The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
The New United states Naval Insti-
tute.

tute.
The establishment during the present win
ter of NAVAL Institute" for the purpose of
advancing scientific and professional knowl-
edge in the navy, is step in the right direc-
ton that cannot fail to exert most salutary
influence upon all departments of the service.
BY the constitution, as lately adopted the iu-
stitute is organized with the Secretary of the
Navy as its patron er o6icio the Admiral of
the Navy its President &c qaieio, and the
commanding officer of the station where it
may hold its regular meetings its Vice Presi-
dent er oticio. Council of Regents is
also constituted, with advisory powers, consist
ing Of the Vice Admiral, commandants Of all
shore stations, chiefs of bureaus and the Com
manding General of the Marine Corps while
the actual government is vested in the hands
of an Executive Council of five officers, to
be chosen annually by ballot All officers of the
navy, the Marine Corps and the academic staff
OF the Naval Academy are eligible to member
ship without ballot, by payment of an annual
assessment of five dollars, and ''army officers,
eminent men of learning in civil life and dis
tinguished inventors of articles connected
with the naval and military professions, may
be elected associates.
The society, which is known as the Omitted
States Naval Institute" will hold regular
monthly meetings at such place as may be
most convenient, although it is presumed that
its meetings will usually be held at the Naval
Academy, as being the most easily accessible
to the greatest number Of its members. At
these meetings papers upon subjects of pro-
fessional interest will be read and discussed,
and afterward printed for distribution among
the members. Although as yet in its infancy
several papers of the greatest interest and
value have already been read before the
society, and others have been promised by
some of the most distinguished officers of the
service. Among the papers that have been
read thus far are:-s'The Battle of Lepanto,"
by Commodore F. A. Parker, author of our
present system of naval tactics and now Chief
of Staff to the North Atlantic feet; Manning
the Navy" by Captain S. B. Luce; 'The
Cruise of the Tigress,' by Lieutenant Com
mander H. c. White, Executive Officer of the
Tigress while on her expedition for the relief
of the Polaris survivors; Compound En-
gines," by Chief Engineer Baker, Head of De-
partment of Steam Enginery OF the Naval
Academy and, at the last meeting, paper
upon "Ships Compasses," &C., by Professor
B. F. Green, United States Navy, Superin-
tendent Of Compasses for the United States
Navy, an abstract of which appears elsewhere
The distribution of such matter as these
papers contain among our officers must GER
tainly be of the greatest benefit to them
directly by increasing their knowledge, and
indirectly by stimulating professional pride
and fostering scientific and literary tastes. 1t
is to be hoped that every officer in the service
will lend his influence to promote the success
of this society by enrolling himself at once as
a member. The following officers constitute
the Executive Committee for the current
year:-Commodore G. r. p. Rodgers, chair
man Commodore T. A. Parker, Commander
X. r. Breeze, Chief Engineer C. H. Baker,
Medical Inspector A. G. Gorgas. At regular
meetings the chair will be occupied by the
President Vice President or one of the Execu-
tive Committee, who will invite to preside
during the reading Of papers some one OF the
members present, the selection being made
with reference to the nature of the paper to be