OBJECTS. The object of this Society is to collect and publish material bearing upon the history of our country. It is known that Jews in Spain and Portugal participated in some degree in the voyages which led to the discovery of America, and that there were Jews from Holland, Great Britain, Jamaica and other countries among the earliest settlers of several of the colonies. There were also a number of Jews in the Continental army, and others contributed liberally to defray the expenses of the Revolutionary war. Since the foundation of our government a number of Jews have held important public positions. The genealogy of these men and the record of their achievements will, when gathered together, be of value and interest to the historian and perchance contribute materially to the history of our country. The objects for which this Society was organized are not sectarian but American. The co-operation of students of history and of all persons who have an interest in the work of the Society is cordially invited. SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. The second annual meeting of the American Jewish Historical Society was held Wednesday, December 27, and Thursday, December 28, 1893, at Columbia College, New York. Four sessions were held. The first session began on Wednesday at 11 o'clock a. m. and was devoted to the transaction of business. The following report was presented by the Treasurer: Treasurer's report showing receipts and disbursements from September 1, 1892, to September 30, 1893. CYRUS ADLER, Treasurer, in account with the American Jewish Historical Society. The last paragraph of Article III. of the Constitution was amended by substituting the words "approved by the Council" for the words "not residing in the United States." Officers were then elected for the ensuing year. The second session began at 3 p. m. and was devoted to the reading of papers. The third session was held Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. Several papers were read, and notices were presented by the Corresponding Secretary of members and co-laborers who had died during the past year. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Washington. The question of having an exhibition in connection with the next meeting was, after considerable discussion, referred to the Executive Council. The fourth and closing session was held on Thursday morning. Nineteen papers in all were read. CONTENTS. PAGE. A Sketch of Haym Salomon. Herbert B. Adams, Ph. D., On the History of the Jews of Chicago. Dr. B. Felsenthal, 21 The Jewish Congregation in Surinam. Dr. B. Felsenthal, . . 29 The Civil Status of the Jews in Maryland, 1634-1776. J. H. Family History of the Reverend David Mendez Machado. Note concerning David Hays and Esther Etting his Wife, and Michael Hays and Reuben Etting, their Brothers, Patriots of the Revolution. Solomon Solis-Cohen, The Colonization of America by the Jews. Dr. M. Kayserling, 73 Phases of Jewish Life in New York before 1800. Max J. Kohler, 77 The Lopez and Rivera Families of Newport. Max J. Kohler,. 101 Jacob Isaacs and his Method of Converting Salt Water into Fresh Water. Herbert Friedenwald, Ph. D., Columbus in Jewish Literature. Prof. R. J. H. Gottheil, Settlement of the Jews in Texas. Rev. Henry Cohen, ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. HON. OSCAR S. STRAUS, New York. Members and friends of the American Jewish Historical It is my pleasant privilege to welcome you to the second annual meeting of our Society, and to congratulate you upon the gratifying work done during the past year. The papers presented at the first meeting, held in Philadelphia on December 15, 1892, have been published by the Society, and are entitled "Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 1." They contain much of value and of interest to the historical student, and are an earnest of what can be done within the special field we have selected. I take this occasion to emphasize that the objects of this Society are to further investigation, to collect and publish material bearing upon the history of our country within the field designated. The Society is not sectarian, but American, and we invite and welcome as members students of history and all who have an interest in its work and purposes. Although the Society is but a year and a half old, having been organized at a meeting held in the City of New York on the 17th of June, 1892, it has had its influences both in this country and in Europe. A similar society, known as the Jewish Historical Society of England, was formed in London in the early part of the present year. Within the line of its investigation, Mr. Joseph Jacobs, one of the learned members of that Society, published a few months since a valuable work on "The Jews of Angevin England" to the year 1206, which is an important contribution to the history of the |