On the mountain we were provided with good accommoda- 

 tions and hotel fare. The weather was ideal. The nights were 

 wonderfully clear and favorable for observation. Los Angeles 

 and suburban towns in the valley below were outlined by 

 brilliant electric lights. 



On Wednesday morning, August 31, the astronomers as- 

 sembled in the Museum Building near the base of the 150 foot 

 tower. The windows were tilled with beautiful transparencies, 

 exhibiting the skillful photographic work of the observatory. 

 Images of the solar surface sixteen inches in diameter, brilliant 

 star clusters, numerous nebulae, comets, planets, and views 

 of the various buildings — all fully labeled. 



Prof. Arthur Schuster, of Manchester, England, chair- 

 man of the executive committee, called the meeting to order, 

 and in accordance with programmed arrangement called Dr. 

 Edward C. Pickering, Director of Harvard Observatory to the 

 chair to preside for the day. At the same time he announced 

 that Dr. W. W. Campbell, Director of the Lick Observatory, 

 would preside on Thursday, and Prof. Edwin B. Frost, Direc- 

 tor of the Yerkes Observatory, would preside on Friday. 



It was a polyglot assembly, the members speaking various 

 tongues. But the largest elements were English, French and 

 German. Accordingly, three secretaries were appointed — 

 Prof. Walter P. Adams of the Solar Observatory for the Eng- 

 lish, Prof. Pierre Puiseux of the Paris Observatory for the 

 French, and Prof. Heinrich Konen of the Physical Institute of 

 Munster for the Germans. 



On taking the Chair Prof. Pickering spoke briefly and then 

 introduced Dr. George E. Hale, Director of the Mount Wilson 

 Solar Observatory for the opening address, paying him a just 

 tribute for bringing the world's eminent astronomers to this 

 mountain peak, and for the distinguished services he had ren- 

 dered to the science of astronomy. 



Dr. Hale was received with hearty applause. He most 

 gladly welcomed his co-workers in this great field — the 

 Universe. But not much was to be expected from this meet- 

 ing in the way of material results. 



Its main object was to exchange views, involving an 

 account of work done, new methods adopted, suggestions re- 

 garding a more perfect co-operation, thus avoiding duplica- 

 tion, to promote a feeling of comradeship and an esprit du 

 corps, but the main benefit would be a stimulation to do even 

 more and better work. 



Prof. Hale then rapidly summarized the work of the Solar 

 Observatory during the past two years, and what it would aim 

 to do in the immediate future. He clearly illustrated on the 

 blackboard the salient features of his processes and methods, 

 bringing out extremely technical points with great clearness. 



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