which ever navigated the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, he created so much interest and enthusiasm in that important event as to have the work of the Society commented upon and recognized throughout the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.

He was one of the organizers of the movement to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary, in 1910, of the unveiling of the monument to Henry Clay in this city, in which the Kentucky Society joined this Society, and during the ceremonials read a very interesting paper connecting Henry Clay with certain incidents in this city.

During his incumbency as chairman of the Membership Coinmittee of the Society, the membership thereof was almost doubled.

Mr. Rochester had been selected for a very important function in connection with the Liberty Bell reception of November 19, but before that day arrived he was with us no more forever.

We shall miss his genial face, his kindly greetings, and his loving personality, and shall ever remember him as a personal friend of every member of the Society.

We feel that we can do no better in closing this feeble tribute than to repeat part of the memorial prepared by the Wholesale Drummers' Association, of which he was president for many

years:

"In the passing of JOHN J. ROCHESTER, New Orleans lost one of its substantial citizens in every sense of the word. Not the amount of largess which he distributed earned for him this distinction, for it must be stated that he died possessed of few earthly goods, but in the manner in which he performed his duties as a man and member of the community.

"In any undertaking which had for its purpose the advancement of New Orleans, or the betterment of his fellow-man, John. J. Rochester could be found in the forefront of the fight.

"He was truly a lover of man, as his every act proves. Slow to judgment, but quick in action when this was demanded, he tempered his course always with kindliness and courtesy.

"To him, more than any other man or factor, can the Wholesale Drummers' Association be thankful for its years of progress and prosperity. No work was too much, no duty too arduous, for him to undertake in its behalf. No meeting found him absent from it.

"The warm clasp of his hand, the kindly gleam of his eye, are gone, but only as part of the order of this existence; they are not forgotten. His place will be hard to fill.

May his be the reward for faithful performance of duty, for living the righteous life; for helping make happy the life of others; for being a man among men."

To his bereaved wife and daughters (one of whom, Miss Jennie Rochester, is a member of this Society), we extend our most sincere sympathy, and ask that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Association, on a page specially devoted thereto, that copies be sent to his family, and furnished to the press of New Orleans, and to the organizations herein named.

Respectfully submitted,

W. O. HART, Chairman;
HENRY RENSHAW,
T. P. THOMPSON.

ANNUAL REPORT OF TREASURER, LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY-W. O. HART.

Lights, current, fuel, porter's fees, meetings.

36.35

Mailing reports to members and exchanges.
Postage, correspondence, bills, receipts.

49.75

60.22

Carfares and special car to Chalmette...

Library, new books and express on exchanges..

6.70

13.22

REPORT OF ROBERT GLENK, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN.

The noteworthy activities and achievements of the Louisiana Historical Society for the year 1916 were as follows:

The ceremony in honor of the presentation of the Jefferson Troop Flag to the City of New Orleans on January 8, 1916, by the State of Illinois, by virtue of an act of the General Assembly of that state which was passed through the efforts of Mrs. J. B. Richardson of New Orleans, former president of the United Daughters of 1776 and 1812 of Louisiana, and of Mrs. Robert Hall Wiles of Illinois, now president national of the United States Daughters of 1812. The Adjutant General of Illinois delivered the flag to the National Society of Daughters of 1812, and Mrs. Wiles was delegated to make the presentation of the flag to the Mayor of New Orleans, the ceremony taking place in the Council Chamber of the City Hall. Mayor Behrman placed the flag in the custody of the United States Daughters of 17761812, and who, in turn, through Mrs. Richardson, turned over the flag to the Louisiana Historical Society, represented by President Cusachs, who deposited the same in the Battle Abbey.

On the evening of the same day, January 8, the annual reunion dinner of the Louisiana Historical Society took place in the gold room of the Grunewald Hotel, about 90 members and friends of the society participating. The excellent menu and well-filled program of speeches and singing were greatly enjoyed by all present. Mr. W. O. Hart acted as toastmaster of the occasion.

On September 6, the day set aside for a national celebration in honor of the birthday of Lafayette, the Louisiana Historical Society cooperating with the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Athenée Louisianais, L'Union Francaise, Societé du Quatorze Juliet; Les Enfants de la France, Alliance France Louisianaise and Causeries du Lundi, patriotic French societies of this city, and the Mayor and Commission Council took part in a reception at the Mayor's parlor; unveiled a bust of Lafayette at Lafayette square and carried out a very significant program of speeches and music at the Cabildo in the evening, which was attended by a large and brilliant gathering.

At the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Newark, N. J., on May 1, 1916, the following delegates represented the Louisiana Historical Society: Mr. and Mrs. Charles LeSassier, Mrs. Ruth McEnery Stuart, and Dr. Charles A. Browne.

MEETINGS AND LECTURES.

During the year nine regular meetings were held and three special lectures were given in the Cabildo, as follows:

1916

January 7.-Motion picture and lecture, "Battle of New Orleans" and "Celebration in 1915," by Stanley C. Arthur. January 19.-Annual meeting. "Bienville and His Services to New Orleans," Mrs. S. B. Elder.

February 16.-"Return of the Jesuits to Louisiana," by Rev. J. J. O'Brien.

March 15.-"Notes on Gen. Wilkinson's Memorial and Miro and Navarro's Despatch No. 13," by Gilbert Pemberton. April 5.-"Origin and Evolution of the United States Flag," by R. G. Ballard Thruston, Louisville, Ky.

April 19.-"The Opera in New Orleans," by Harry B. Loeb. May 17.-"General James Wilkinson," by Mr. James Wilkinson.

June. No meetings.

July. No meetings.

66

August 3.—“A Voyage of Friendliness," by Elwood Lloyd of Chautauqua, N. Y.

September 20.-"An Old Algiers Burying Ground," by W. S. Mahoney, and "The Bible in Louisiana a Century Ago," by W. O. Hart.

October 18.-Estevan Miro's Report on the Boundary of the United States and Louisiana; British Officer's Account of the Expedition to Capture New Orleans in 1815, and some Claiborne Letters, read by Mr. Cusachs.

November 15.-"The New Orleans Yturbide," by Miss Grace King.

December 20.-"Baton Rouge, Its Past and Present," by Col. Isaac Dickson Wall of Baton Rouge.