The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-12
THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL ELECTION OF oFPIcERs-sEcRErARY
soUTHwoRTH Observation-Disclosures BY DR. s. W.
WILLIAMS.
The meeting Of the American Geographical Society
held last night Chckering Hall was attended by
many persons could gain admission The chair was
occupied by Rev. Roswell d. Hitchcock and upon the
platform Rev DIR. Adams Peter Cooper, Professor
Theodore W. Dwight, General George W Cullum,
Colonel Thomas Z. Acton and many other well known
citizens
The Secretary OF the Society, Mr.. Avian s. South
worth having resigned account OF the pressure OF
his business, Mr. Francis A. Stout moved vote OF
thanks which was carried with the greatest enthu-
siasm
The list OF officers for the present year, which is
published below, unanimously elected and, after
remarks from the chairman the lecturer OF the
evening introduced in the person of DR. S Wells
Williams, Secretary Of Legation and nterpre-
ter OF the American Legation in China,
after absence Of iorty-wo years During the past
few years DR.. Williams has published a Chinese and
English Dictionary OF some 10 600 words characters
and the we'll known book called "The Middle Kingdom +"
which SIR Frederic Bruce pronounced the very best
book extant about China
The speaker began by glancing at the climate and
topography of tho Celestial Kingdom and discussing
the influence which they had exered upon the national
character Thence he passed to its religion. The wor
ship OF ancestors and the peculiar position OF the En-
peror as the Son Of Heaven given as the reason
why China has been afflicted with priestcraf as
Egypt and so many other Eastern nations have. He
described the mode of electing officials IN China by
competitive examinations He referred to the spirit
OF progress that has crept INTO China within the
past quarter of a century that now, with her
800 GOO of people, she only waits for the light
OF the Gospel place her IN the front rank OF nations
The country had been thrown open foreigners, and
the people were anxious TO adopt European arts They
were, however, more slow TO adopt idea and
less inqusitive than their neighbors the Jap
anese This popularity shown in the
fact that while the latter people bought
steamboats, outright the Chinese merely hired them TO
see whether any money could be made out OF them
In this connection the speaker told humorous
story OF ambitious japanese who under
took 10 run steamboat but discovered,
when some distance from shore that
although he had learned TO start engine he knew
nothing about stopping one and was, consequently,
obliged TO steer his boat round and round
till the fires went out The highly interest
ing address was brought TO close with eulogy
of DR.. William Martin, the American who has charge
of the College at Pekn, and who known DR.. Will
Jams says by educated Chinese people than any
other ''outside barbarian living
The following the officers and council for 1876
lex A. Conklng, Francis A. Stout, George W. CulIum.
Foreign Corresponding Secretary-E r STRANGELY.
Domestic Corresponding Secretary-James Muhenberg
Bailey. Recording Secretary-Elial +. Hall Treas
urer-George CABOT Ward. Counc-William Remsen,
Theodore W. Dwight, T. Bailey Myers, W. H. II. Moore,
William f. Curtis Walton w. Evans Isaac Bernhemer,
II. Mangault Morris, Charles A. JOY, Harlow ~ Hoyt
Roswell ID. Hitchcock, Samuel L. VI. Barlow Isaac
Hayes, Paul Il. Du Chaillu, Clarence King