Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary . 



xli 



Yet, this seems to be a poor comparison. Fifty years in a 

 human life mean much, fifty years in wedded life mean 

 nearing the end, but 50 years of life of an organization like 

 ours — though certainly respectable — mean after all, I hope, 

 but a youthful age. 



In this sense I ask you all to lift your glasses and drink 

 with me to the 



Vivat floreat et crescat Academia Scientiae civitatis Sancti Ludovici! 



I now have the pleasure of introducing to you the toast- 

 master of the evening, Professor Francis E. Nipher. 



address of the toa8tmaster. 



Professor Nipher: — 



It is now fifty years since a little company of gentlemen 

 met in the rooms of the Board of Public Schools of St. Louis 

 and organized The Academy of Science of St. Louis. I think 

 their names should be spoken here to-night. I read them 

 from the minutes of that meeting as they appear in Vol. I 

 of the Transactions. 



Georse Engklmann, M.D. 

 Hiram A. Prout, M.D. 

 Moses M. Fallen, M.D. 

 Bexj. F. Shumard, M.D. 

 Chas. a. Pope, M.D. 

 Wm. H. Tingle V, M.D. 

 James B. Eads. 



Wm. M. McPheeterSj M.D. 

 Simon Pollak.M.D. 

 Chas. W. Stevens, M.D. 

 Adolph. Wislizenus, M.D. 

 Nathaniel Holmes. 

 M. L. Linton, M.D. 

 J. H. Walters, M.D. 



Chas. P. Chouteau. 



They adopted a Constitution and By-Laws, and elected 

 officers for the ensuing year, George Engelmann having been 

 elected President. 



We have only the memories of these men with us here to- 

 night. Thev have all finished their labors, and have left to 

 us the grateful task of carrying on the work which they so 

 worthily began. 



On February 9, 1857, the Academy adopted the Charter of 



