Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-27
THE HISTORICAL sOCIETY.
National Body Of Learned Men IL
Council.

Council.
OPENING SESSION AT THE COLUMBIAN CNryEH-
sTTY To-pAY-THE GATHERING WELCOMED By
HON. GEORGE BANCRoFT-A LETTER FROM
Won RANKE--PAPERs READ TO-DAY, ETC.
its third meeting In the lecture hall of the
Columbian University at ten o'clock this morn
ing. The hall was at that hour well filed with
ladies and gentlemen. Among the members
of the association present were the venerable
president, Hon. George Bancroft, of this
city; the vice presidents, Professor Justin
Winsor, of Harvard; President Charles Ken
dali Adams, of Cornell; the secretary,
Dr. Herbert B. Adams. OF Johns Hopkins, the
treasurer; Clarence Winthrop Bowen, of New
York; VIM. b. Weeden, of Providence: Charles
Deane, of the MASSACHUSETTS, Historical society;
connn, and Prof franklin B. Dexter, of Yale,
members Of the executive council; Dr. George
Dr. James c. Weliing, Of Columbian university,
Washington, ID. C.; Judge Mellen Chamberlain,
Of tho Boston public library; Prot. George w.
tin Scott, Of Rutgers college; Eben G. Scott
ESQ.,. OF Wilkesbarre, Pa; President D. G. Gill
nam nam. PE JarIssen and DR. Ely OF
ter. Of this city; Mrs. Martha B. Lamb, editor
Of the Magazine of American History; William
ming, OF Harvard; Col. VIM. Allan, of Baltimore:
Gen. George w. Cullum, U. 3. A.; Hon. Henry
Adams and Col. John Hay. Mr.. w. w. Cor
coran was present during part OF to-days ses-
Hon. George Bancroft, the venerable his
torlan: called the association to order and de-
nvered the address Of welcome.
A LETTER FROM Won RANKE.
He presented also q letter from Leopold Won
Ranke, the great German historian, dated at
Berlin, February 14th, 1856, replying to q COM
munication notifying him of his election as an
honorary member of the association. Won
rRa is
has been conferred. In his letter OF acknowl-
edgment he said:
ut gives me great satisfaction to belong to
society pursuing the same aims beyond the
ocean that We on this side are striving to
achieve. Such unity OF studies binds together
people widely separated, yet allied by ancient
kinship. 1t fills me with especial Joy to see
Mr.. George Bancroft, one of the masters in our
science, extending his hand to me from affair
bound me to himself by ties Of reverential
friendship"
PAPERS READ TODAY.
The regular program was then taken up. The
first on the list was paper on Columbus" by
Gen. James Grant Wilson, president of the New
York Genealogical and Biographical Society.
Gen. Wilson, in his paper, dweit especially upon
the approaching 4OOth anniversary of the dis
fifty commemorate the great historical event.
He said the king OF Spain and other distinguish
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES much interested in the event,
and would heartily cooperate in its proper cell
ebration. He alsOspoke OF the statue of Column
bus TO be erected in Central Park in 1892, and
exhibited picture of the proposed statue. He
showed also picture of the Duke of Veragua,
the representative of the family of Columbus
in Spain.
paper on ''The landau of John Cabot in 1497'
and DR.. A. b. Hart read one on Graphic Meth
DDS OF illustrating History" exhibiting exam
pies of maps and charts. The last paper of the
days session was by Prof. Tyler OF Cornell and
the subject "The Neglect and Destruction of
Historical Materials in this Country" He sug-
"a a 10 OF Of i1far snal as.,
tons should be given to the preservation of
documents and papers of every sort which are of
value as bearing testimony concerning the past.
MIR. BANCRoFTs ADDRESS.
The address of welcome by Hon. George Ban
croft was eloquent and thoughtful 1t was
listened to with profound interest. He referred
to the pursuit OF the historian as one of the
grandest that solicit the attention of man. APP
plying the theory OF history to our own nation,
he sketched rapidly the growth OF our govern
ment. The singular combination OF the best
elements OF the past in our institu-
tions, he said, favored our increase OF
cause OF antagonism in our country was
removed, there ceased to be any cause of dis
never was and there never can be a collision
between the west and the east for they both
alike wish the highways between the Oceaus to
be free, and by universal consent for the in
habitants from the remotest point where Maine
touches Canada to the southwestern line OF
California, from the orange groves of Florida to
the strait where the Pacific ocean drives its
deep tide swiftly between its walls of basat,
there Is the one simple rule OF lnter-citizenship
and universal free-trade under government OF
the people by the people.
The people of the United States are the most
conservative in the world, for they cheris Ia
selfgovernment the most precious of pos
Sessions. They make laws deliberately only
after long reflection, and they only make laws
Within the limits Oh their constitutions.
THE COMING SESSIONS.
At to-night's session papers will be read by
Alexander Brown, esq, of Nelson county, Va;
Hon. VIM. Writ Henry, of Richmond, Va; DIR.
Edward Charming, of Harvard, and T. Jeffer-
son Cuoledge, jr., of Harvard. The association
will continue In session TO morrow and Thurs
day.