Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-18
HONOR FRANELIN'S MEMORY
Two Hundredth Anniversary Of Birth Of the
Philosopher Celebrated,
EXERCISES WILL LAST FOUR DAYS
DELEGATES from Learned Societies In
All Parts of the world Are
Guests OF American phil
osOphIcal society.

PHILADELPHIA. April lin the pres
ence Of brilliant gathering OF persons
distinguished in the arts science, literature
and in many branches of education. the
four days celebration in this city of the
2o0th anniversary Of the birth Of Benjamin
franklin was formally opened in Wither-
spoon hall tonight by the reception Of dele
gates from societies and institutions Of
learning in all parts of the world Many
OF tho delegates arr men who have re-
ceived high honors in their chosen calling
and as they fled into the hail wearing
their decoration or their academic robes
and took their seats they presented a bril-
liant scene
The celebration is in charge of the Ameri-
can Philosophical society, for promoting
useful knowledge, founded in 1743, and of
which BENJAMIN Franklin was the first
president Besides the reception Of dele
gates and invited guests, formal addresses
Of feicitation from societies and educa-
tional institutions in Europe and America
were read. and Andrew Carnegie lord rector
of the University Of ST. Andrews, conferred
the degree of doctor Of laws upon Miss
Agnes Irwin. dean of Radcliffe college, who
is a great great granddaughter of Benjamin
Franklin.
Memorial to franklin,
Vice President Provost Edgar Smith Of
the University of Pennsylvania and presi-
dent of the American Philosophical society,
delivered the address of welcome, in which
he gave a history OF the society and re-
counted many interesting events in the life
Of Franklin. In concluding he suggested
the erection of a memorial to Franklin. He
said:
AS ono reflects and ponders upon the
initiative given to scientific research here
in America by him whose memory is so
greatly revered in many fields of human
activity the inquiry comes, why has there
never been erected some fitting memorial
10 Franklin? Is this neglect Of his own
great discoveries in physical science and
the inspiration he gave to later generations
OF seekers after the truth to continue2
Following the address of welcome the
presentation of addresses took place. A
Inc reception was extended to Sir George
Howard Darwin, X. c. b. of the Uni
vorsity of Cambridge, who brought from
hat institution an address I'm Latin, which
rnre the ancient seal Of Cambridge uni
ersity OF the time of Henry VI
Other Addresses Presented.
! Andrew Carnegie. as the lord rector Of
! lie university of st. Andrews, presented
| the address of that institution. In pre-
senting the address, Mr.. Carnegie said
upon Franklin in 1859 and that he had been
charged to say that in looking back over
| fve centuries Of its history, St. Andrews
! found no greater satisfaction in any action
4 IL mas taken than IN houertrig Franklin
at that time. Among other universities
and societies to present addresses were:
! The University Of oxford. University of
Glasgow University of Edinburgh. L, Acad-
| mie des Sciences de Paris Harvard uni
versity, the Royal Society, London; Uni
| versity OF Berlin, Yale university Prince
ton university. Columbia university, the
! Royal Institution of Great Britain, Royal
| Philosophical society of Glasgow and more
than 100 others from Russia, Spain, Italy
| Holland. Australia, Ireland, Finland and
! many of the states in the American union
Grand Duke Constantine, president of the
Acadamie Imperiale de Sciences Of St
Petersburg cabled the felicitations OF the
! academy.
The evenings exercises were brought tC
| a close by an informal reception to tho
delegates and invited guests OF the Philo.
sophical society.
TomorrOw's celebration OF Franklin's
birth will be given over to day and night
meetings of the philosophical society ir
| Independence hall, at which papers OF
many scientific subjects will be read.