Evening star., 1928-11-13
5OTH YEAR MARKED
AT COSMOS CLUB
Justice Stafford, Ex-Gov.
Pinchot and Others Speak
ers at Anniversary.

The Cosmos Club, conceived Novem-
ber is, 1875. last night celebrated the
fiftieth anniversary of its founding with
a brilliant gathering of men of science
and letters in the club quarters, Lafay-
cite Square and H street.
Two charter members attended the
meeting. They were Dr. William H.
Holmes. curator Of anthropology at the
National Museum. and DR., Henry S.
Pritchett. president of the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching. ...
Associate Justice Wendell Phillips
Stafford of the District Supreme Court,
president of the club, presided and
spoke at last nights meeting. Other
speakers were DR.. Roland Cotton Smith,
former rector Of st. Johns Church here;
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, George Otis
Smith, Charles E. Munroe, Marcus Ben
jamin and Clifford Pinchot. former
Governor of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Pritchett, representing the found
ers, gave his "reminiscences Of Wash
ington at the time when the club was
founded It was a village, he said,
frightened greatly, however, by the cos
1nopolitan nature of its residents.
l.
Stafford read a paper from DR.. L.. o;
Howard chairman Of the committee on
arrangements for the meeting, in which
he announced his regret that illness
precluded his attending the meeting.
DR. Howard's paper dealt with the club
during the World War period, when It
was thronged with noted men of
science from all over the world, who
had come to the United States to help
and direct m the production of arms
of war and to deal with the scientific
problems incident to the conduct. of the
war and the conservation of materials.
Munroe Tells of Trophies.
DR.. Munroe spoke on the various SOU
venirs of scientific achievement which
are a part of the club, as are. the
trophies of huntSmen or athletes OF
other such organizations. DR.. Wiley
dealt with personalities and groups with
in the clubs in humorous vein. For
mer Gov. Pinchot spoke reminiScently
of his long membership in the club. Dr.
George Otis Smith confined his re-
marks to the work of the. geologist
members of the club, which group, he
SaiG, has always been large one within
the membership and for a long time
formed the largest single group of any
science represented. Rev. Roland Cot
ton Smith outlined the growth of the
clergy membership since the formation
OF the organization. Marcus Benjamin'S
speech on the men of letters who have
Become members named long list o.
flustrious writers on the roster.
Formed as Social Club.
The club, as outlined half a century
ago by the first president, John w.
Powell, was formed as social club in
Washington on the models of the Cen
tury Club Of New York and the Scien-
tif1c Club of London, to be called the
Scientific Club of Washington and to
be composed of men interested in
science, professionally or otherwise"
Minutes of the meeting January 6,
1879, contained the names of So men,
and between that time and the annual
meeting, on January Is of that same
year, another name was added, bring
ing the club roster to the original so
sought.
Since that time the club has so
grown in prestige that it is considered
a signal honor for man to be made a
member. The club is one of the best
known scientific organizations in the
world.
Quarters of the club include the
Dolly Madison House, at the corner of
Lafayette Square and H streets. The
club quarters as now made up are in
three units. The main building, on
Lafayette Square; the Dolly Madison
House, and the Benjamin Ogle Tayloe
house next door.