Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
Continued from Third Page

Memorial will be the greatest honor vet paid
him, as 1t will represent the fulhllment, after
many generations, of his own wishes and more
over, as 1t will be one of the most magnificent
temples ever erected to the memory of one man.
1t will fill long-needed want in the National
Capital, as up to the present time Washington
has no adequate meeting place for great world
conference. To quote bulletin issued by the
general secretary of the association: These
gatherings are multiplying yearly. They more
often meet in the national capitals of Europe
1t is reproach to us, as people that we have
no accommodations to offer these bodies COM
menSurate with the dignity and Importance of
their scientific, educational and public welfare
work They would welcome an invitation to
Washington.
The conventions now held in Washington
on great humanitarian subjects ought TO be ac-
ceSsible to the travelling public-the people of
leisure and means, and also to the families Of
our Senators and Representatives resident in
washington, In order that the enthusiasm may
be carried or disseminated throughout the coun-
try. 1t IS now practically impossible for the
people to attend these gatherings, even when
they are held in Washington, for many times
they cannot accommodate even their own dele
gates.
ut is well known that Washington was yery
eager that our National City should have an
institution which could be a dynamic center
for the diffusion of knowledge 80 It IL
hitting now that his wish be carried out in the
spirit of the advanced education of the day.
And that 1t take the form of these educational
scientific and public welfare conferences; that
it provide headquarters for patriotic scientific
and other national organizations, which need
such facilities at Washington; that it furnish
research rooms for students who desire TO avail
themselves Of the unusual facilities afforded by
the various bureaus Of the government and that
it afford those States which make adequate an
preparations toward its cost a room in which TO
exhibit their resources and achievements to the
vast throngs Of Americans and Europeans who
visit our National Capital"
TNHIRTY-ON years ago last September the
George Washington Memorial Association
was founded by a group of patriotic women
with the purpose in view of carrying out the
first Presidents wish for the promotion of
science, literature and art, and to provide an
institution for 1.-THE general diffusion of knowl-
edge and recommended by him in his various
messages to the Congress and as substantially
contemplated in his last will and testament.
Washington left as a bequest so shares which
he held in the Potomac 90. Cat that time val
ued at $500 each) toward the endowment Of q
university to be established in the District Of
Columbia under the general Government"
Although the shares had since become worth
less, the members of the association believed
tnat MS wish should be carried out, and at Q
meeting, held In 1901, 1t was proposed to raise
funds to build an administration building for
the George Washington University formerly
called the Columbian University
Definite plans for the future work Of the
association were not formulated, however until
1903, when Mrs. Dimock of Washington was
elected president. Due to the growth Of educa-
tonal facilities throughout the country and the
change in educational methods since the DAYS
OF Washington, these plans were broadened In
scope, and 1t was felt that the wishes of the
frst President could best be carried out by
erecting building where every society of
every State In the Union could meet, giving
the results of their conferences to the world ut
large"
Former Chief Justice Taft in indorsing the
aims OF the association said In a letter to Mrs
Dimock: What we need is a great beautiful
building that shall not only be Triumph in
architecture worthy of George Washington but
structure which shall be a model auditorium,
spacious place for the gathering and seating
OF t1cucaHG3 Of WGsIinCton'c ccuht,yme.l, re-