Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-07
NOTED MEN VIE IN
HONOR|NG EDISON,
MEDAL RECIPIENT
Wizard Hailed as World Ben
efactor When Presented With
Civic Forum Emblem.

As a world benefactor, Thomas A
Edison was honored last night at Car
negie Hall, New York, by reception
of friends who filled the auditorium
by tributes of scientific leaders and
by the presentation of the Civic
Forum medal for distinguished public
service. The medal was established to
give recognition to the person who
in ways of peace has performed some
signal service. 1t was first awarded
last year to Colonel George w. Goe-
thals for his work in connection with
the Panama canal.
DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler, Of CO.
lumbia University, presided. The
speakers were Percy MacKaye, ex-
Governor Fort, Aldermanic President
McAneny, Gulielmo Marconi, Richard
C. MacLaurin, Charles A. Coffin, John
A. Brashear. of Pittsburgh, and DIR.
Charles p. Steinmetz.
Among others on the platform were
Henry Ford, John Burroughs, Isaac
N. Seligman, Paul Manship, designer
Of medal Robert Underwood John
son, John Mitchell, DIR. George H.
Kunz, DR.. Henry S. Prittchett, DIR.
Albert Shaw, William II. Bliss, Pro-
fessor Arthur e. Kennedy, Ira N.
Hollis, r. L. Gould, E. IT. Hall, Theo-
dore N. Vail, Mrs. Ethelbert Nevin
and Mrs. e. II. Hartman.
Called World Benefactor.
While Mr.. Edison heard his praises
sung, his wife and family, seated just
behind him, beamed with pride and
love. The climax to the impressive
ceremony was reached when, the great
nI ctr A.,
Butler presented the medal, inscribed
to Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor,
World Benefactor."
THE ceremony In which we are
about to engage is characteristically
and significantly American" SAID
President Butler.
1--WE are gathered to award this
medal to Edison-seer, wizard, master
of the forces of nature to bend them
in manifold ways to the service of
man; to his happiness and uplifting.
He Is the hero of a thousand scientific
battlefields.
IF the European war represents
the triumph of brute force over the
better nature of man, this award
represents the triumph of mans bet
ter nature over brute force. If you
seek monument to Thomas A. Edi-
son, look around"
Poem In Wizards Honor.
The evenings tribute was not con-
fined to prose. Percy MacKee read
his poem, Edison" written for the
occasion.
The universally of the testimonial
was marked. Ex-Governor Fort
spoke of the inventor as "a resident
of New Jersey, a citizen OF the United
tot INtVf hA1A i've 20 Iaa
uncrowned king among men,"
President McLaurin said that for
more than a generation he had been
more than an inventor, he had been
an institution Of education. He is no
eight houra-day man; he works
twenty-four q day, II there Is any
thing to do"
Marconi, who was linked in the
honors of the evening with the white
haired Edison, told briefly of the ad-
miraton felt for Mr.. Edison in Eu-
rope, greater, perhaps, than In this
country
The human note was struck in the
testimonials when DR.. John A. Bra
shear, the astronomer, told of the din
ner given some years ago in honor of
Prince Henry, at which Edison was
present.
Even Prince Henry bowed to Edi-
son-dog- gone 1T, why shouldn't he"
he shouted, amid deafening applause
of the audience.
A sheaf of kilograms was read from
those who could not attend. One from
Theodore Roosevelt was greeted up
roarlously. There were others from
Cardinal Gibbons, Prof. Taft, Presi-
dent Emeritus Eliot, President Had
ley. Alexander Graham Bell and
William Dean Howells.