New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-21
AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
ITS ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTErH ASNI.
vERSARY. tf
The American Philosophical Society Of Phiadel.
phia which to celebrate the one hundred and fieth
anniversary Of its foundation Tomorrow Its ex.
istence to Benjamin Franklin. 1t Is true that the
organization formed by him in 1743 did not at first
prosper as was expected The country was too young
and men Of scientific attachments were not numerous
enough. But In 1867 1t took fresh start and ever
since then 1t has held an honorable place in the world
Of philosophical speculation. Its presidents beginning
with Its first. Benjamin Franklin, have nearly all
been men OF mark and II has incli.ded In It, men.
bership goodly array Of philosophers and scensts.
both American and European In the words of Frank
ln the sphere Of the society includes "invcstiga-
lions In botany, in medicine. In mineralogy and min.
Ing I'm chemistry In mechanics In arts. trades and
manufactures, In geography and topography. in ag-
culture; and 1t also to give lis attention to all
philosophical experiments that let light into the nature
OF things tend to increase the power OF man over
matter and multiply the coDyenenccs pleasures
Of llfen good many avenues OF knowledge have
been opened up since the sage drew up this pros.
pectus but It is sufficiently comprehensive to cover
them ALL Indeed, 1t would be hard TO Imagine any
line OF thought discovery that might not be made to
fall under the purview Of this society. Since its
organization papers on government, history, educa-
ton philanthropy, politics, religion and worship. be-
sides no end Of abstruse but valuable essays
ly scientific TOPICS have been read before II BY long
line OF savans. native and foreign and its
tons form important index TO the intellectual prog
ress OF the country.
Among It's earlier foreign members DR.. william
Cullen. of Edinburgh; DIR. John Fohcrg of London;
the Count de Button. OF Paris: TeTre Eugene du
smitlere and DR.. Priestley. OF England. Among its
earlier American members may be found the names
Of men distinguished in every walk OF life. Francis
IIopklnsOn writer and statesman. DR.. Phineas Bond
DR.. Adam Kuhn. of Maryland: Benjamin West the
artist; John Dickinson, the author Of Farmers Let
ters": John Barram, the botanst Cadwallader Col
den, Lieutenant Governor OF New York. who intro
duced into this country the Linnaean system Of bota
ny: the Rev. Ebenezer Kimersley, OF Philadelphia to
whom Franklin owed much OF his success In electrical
discovery Dr. Samuel Brown OF Virginia. who intro
duced vaccine into the country: Bishop White Of
Pennsylvania: DR.. Rittenhouse. the great American
astronomer: witty old Able Correa de Sierra. Judge
Peters, DR.. Caspar wistar. DR.. Benjamin Rush. Dr.
James Abccrombie, Peter s. Du Ponceau. Chief JUS
tlce Edward Tghman. Jared Ingers0l President John
Adams and President Madison.
Charles Wilson Peae, the artist, known as the
elder Peale, the socetys curator for many years.
He painted portraits OF its lustrous officers and
members Ills son. Franklin Peae one Of the found
ers OF the Franklin Institute also a member
Philadelphia delightful city in those days. as
indeed II Is now and some OF the most brilliant events
In its social history centre around the American Phlo
sophcal Society The names OF Drs. Wstar and Rush.
who, entertaining hosts. were literally hosts In
themselves. are venerated by all true Phadelphans'
Those gala days. when the society turned out to
welcome the Baron Won Humboldt, when the elder
Peae presented to the assembled philosophers a four
months old born In the building. or when some
Of its famous racontelrs gave his brethren dinner
or when the grave Bishop White. not then bishop
helped Miss Shewen to elope with Benjamin West
or when Or. Wlstar discovered a new bone. or Dr.
Furniss. by his preaching helped to take some bones
out OF Calvinism. Boston and New-York pride them
selves on being centres of good fellowship: but the
writer OF this. though New Yorker must admit that
I'm this respect Philadelphia crowds them pretty close
": and OF al organizations In the world philosophl
cal society the rason d'etre.
1t has been the credit Of the society that II has
always admitted women, and 10 the credit Of the
Z" ntuitivc SEX that there have always been women
eligible for membership. Among them NAV be men,
toned Mary somervie, the English astronomer: Pro-
f.ssor Maria Mitchell. of Vassar College. and Mrs.
Agassz. one OF the earliest woman members was
the Russian Princess Daschkof lady waiting 10 the
Empress Catherine III.
umcs. + most valuable one. containing many rare
books and manuscripts; Among The later Is the IN:
the Pacific Coast secured for the society by Thomas
Jefferson Its building on HfthSt, Philadelphia. was
ted 1852 AM IN" society i cnurell ueOt
The programme OF this weeks exercises will be- as
follows President Frederick Fraley will deliver the
address OF welcome tomorrow evening responses
being made by various delegates. on the four sue
credlng the Business sessions will begin at IL am.
on Tuesday. May %. President Fraley will speak
on the History OF the American Philosophical So
ciety., on Wednesday President D. {. Gilman. Of
Johns lIophns University. will sneak on the Present
Aspects OF science In America followed by President
Jcln !. Keane on Phlosophy's Place among sci.
ences" and Colonel G. Nalery scientific Societies
OF Washington" N THURSDAY Dr. :. A; Green MI
speak on benjamin Franklin Printer. Patriot. Phi.
losopher" Professor J. NJ. IIoppn on Philosophy Of
Art" and Er J. c. Morris on 80 The state Historical
Societies OF the United states"
on Friday Captsin Rousseau dlIqpponronrt Will
speak on " Determination Of Gravity by Means OF
Pendulum Apparatus: Dr. Isaac Roberts on " Illus
irat'ons of Progress Made During Recent Years In
Astronomical Science" AMI Professor George Rark-
or on Elcctrrity.- Lieutenant { ooEel Il. Dauble-
s'yv Won Stcrnock Will also speak.
The last four evenings will 10 devoted N the social
entertainment Of the guests Of the society. A re.
cep,on will be given to them BY the University 81
PENNSYLVANIA THURSDAY. Nav IS. and the Drexel
Institute and G.. w. Childs will entertain them on
two OF the other evenings.