New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-18
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S CAREER.
THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
HONORING ITS FOUNDER
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHlLOsO
PIERS DEATH-HIs ATTAINMENTS IN
SCIENCE, LITERATURE, DIPLo-
MACY AND OTHER FIELDS.
NV TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. I


MACY AND OTHER FIELDS.
nv TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune
Philadelphia, April 17-Bcniamn Franklins career,
chiefly In It's relation to science but from other points
OF view in minor degree, was COMMUNICATED by
appropriate addresses delivered tonight before the
American Philosophical Society the occasion being the
centennial anniversary OF Franklin's DEATH The
society was founded by Franklin in 1740, and through
out his life object OF his afectlonate solcl-
tude. II has been maintained in active and useful
service TO science for nearly a century and half.
It's membership is largely local. but the sphere OF It's
Influence has been WIDE owing its origin 10 Franklin,
and anxious to put into some permanent form ntunS
memorial Of his scientific ab0rs, the society mas hcu
this public meeting the proceedings of which are to
be printed in handsome volume and transmitted to
all its scientific CORE ,ponGents and exchanges.
The meeting held in Association Hall. IL are"
together large emby. to which science ana fasoh
both contributed numerousy TalcOtt Williams, OF Ihc
Philadelphia Press presided. having upon the stage
at his side the venerable DR.. Frederick fraley thc
president Of the society. In the body OF the hall sat OF
Franklln's descendants James May Duane. Mrs. E. d.
Gillespie and the Misses Irwin. There were also pres
cnt, among those best known In sclentlhc literary ana
other affairs DR.. Harrison Allen president OF the so
ciety Of American NaiuIalsts: DIR. John H. Packard
George W. Childs, Professor kOcnig. George DEB.
Kem. DR.. Isaac u. Hayes. Editor OF The American
Journal Of Medical Sciences. George Harding PROBES
sor Henry d. Gregory. Professor J. p Leslie Wllllan
V McKcan j. Sergeant Price, Professor Iheophius far
win. Dr. j. soils Cohen Dr. Charles +. soious Profes-
sor Oswald Scidensticker Samuel W. Penny packer.
Henry Phillips, IT,. Dr. Charles A. oliver Professor
j. f. Rothrock DR.. William Thomson. Richard aux,
Professor james Tyson. William John Potts, Arthur
Fiddle Hampton L. Carson. Professor William "oouc'
Dr. William II. Greene. Professor Edwin D. houston
Professor ". W. Keen. DR.. Horace Jayne Dr frahcs
w. Lewis Professor James McAllistcr. Admiral NC
Caulcy, !. Vaughn Merrick, Thomas NJ. CeemaIl' the
Rev j. Woosey Hodges. Lewis Vossion, professor
James f. Garretson. William Wayne. Colonel John +.
Nicholson c. Z. Turner and the Rev. Charles A.
Dickey
The proceedings consisted entirely Of brief addresses
Mr. Williams, after referring 10 the purpose 81 INC
assembly, introduced Professor John Bach McAastcr
Of the University Of Pennsylvania, who delivered
biographical sketch Of Franklin. in which the CHIEF
ncidcnt, Of the lattcrs remarkable were graph
ically presented. The Professor summed up Frank
Inns career as the most interesting and the most
universally successful which has been lived BY any
American. 40 one, he said, has acquired ercaneSs
In so many ways or has produced an impression 50
lasting upon his countrymcn.
Dr. Frederick Fracy, tho president OF the society,"
told Of rs origin Of Franlln's association with IT,
Indoubcdly he said the society owed IT'S existence
TO the difficulties under which knowledge was pur'
sued in tie earlier part Of the eighteenth century
Rocks were available only 70 the wealthy, ana IN
order 10 overcome TIL, practical embarrassment
Franklin when only twenty three years od' bronshs
around him a junto Of young men whose tastes were
similar 10 his and who made common cause III all
efforts at self education This was the beginning
remote, but clearly asccraincd, Of the American
Philosophical society. Its name and il form were
acquired later. IL became, under Franklin an en-
nent institution an aid 10 all the scientific investiga
ton # the age. For twenty years he was It's
Pre- -dcnt and always It's chief split. Through u'e
society he gave ont the results of his studies.
DR. o. Brown tiOodc, OF the Smithsonian institution
described Franllln's literary abors. II was ny
what he wrote said Dr. GOodc, that he was Known
abroad, where according to John Adams ne Wd3 Dca
ter known than Frederick The Great and better loNcd
than any other living man mat nc was aeoos'iNer
q, httcreur of the highest aDlhis l. "i,lesscI ~
the famous description Of his meeting WIN 'Vi-
iairc-thcn >ophoclc, and soon cmDra Gu. az,
literary remains may De ulNlue'i Ht1 II 40
M, auobiography which has run into l'O editions, aiu
K one II the greatest books ever WFlcn ms ahiaia
the beginning Of American p'roN'a lilcia.ulr, I'm
has been oficncr translated into oresh tongues tl'
any other American work his p s0rai v faSSs his
n0litlcal tracts, Of which forty remain MS scsntv
papers described by sir Humphrey DsVy u' a. asn
means for The cstabli ,hment " Efu rnl.S r i
his spoudcnce. lie ai"ays Sons' 70 p
mme-iiaie results: yet he is today ieeafuea a.
writer without an acquaintance Win "ho" "o e'u'"
tlOn Is unisi ,, H.,
professor Holland Of the jefferson Medical 90. ,Io
legc told of Frankllns scientific work. WHICH, .'e
sneaker said was contracted within no Specti me.
Franklin, ideas all practical lie vas INC irI'
man who understood the relation 10 heaiIh oi 'enl
l,ion and equal temperature in houses oh .
with hs writings on these subject, were MS nNel!-
ton, I'm regard To chinncys ana stoves, MS VI.
meal lens like his smOkccS> stove REMAINS Today
an invention upon which no theoretical I'm. I'M
provencnt has been made. lie was inc iT7s .
man who undertook 10 chart tho currents , hlu
winds ~ the ocean, and 10 snow ~"
they might serve. and not hinder nANlPStIoh. i,r
first suggested the idea of alright compartments III
naval architecture. t. which the pas chEerN oi 'ie
Ciiy ~ Par, lately owed their lives III, ahaN7 It,
Of thc northwest storm was the leSlnhlhe OF tnc
Silence hv which the signal piice foTeiciis the
wr,thcr All these di,,ovcll's wer, OF Shaii SIX
uincancc when compared with the proofs ne an
dI.ced that the spark created hy friction dluer' oiN
m its kind from the thundcrbot forged III the
clouds. A., ,-,i,.o, H. .,
Professor Henry ". Baird. Of the lnVer,ny OF
the CIV of New York. closed the proceeding, WIN u
militant and scholarly address descriptive 81 FRANK
I'M, diplomatic achievements. IP',' rEtel To tut''
periods. that preceding the Declaration 81 inde-
ucndcucc while he wa, in London a. 'ommlN~loner
~ the Colonies: that undertaken A. TIE envoy or inc
com federation. and that in which he was the
ambassador ~ an independent people. IN cacl r.
l,tion he proved himself a statesman ana dip!oma
those suucrior Europe Wa unable to furnish ana
yhos. services were not only {" NJ, Own country,
Int t. humanity In almost an equal proportion.