Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-09
IS NEARING THE CLOSE
Business of the American InSti-
tute of Architects.
FOUNDERS DAY OBSERVED
Unwilling of Tablet This Afternoon
in Memory of the Organizers.
THE READING OF PAPERS TODAY
Order of Exercises Last Night-Pres-
entation of Medal to Sir
Aston Webb.
FOUNDERS DAY OBSERVED
THE READING OF PAPERS TODAY

The last day of the fortieth annual con-
vention of the American Institute of Archi-
tects which has been in session here since
Monday was veritable golden jubilee as
the convention is known. From last night,
when the presentation of The Institutes
medal for distinguished professional serv-
ices to Sir Aston Webb, architect to his
majesty. Edward VII and special guest of
the institute, until today, with the exer-
cises commemorative of the founding of the
institute, when many presentations of
greetings and addresses, reminiscent and
historical. were in order the meeting was
almost altogether of entertainment
In the afternoon at o'clock reception
and tea will be held at the Octagon House.
The unwilling of a tablet erected in honor
of the founder will follow, and then an ex-
hibitiOn of Illustrations of the works of Sir
Aston will conclude the entertainment:
This evening the annual dinner will be held
In the banquet hall of the New Willard.
Morning Session.
At this mornings session of the associa-
ton miscellaneous business was transacted,
and the discussion of several papers
also in order. The names of the officers
elected for the ensuing year were then an
nounced. They are: Frank Miles Day,
president: William B. Mundie. first vice
president; r. Clipton Sturgis, second vice
president: Glenn Brown, secretary and
treasurer: Walter Cook, Edgar " Seeler
and j. l.. Mauran, directors, elected for
three years, and Robert Stead auditor
The following fellows were admitted
into the institute William - Post, Henry
Bacon, John Russell Pope. James P. jamie
son. Allen B. Pond and c. A. Martin
The COrcoran Gallery of Art, where the
presentation of the medal occurred was
brightly lighted, its white colonnades and
plainness of decorations making the
roundings unusually attractive dais was
n "a mo ct 20 rrr-o
Upon 1t stood the receiving party. The
presentation ceremony was simple. Presi-
dent Day made the presentation address, to
which Sir Aston responded and Mr.. Esme
Howard, charge d'affaires of the British
embassy, delivered brief message of con-
CALCULATIONS from the King of England.
Presentation Address.
President Day, in presenting the medal,
watch was attached to green ribbon,
said in part
THE American Institute of Architects
establishes upon this the fftieth anniver-
sary of its foundation a medal, the in
terticn o: which IS TO mark distinguished
achievements in architecture wherever
found. To you Sir Aston Webb, it will be
our privilege tonight to give this medal
and we are gathered here to signalize not
merely bv that token. but by our presence,
the admiration that feel for your
WORKS and The resDect that we entertain
FOR your career.
THAT this iredal should first be given
to an f.nGIshman needs little explanation.
A reasonable mCdesty might well
strain us to look beyond our own borders
and II is hut Latural that our thoughts
should center en- that land with which,
r,Gre than wifi any 9th er, we are united
by ties of race and thought.
I'VE received from you the traditions of
Inigc Jones and Sir Christopher Wren,
traditions that gave vitality and charac-
ter to our colonial buildings, and at later
time the classical revival that swept over
Europe reached US directly from its Eng
lish source. William Thornton, who de-
signed the Octagon, he who stamped
definite and noble character upon the ma
tons Capitol. Thornton, no less than his
patron. Thomas Jefferson, gained his
knowledge of classic architecture from
those studies of it in which your country
men were pioneers.
1T is from among men such as these
that we have chosen you, sir, younger,
but no less distinguished man, to confer
upon you an honor which we shall per-
haps not frequently award; and, therefore,
and because an ancient custom sanctions
It, I am to recount in good set terms the
reasons that have moved US to choose you
as our medallist.
have not neglected to perform labor of
love in the restoration OF ancient ed1fices
as at the fine old Norman church of st.
bartholomew the Great, the Oldest church
In London. which for well-nigh thirty years
has been within your charge and which you
have rescued from neglect and ruin and
wisely rehabilitated.
That YOUR talents have not been unrec-
ognized by your countrymen is shown by
the volume of your works, by the honor OF
knighthood conferred upon you by the king.
and most of all by your election as a royal
academician.
And now sir because you have these
qualities and because for a lifetime you
have dedicated them with signal success
to the service of your profession, the
American Institute of Architects confers
upon YOU It's medal for distinguished
achiever- mt
Speech of Acceptance.
In accepting the gold medal Sir Aston
reviewed the history of architectural de-
sign in England and praised the work of
the American architects. He spoke of the
splendid architectural achievements which
he has seen and admired In Washington.
Philadelphia and New York during the one
week ne has spent In this country. Sir
Ashton, in part, said:
Il am afraid 1t is beyond my power ade
uuately to express in any words that 1
have at command the grateful apprecia-
ton that / feel and that l believe my
brother architects at home will feel. at the
great honor the American Institute of
Architects has been graciously pleased to
confer upon English architects through so
unworthy a representative as myself. for,
of course, | recognize in this award the
desire to honor English architects gen.
orally. from which stock We are proud to
think you yourself have sprung.
There is much in the architecture here
that is familiar TO us as We arrive in this
country, and there is much that is I'M
familiar. and therein 1t appears to me lies
the charm"
Preceding Reception.
The presentation was preceded by a re-
ception to Sir Aston. The receiving line
formed at the left of the entrance. 1t was
headed by Gen. Wilson, president of the
board of directors of the Corcoran Gallery
of Art. President Day presented the guests
to Sir Aston. The following ladies assisted
the receiving party: Mrs. Joseph c. Horn
blower and Mrs. Glenn Brown of Washing
ton: Mrs. George b. Post and Mrs. Cass
Gilbert OF New York; Mrs. Frank Miles Day
and Mrs. Albert Kelsey Of Philadelphia;
Mrs. Ralph Adams Cram and Miss Pea
body of Boston and Mrs. William B. Mundie
of Chicago.
At yesterday afternoons session. con-
tnuing after The Stars report had closed,
Glenn Brown introduced a resolution de-
claring that IL was the sense of the asso-
citation that Rock Greek should not be filed
up as petitioned for by the people of
Georgetown to Congress. The reason for
the resolution was that the act would spoil
the architectural plan of the city. The
resolution was passed.
Speeches We're made in favor of Chicago
and Cincinnati as good places for the next