Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28

largest and perhaps the most influential
body devoted to that
Industrial science in the world.
r and the Washington
AWpvA taVc' branch OF this organi-
zation is among the most important OF
the thirty odd sections. According to
Dr. Harvey w. Wiley the American
Chemical Society has done more than
any other organization to develop the
Industrial activities of this country.
Its scope" said DR.. Wiley. covers
every branch of chemistry. Physiolog-
ical chemistry, pathological. mineral,
physical, organic and analytical chem
istry all come under the one general
heading, while chemistry as applied to
agriculture is also an important feature.
Consequently the society has been of
great benefit to the world at large in ad-
vancing the science of chemistry and aid
ing in its progress"
The Chemical Society of Washington is
so closely allied with the American
Chemical Society that to deal with one
necessarily means to tell OF both. The
American Chemical Society was organ
lied in 1874 in Northumberland, Pa,
on the occasion Of the Tooth ami
versary of the birth of Joseph Priestly.
the discoverer Of oxygen. who was driven
from England through both religious and
political persecution. He came to this
where he is buried.
At that time, while those who took
part in the formation of the society were
from all over the country,
Original the majority came from
New York COnSonnontly
0ooAe'y' the society became almost
a purely New York society, leaving those
who lived in other cities without any
practical benefits. The headquarters be-
came practically established in New York
as well. 1t was in January. 1884, just
ten years later. that the Washington
chemists banded into the Chemical So
ciety bf Washington, for the cultivation
of chemical science, pure and applied. :"
There were thirty-One original members,
including several who either then or since
have taken their places among the ranks
of noted scientists. Some of the original
members were Prof. Frank w. Clark,
Prof. Charles E. Munroe. Prof. w. F.
Hillebrand, DR.. Thomas E. Chatard. DR..
Henry C. Bolton, DR.. Harvey w. Wiley,
DR.. Frederick r. Dewey and DIR. William
3. Seaman.
Washington and American Chemical So
cfeties the membership was small. The
American Chemical Society reached q
membership of about 200. and the Wash
ington society about fifty. Then in the
early nineties there arose project for
the amalsamation of the two bodies.
At first 1t was the idea of the New York
body for the Washington body simply
to join forces with 1t and become a
part of the New York, or. as it was
actually called. the American Chemical
Society. To this. however. the Wash
ington society would give no heed. Its
members were willing enough to join, but
not to lose their individuality entirely,
as would be the case were they to fol-
low the other society's proposition.
The discussion for and against the
amalgamation was long and heated, and
resulted in the appoint
Amalgamation ing of committee by
n:.s the local organization
sOus'e~' for the purpose Of
drafting a new constitution whereby the
amalgamation could be brought about
without the necessity of doing away with
all the local bodys- freedom. DR.. Wiley
headed the committee, the other men,
bers being Prof. Frank w. Clark and
were also members OF the American
Chemical Society. in addition to being To-
caily afiliated. The result OF the whole
matter was that the constitution OF the
whereby the entire organization was to
become the American Chemical Society,
and the New York organization was to
be simply the New York section and the
local body the Washington section. The
constitution, in other words. was along
States. giving each of the sections its
own governing power and individuality.
And so, on December IA, 1888. the re-
vised constitution was adopted. and the
istence with two sections. and a member
ship numbering less than 300. December,
1893. second revision of the constitution
was adopted.
+
The membership dues are $40. which
money goes to the American Chemical
Society. That body. in turn,
Present pays the actual running ex-
p.:. penses of the local section. In
O"eAs' addition each member re-
ceives the three publications of the
American Chemical Society. one monthly
and two bi-monthly magazines. The
meetings of the local section are held at
the Cosmos Club the second Tuesday of
each month, October to May. inclusive
with two meetings in addition In Balti-
more. The territory Of the local section
comprises 1.-The District Of Columbia and
all of the state of Maryland and vir-
GINA east of the 10th meridian" That
includes Baltimore and the nearby small
towns. Two meetings of the American
Chemical Society entire are held each
year, a summer and a winter meeting.
The place has not yet been selected for
the summer meeting. but 1t is expected
that the December meeting will be
In Cleveland, Ohio. The membership of
the local society at the present time num-
bers almost 800. the majority of which
are Washington scientists connected with
the government.
The officers of the Washington section
are ]. A. LeClerc. president; C. E..
Waters. first vice president; NJ. X. Sulli-
van. second vice president; H. s. Bailey.
secretary, and F. p. Dewey, treasurer.
The executive committee is composed OF
the foregoing officers and H. c. Gore.
Weber. I. K. Phelps is the chairman of
ton chairman Of the entertainment COM
section is allowed to have one member
organization. Washington's quota is
three, c.. L. Alsberg, p. III. Walker and g..
F. AGREE The past president of the
bers of this council. and Washington is
| IN NOV a Len Gfyo