The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-17
Is of Great Importance to
 Scientific Men
HISTORY IS REVIEWED
Was Founded in 1645 and One of the Most Famous Members Was Isaac NewtOn-Massaere Survivor
 Celebrates Gold Wedding
Nv PAIL LAMBETH

the most important celebrations Hof the year. especially. to scientific men the world over, will be the 18th anniversary of the Royal society a#
 There is no higher honor in the world of science than a fellowship in the e4so- eiety. t
 In keeping with the august, character of the society, the celebration will be on an expensive scale. 4H4 &
 Invitations will be issued to the prin- cipal universities and scientific societies both at home and abroad. to send dele gates for the occasion. King George will entertain his fellow members of the Royal society and it's native and foreign guests; the lord mayor and corporation of the city of London are to give ban quet in their honor at the Giuld Hall while among the features of the ceiebra- ton will be their welcome by the univer- sfties of Oxford and Cambridge.
 The Royal society was founded in 1645, but it was not until 1862 that 1t was char tered. under it's present name by King Charles. T.
 Sir Robert Moray was elected president after he had brought word from King Charles that he warmly approved of the scheme and was much interested therein. The membership of the society was linn tied to 55, fellows of the Royal College of physicians and the professors of mathematics, physics and of natural phil osophy of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge being admissible as associ- ates The following year King Charles applied for election as an ordinary mem ber and that seems to have been the origln-of the title of the organization as The "Royalr society,"
 Until the great fire of London the so- tcetya continued, to hold it's meeting in Gresham college. but when after that eonfagration the premises of the Royal society In Gresham college were required for the use of the burned out city au- thorities, 1t was invited by Henry How ard, sixth Duke of Norfolk. fo establish itself under his roof at Arundel HousS At the same time he presented It with the valuable library collected by. his grandfather, Thomas. Earl of Arundel. the nucleus being thus formed of the important collection of scientific works. numbering some hundred thousand vol- tunes. which are today owned by the so- ciety te
 Oae of the most famous members Of the society was undoubtedly Sir Isaac Newton, who was elected in 1871. the journal book recording that the Lord Bishop of Salisbury proposed for cand- date Mir Isaac Newton. lprofesspIf of mathematics of the University of Cam bridge't Exactly 3oe years later Newtoh was chosen president, an office which he held for a quarter of a century--that Is 10 say. until his death In 172T It was during Sir 1saacs presidency that the members of the society were appointed by the crown to he visitors and directors of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. In fact the. Royal Observatory at Green wich remained under the sole charge and direction of the Royal society until the reign of William ", who added inc president and six of the fellows of the Royal Astronomical society to the board of management.
 In 17So the government of the day placed at it's disposal a handsome and ex- tensivo suite of apartments in Somerset House, where the Royal academy and the Royal Society of Antiquaries were also quartered. In 1857 the three soci- cites were moved by the government to Burlington House, Piccadilly, where the Royal society has met ever since, and where next summer the chief celebration or US EoNli DlIIilQdN VIII ldht pietOts
 The Royal society has a patron saint in the person of St. Andrew and invaria- bly holds it's annual election of officers on St. Andrews's day.
 These comprise the members of the council who number 21. and from whom are chosen the president, the treasurer and the two principal secretaries and the foreign secretary. The revenues of the society are derived from various endow- aS lands In fhn (fhalSpa district bestowed by Charles II; from hequests such as that of Sir William Me Kinnon, and donations such as those, for instance. of Sir Benjamin Thompson; from the annual contributions and compo- sition fees of the fellows, and from an nuat grant by the government That these funds are administered not selfish ly. hut for the public veal; is best shown hv the fact that each year the sociery deVotes many hundreds of pounds to the promotion of scientific research, especial- iy in defraving the cost of experimental work hy scientists whose lack of means iuterferes with their useful activities.
 The Royal society has during -the 25O years of it's existence been at all times the principal adviser of the state in all i scientific matters, and it still has the custody of the standard copies of the Imperial Standard Yard and Pound; also control of the National Physical Lab oratory an institution established by the lgoVernment in 1899 on the recommends | tion of the society. It superintends the l work of the Kew Observatory. and it was in response to its initiative that the gov ernment inaugurated. the Geodetic survey | of 17S4; the General Trigonometrical sur lNey began in 179; the expeditions of Cap | tain Cook to observe the transit of Venus
 and the same commanders crcumnavl- | gation of the globe: the various Arctic l Il. IDa,,, l.
 and Mares; the Challenger expedition, the
 international seismological investigation l system. tidal observations. protection Of l buildings, lighting and tropical diseases, | color blindness, with especial regard to
 railroads and ship signals.
 1 Indeed there is practically no end to | the number of matters about which the l government seeks the advice of the soci- l ety, or concerning which the society of 1 it's own initiative makes representations | to the state. keeping at the same time ir l touch with learned societies in all parts 1 of the globe.
 The sole survivor of an 1859 massa ere at Teira del Fuego, off South America
 has just celebrated his golden wedding 1 in Bristol. He Is Alfred Cole who was
 a member of the crew of the Allan Gard
 ner missionary schooner, which visited l Tierra del Fuego. and he was left ir 1 charge of the ship while the rest of tho
 party. eight in number, went ashore tc
 hold a religious service. Whilst the ser
 vice was In progress the natives made 6
 surprise attack and killed the whole party Unable to manage the boat him | self or to hold off the natives, Mir. Cole 1 escaped by land He wandered about the | island. for 16 days, lived on water and
 grasses, but in the end had to throw him self on the mercy of the natives whose
 blood lust has passed, however, and thes | left him at liberty. MT. Cole was com