Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-15
LARGE FUND SOUGHT
George Washington Memorial
Building Proposed.
TO CONTAIN AUDITORIUM
Meeting Place for Large Gatherings
in This City.
EFFORTS TO RAISE $4,000, 900
Hope Of Getting the Amount by
Next Febufary-Appeal Made
to Scientists.

Plans are now we'll under way to raise
a fund of $2.500.oO0 for the erection in
this city Of a George Washington memo
rial building in commemoration of the
first President OF the United States and
his interest in higher education: and to
furnish home and gathering place for
national patriotic. scientific. educational,
literary and art organizations. The build
ing Is to contain a great hall or audi
forum. rooms for large congresses such
as the recent tuberculosis congress. rooms
for small and large meetings. Offices for
the various societies. including the wash
inston Academy OF Sciences and its
sixteen af1iliated bodies, and students re-
search rooms
The project is in charge Of the George
Washington Memorial Association. which
was Incorporated hero in $685. In response
to call made to the patriotic women Of
the country. but It is only now that the
plans to raise the o-milaon-hve-hun-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fund have assumed
a nationwide scope. In addition to the
building 1t is intended to obtain an en-
dowment adequate for its maintenance.
"
Washington will be sent to each con.
tributor. and his name and address win
be entered in the permanent record Of the
undertaking.
President. Mrs. Henry F. Dimock. New
York: vice presidents, Mrs. Charles D.
Walcott, Mrs. Henry r. Mallory, Mrs.
Charles j. Bell. Miss Bessie ]. Kibbey
and and Mrs Mrs. Fredsrick Mcclure: trustees.
Thompson and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins:
recording secretary. Mrs. Susanna p.
Gage. ithaca, N. y: corresponding Sec
reary. Mrs. Francis NJ. Scott: treasurer.
Mrs. Frank Northrop. New York: trus-
tee Of permanent fund. Charles ]. Bell;
advisory council. Elihu Root, President Ira
Remsen. Prof. H. Fairfield Osborn. Gen.
Horace Porter. President Charles ]. Dab
ney, DR.. Charles d. Walcott and Charles
]. Bell.
Hopes Of Raising Fund by February
1t Is hoped that the memorial building
fund Of $2,50o.OO0 will be raised by Feb
ruary %. 1910. the hundred and seventy
eighth anniversary OF the birth Of WASH
ington. Plans have been drafted for &C
quainting the people Of every state. coun-
ty and city with the project. through a
series Of special lectures in every section.
churches. civic bodies and the members
Of patriotic and educational societies In
all parts Of the United States
AS further aid, amusement managers
will be asked to join in an arrangement
for special benefit performances through
out the country on the ensuing anniter-
sary Of Washington's birthday.
Washington's Wish.
Mrs. Mary F. Dimock. president Of
the association. speaking Of the plans.
said: The last will and statement Of
George Washington bore this statement.
1t has long been my ardent wish to see
a plan devised on a liberal scale which
would have a tendency to spread sys-
tematic ideas through all parts Of this
rising empire. thereby to do away with
local attachments and state prsjudices
as far as the nature OF things would.
or. indeed. ought to. admit. from our
national councils
In that last will. too" said Mrs.
Dimock. Washington personally pro-
vided that $4,000 of his estate should
be devoted to the endowment Of an in
stitution Of higher learning. and he ex-
pressed an earnest wish for the pro-
motion of science and literature and
the general diffusion of knowledge
Washington's legacy Is no longer avail
able, but scores of universities and col
leges are educating American youth &C
cording to his dearest desire.
The Country's Debt to Washington.
However, viewed in a broader sense.
his last earnest wish has never been
carried out by the people Of the nation
he founded. This project proposes that
all Americans now pay their moral debt
to the father OF their country by
creating a national headquarters and
auditorium for all their organizations
generally engaged in spreading knowl-
edge throughout the land.
"Among the 100000 Of citizens. we
feel sure we will be given support TO IN
sure the $2,500,000 required for this
magnificent and permanent memorial
There is not a national organization In
the land but will benefit by the accom-
modations which this structure will at
ford in a utilitarian way.
Appeal to Scientists.
In a circular sent out by the building
committee of the Washington Academy
of Sciences, In cooperation with the
George Washington Memorial Associa-
ton. the secretary says the association
lis conducting an active campaign and is
meeting with gratifying success in its
EFFORTS to obtain subscriptions.
'.To> the scientific societies OF Washing
ton such a building has an especial value
and their members are urgently asked to
co-operate in securing contributions.
with such building available here,
Washington would be the natural meet
ing place for the great national and In
ternational congresses from which greater
stimulating forces could emanate than II
sessions were held in other centers at
intervals necessarily far apart.
'.The Washington Academy OF Sciences
has enlarged it's building committee so as
TO include in its membership representa-
tives from all Of the affiliated societies.
The member who has handed to you this
brief statement will call upon you for
subscription, hoping that its purpose ana
assured success may prompt you to Join
your colleagues and friends In carrying
out in the highest sense the great thought
"a WA shinofon which as vet has not