Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-08-07
The PrieStIey Centennial.

n ing town, northumberland, for the purpose
j. paying tribute of respect to the memory of D
/. Priestley, who laid the corner stone of Chemc;
/. Science. Many were the guests of private cit
zens, and all were handsomely entertained b
the citizens of that place.
: On Friday morning the exercises of the celc
h bration of the Centennial of Chemistry com
}. mcuced in the public school house, which wa
well filed by Q O'Clock, a. m, the time of open
!. ing. The meeting was organized by DR.. Bolton
f of New York city, as temporary chairman, VIII,
was waImly applauded on taking the chair. Rev
= DR.. Pyuchon, of Trinity College, Hartford, ther
I offered up brief supplication to the throne o.
Grace.
Among the most prominent chemists present
, were L. n. HearsfOrG, of Cambridge, Mass.
Thomas NJ. Drour, Of the American Institute OF
, Mining Engineers; Trail Green, president of La
fayettc College; L. Prouse of Boston i. II.
GallatiE of New York city; Z. l.. Tonister. of
Columbia College, Washington, D. C.; Il. Pyn-
chon, professor oc chemistry in Trinity College,
Hartford, Conn.,. Frederick Hoffman, New
York city, and Theodore G. Wormley, Colum:
bus, Ohio Elwynn Waller, School of Mines, Co.
lumbia College, New York Charles H. Chand-
Ter, of Antioch College, Ohio; j. W. Mallet,
University of Virginia Misses Swallow and Ca
pen, professors OF chemistry, Girls High School,
Boston r. c. Keisier, State Agricultural Col
lege, of Michigan; W. Il. Hedscr State Agri-
cultural College of Kansas Persifer Frazer, as
sstant geolOgist of the State Survey, Philadel-
phia Arthur II. Elliott Baltimore DR.. II. Ca
rington Bolton, Columbia College, New York;
Prof. Leeds, Stevens Institute Of Technology,
Hoboken DR.. Chandler, Columbia College, New
| York; Henry F. Craft, University College, To-
,ronto, Canada I. Sterry Hunt, Massachusetts,
| Institute of Technology; c. Gilbert Wheeler,
professor of chemistry. University of Chicago;
Edward T. Cox, State geologist and chemist, In
dianapolis, Indiana; Eugene W. Higard and s.
S. Douglass, University of Michigan ; D. Henry
Coppce, late president of Lehigh University.
A committee on organization was then ap-
pointed who reported the following officers;
For President-Prof. Charles F. Chandler, of
Columbia College, y. Y:
For Vice e-Presidents-Profs. r. +. BOdley, ST.
las II. Douglas, f. W. Hilgard, E. N. Horsford
John W. Wallet, s. st. John, A. P. S. Stuart, T.
G. Wormley, Charles A. JOY, Drs. Albert II. |
Callahan and c. Bolton.
secretary-Prof. Albert r. Leeds.
Treasurer-Prof. VIM. II. Chandler.
A report of the Committee was unanimously |
adopted. Prof. Chandler, on taking tle chair as
President, stated that he would not occupy the |
time in making speech, that he would call |
upon Col David Taggart to deliver the address
of welcome. The Colonel then cane forward,
and delivered the following address. He said:
have been chosen by my fellow citizens to Of
fer to the learned and distinguished men and wo-
women who have gathered here to commemo-
rate a grand discovery and to honor a great
name, brief but earnest welcome. We cannot |
follow you through the wide realms o. science,
nor explore very deeply the mysteries Of nature,
for we know more about oxen than oxygen, and
4 great deal more about the way of milk than
the milky way, but We can move wfh equal
step in paying tribute of respect and reverance
to the iustrious man who, eighty years ago. |
foGnd among the rude forefathers of this hamlet
4 quiet home, and seventy years ago an lonored
grave. While IL the lapse of everlasting time
all human names must be forgotten, many ages
will have come and gone and left their silent
fOotmarks on the earth before that of
Priestey viii pass from the memories and re-
cords Of his fellow men. He has written it in
letters of light and glory upon the highest and
broadest pillar of the universe.
By right of genius and labor he takes rank
with the dead but scepterrd sovereigns who still
rule our spirits from their urns. Like the eagle
he built his eyric upon the mountains top, mac
cessible to vulgar intrusions. In that pure at
mosphere he dwelt not above human spite lea
lousy and detracton, FOR it is easier to get below
than above their annoyances. The shafts of BIZ
gots and fools were aimed at him, but they could
not penetrate the triple armor which philosophy.
and truth had thrown around him.
Like yOu, gentlemen, he made science his mis-
trcss, and with a pure heart and an untring
mind he worshipped her through long days OF la
Dor and nights devoid of ease, and to-day he
stands with Gallilco Newton, Harvey Franklin
Faraday and Humboldt, grand colossal and en-
during, one of the great high prests in the bound
less and beautiful temple of nature.
A brutal English mob could burn his dwelling,
aud in hour of political madness and religious
frenzy destroy the work Of years, but could not
stay the indomitable energy 81 his genius nor
the miserable wretches who composed that mob
have long ago given back to the great element
which he discovered seventy-iye per cent. of their
worthless carcasses. More than eighty years af-
terward his great name is a tallisman TO draw to
this quiet village many of the most renowned
gatherers of the nation-besides sew
eral from New Jersey and Canada,-an aTistocra-
cv of learning an intellect that can afford to
look down from its high citadels of thought and
achievement with pity, If not contempt, upon the
more vulgar aristocracy of blind accident, the
painted catterpillars Of preteutious illitcrate
wealth.
As am not vain enough to suppose that any
one cares to listen to me, when such ustrious
names are upon the bills. will merely reiterate
to you men and women of sense and science, in be-
bhaf Of all my neighbors, a very sincere and IN
fcgned welcome TO our homes and to our hearts,
and let me assure you most earnestly that are
only willing but anxious to do all things posi-
bic to make you remember with pleasure your
well l-tmed pilgrimage TO the home and grave OF
the greatest discoverer of his time.
a committee was appointed to confer with the
meeting in Birmingham, England
also, to take part in spirit in the unwilling of the
Statue oc the late Joseph Prestley, in that city.
Numerous letters of regret were read to the
meeting. Then followed i sketch of the "Lfe
and LabOrs Of DR.. Joseph Priestley," by Profess
sor Henry II. Graft, of Toronto, Canada.
Professor Horsford OF Cambridge, Mass, then
gave some interesting sketches of the life and
read several original letters of the late Or.
Pricstley.
GREETING FROM ACROSS THE OCEAN.
The reading of the letters occupied cousidcra-
bic time at the conclusion of which the following
cable telegram was read -
To the American Chemists assembled at Nor
Pa. Our marble statue, repre-
senting Priestley Discovering Oxygen, will be
unveiled tomorrow, presented TO the subscribers !
through Professor Huxley TO the town, and ac-
cepted by the mayor. We greet You COL
leagues in bonoriug the memory Of a great and
good man. Signed by the Pricstey Memorial
Committee, Birmin CHAM.
The following is the telegram sent TO Birmng-
ham, England -
NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa, july 81, 1S74.-The
brother chemists at the grave to their brothers
at the home of PriestIey send greeting on this
anniversary of the birth of chemistry.
The convention then adjourned till 2p. m.
At THE PRiEsTIEY MANSION.
At two p. IN. the chemists proceeded to the
Prlcstley mansion, where they were photograph
ed. In the building the apparatus, books, man
uscripts, &c, of Prestley and other objects, IL
lustrating the history of chemistry, were on ex-