1854 Trustees Meeting Minutes, Volume 2, 1831.005.002

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for the Chapel at Mount Auburn, having first advised and consulted with Mr Richard S. Greenough upon the subject. _

The meeting was then dissolved. Attest Austin J. Coolidge Secretary

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Trustees June 1^st '55

A Special Meeting of the Trustees of the Proprietors of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn was held according to previous notice, at the Boston Athenaeum on the first day of June at 10 O'clock a.m. to consider whether the Trustees will accept the Statue of Judge Story now delivered by virtue of their authority in the vestibule of the Athenaeum, for their acceptance.

The whole board of Trustees were present & it was unanimously

Story Statue accepted

Voted, that said Statue be & hereby is accepted, & that the Committee in relation to the same be authorized to draw upon the Treasurer for the amount of the contract price. _

Voted, that the President be requested to prepare a resolution expressive of the satisfaction felt by the Trustees upon said acceptance, to be entered at length upon our Records, & that a copy of the same be sent to Mr Eldredge for Mr Story: -

Resolutions in reference thereto-

And in accordance therewith, the following is presented & adopted as the sense of the foregoing vote. _

"That the Trustees, on receiving the marble statue of the late Judge Story, executed by his son William W. Story Esq. feel unqualified satisfaction in the successful result of

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the work: _

That they recognize in this Statue, an exact & living likeness of its distinguished original; a just conception & appropriate expression of character; a graceful arrangement of accessories, and a truthful & life-like embodiment of what marble can give successfully to commemorate the dead". _

The meeting was then dissolved Attest Austin J. Coolidge, Secretary.

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Trustees June 4, 1855.

The regular monthly meeting of the Trustees was held at the Office of the Secretary on Monday the fourth day of June A. D. 1855. _

Present. Messrs Bangs, Bigelow, Crockett, Gould Read and Tisdale. _

The record of the last monthly meeting was read & amended so far as to add to the vote authorizing the division of Lot 904, the words "with the charge only of the usual fees for making deeds". _

Stone farm, - occupation of

Mr Bangs of the Committee on Grounds, to which was referred the occupation of the Stone Farm, reported that they had given the occupation of the same to Mr Wilkins as tenant at will, or from year to year as may be hereafter agreed, for rent at the rate of $300 per annum. _

Dr Bigelow, Chairman of the Committee on Grounds submitted the following repotrt, after some remarks explanatory of its purpose, which was discussed and adopted. -

" Boston June 4^th 1855 " The Committee on Grounds, avenues & paths.

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Report of Com^ee upon Grounds in reference to Sup^t & Ass^t Sup^t

beg leave to represent, that for the promotion of harmony among the agents of the Corporation, and of economy in the expenditures, it is requisite, that the laborers on the ground should be all engaged, and also be liable to be discharged, by the Assistant Superintendent, under whom they work:—

That care shall be taken to select active and efficient men for laborers,— also the smallest number who can properly do the work:—

That the Superintendent shall at all times, have the control and selection of as many laborers as may be necessary for purposes of funerals and internments, and of whatever appertains to the duties of his office."—

___	Jacob Bigelow	}	Committee
(Signed)	Isaiah Bangs	}	on Grounds &c
___	Mace Tisdale	}

Voted that the Secretary send copies of the foregoing report. so adopted. to the Super^t & Ass^t. Sup^t.—

Contracts by irresponsible persons—

Mr Tisdale stated that sundry persons were in the habit of frequenting the grounds and soliciting employment in the care of lots. & that the Proprietors are exposed to great imposition from such source. Some discussion ensued, & the matter was laid over to the next meeting.

Fitchburg R.R. Stock—

A circular was received from the Fitchburg Railroad Corpⁿ requesting stockholders to subscribe for an addition to the stock now held by them:— and the same was referred to the Finance Committee with full powers.

The Meeting was then dissolved Attest A.J. Coolidge Secretary.

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Trustees June 11^th 1855. Special Meeting

A Special Meeting of the Trustees was held in accordance with previous notice, at the Office of the Secretary, on the eleventh day of June A. D. 1855. "to receive and act upon the resignation of Mr Howe as Superintendent". _

Present Messrs Bangs, Bigelow, Curtis, Gould, Kuhn, Little and Tisdale.

The record of the last meeting was read & approved. The Pres^t stated that the Secretary had received the a following a communication from Mr Howe, which was then read, of which the following is a copy.

Mr Howe's Letter of resignation as Sup^t

"Mount Auburn June 5^th 1855. ~ A. J. Coolidge Esq. Secretary of the Proprietors of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn

Dear Sir, I have received an attested copy of a Report submitted to the Trustees yesterday & adopted by them. _ Please bring this communication before the President, and Trustees as soon as possible, in order to a speedy action upon it.

In noticing the change comtemplated by this report, I feel compelled to say that I do not understand the portion of it which states the object of the measure to be "the pro- motion of harmony among the agents of the Corporation". So far as appears from the document, it will apparently affect the relations of no other persons than the new Assistant Superintendent and myself. I am happy to say, that there never has been, to my knowledge, any want of "harmony" between us, on the contrary I have, according to my pledge,

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given to the Trustees in September last, "cooperated cordially" with Mr Mann in every respect, and I have no complaint to make of any want of the same spirit on his part: were it otherwise, however, this measure would not be calculated to restore harmony, but rather the contrary. The Trustees will pardon me, if I show this more particularly, not as a criticising of their action in reference to myself, but to suggest to them, the embarrassment of such relations, for the benefit of others who may succeed me. -

By the standing rules of the Cemetery, passed in 1841, it was made one of the duties of the Superintendent "to see that all persons in the employ of the Proprietors faithfully perform their duties", and he was also specially made responsible for various matters and things in connection with the labor & laborers.

By the report adopted in march 1855, & communicated to me in relation to the Office of an Assistant Superintendent, and defining his duties, it was stated as his duty under the Superintendent, to have the immediate charge of the workmen, & see that they perform the work assigned &c. _ so much is harmonious: but it is obvious , that to hold one person responsible for the faithful performance of work, while the sole power to engage & discharge laborers is placed in the hands of his subordinate officer, would at once open the way for misunderstanding & differences. This seems so clearly to me, to be the natural, if not the necessary result, that I cannot but apprehend that the Trustees feel that some want of "harmony" exists elsewhere than between me and my Assistant, and if this be so, it may serve to explain some other