Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-02-23)

Mr J. W. Kelsey (I think) that the Trustees are paying off a debt on the building ! I intimated to him that if we get the hall he may expect "hard cash" from us, and he is enlisted in our behalf. He says the seats ought all be taken up & repainted and upholstered before the Small Lodge meets in June ! He thinks it would not be a very </s I > difficult thing to take up the seats & replace them.

    Now, </u you > can bring these people to some

kind of terms. Get Mr Dederick - who is a very pleasant man - to get the Trustees together and do you meet them and talk to them as </u you only > can. We can afford to spend $400. </u if necessary > in securing that hall, and I will give you "full powers" to act in the matter. The only indispensable conditions in the matter ae that we </u must > have the seats up, have possession 2 Sundays, and have it 3 days before & 3 days after the Ex. for work. We want to hold the Opening Reception on Wed. night April 4th, & keep open to the public 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th & 11th. If you can secure the Hall with these privileges you will do us a </u great > service. We anxiously await developments.

    Yours hastily & </u openly > W. T. Hornaday.

[written vertically left margin- If you need any money to pay down on the Hall I will give you an order on Mr C. instantly. -Across the bottom - But we don't want to pay in advance if we can help it ! - vertically up the right margin - Will have something for the Bulletin </u in time. >