Texas State Association of Architects Minutes and Proceedings

and for your generous, though undeserved partiality, by twice electing me unanimously President of our Association. This, gentlemen, I accept and esteem a high honorable position, one that any gentleman in our profession may justly feel proud to occupy.

Accept from me, gentlement, my best and most sincere thanks, and let me assure you that I shall ever feel grateful to the members, one and all, of this Association for this act of their confidence and esteem. I hope that in the selection and choice of one to confer the honor on today you will elect one more worthy to fill the office of President. This being the Third Annual Convention of our Association, may its proceedings and its Association be as pleasant and agreeable as those that are past. When I express my own personal regret for the absence of some of our most worthy members who are unavoidably absent from us today, whose genial fellowship and wise counsel we will saly miss, that I only faintly express the kind, fraternal feeling of those who are present for those who are absent from any [Convention?] today. One more year has passed and been recorded by the [finger?] of time since our last annual meeting.

Although our Association is young in years, our profession is as old as man, and if any one profession, honorably practiced by man at the present time, ought to honored and esteemed above all others, that profession ought to be ours. For the savior of the world if he was not an architect. [Holy writ?] tells us [he?] at least was a carpenter, which trade has been preparatory school to educate and send forth some of the best and [abled?] architects in our land.

He must be guided and governed by a true spirit of kindness and fraternal friendships of one for the other, and all subjects that may and will be prepared before this Convention for the government, welfare and prosperity of this Association, it will be expected that each and every member will express this view fully and freely, in order that the best light and information may be brought forth [?] all subjects. That such actions only shall be taken as will be best for the future welfare and prosperity of our Association.

Your [?] will be called to urgent necessity of a renewed effort for the purpose of procuring the

passage of a bill to regulate the practice of architecture in our state that same as kindred associations are doing in other states. This bill gentlemen is a matter of very great importance for the future welfare and standing of the practice of our profession in the state, and it is to be hope that earnest and vigorous action will be taken by this Convention that will not fail to keep this subject alive and before our representatives to enable us at the earliest day to obtain the passage of a bill by the legislature of Texas that will place our profession in the position it rightfully and properly belongs; to enable us to protect our own professional practice and prevent unprofessional practices in our state.

The importance of giving this subject our best attention cannot be overestimated in consideration of the future welfare of the practice of architecture in our state. It is our wish and desire that all gentlement who are at present and who have been for some time part exclusively engaged in the practice of our profession in this state, whose past record is good for honorable practice for fair and honorable dealings which their

clients, and with gentlemen engaged in the same profession, we desire that all such persons out to belong to our associations, that all might practice in strict accordance with the reules of the Texas State Associations of Architects. To this the well known motto applies:

"In union there is strangth""

When the application is made to our Association for admission by any gentleman who posses all the qualities & actions to entitle him to admission and a hearty welcome and a full fellowship with us; I would not believe that any member of our association would, for a moment, let any private or personal consideration influence his mind in casting his vote on the rejection or admission of a member to our Association. But, gentlemen, we must not forget for one moment but but it in mind, what we owe to ourselves and to the profession to which we belong. That it is our duty as honorable men to refuse admittance to those who have nto received the

training, practice or experience to acquire a knowledge of the profession to fit them for the practice of architecture, nor ought we, under any circumstances, ever admit, knowingly, those whose professional practice in the past has been unprofessional or a dishonorable character. By all just and honorable means keep up the standard of true respectability for our association. Do not hesitate to refuse admission to such as would bring reproach or evil repute or cast a shadow on our association. Better a few in numbers and maintain your reputation and the standing of the Texas Association of Architects. Show to the world that our association is composed of gentlemen who are honorable alike in their personal character and in their professional practice. I sincerely hope that the records of our proceedings and official acts will be securely kept and preserved, to be handed down to our successors, for the time will come at no distant day, when such proceedings will be closely scanned by those who will come after our time has passed.