44 



its Secretary, Judge Kane, who welcomed tlie new knowledge 

 with all his intelligent enthusiasm. It was from the lecture- 

 room of Professor Henry that the first telegraphic wire was 

 carried across the college campus at Princeton, That wire 

 has since been carried by other hands around the globe. It 

 was reserved for him to enjoy only the fame of those researches 

 from which the whole civilized world has received so many 

 material benefits. Like Agassiz, he was so strict a votary of 

 science that he could not merge the discoverer in the mere in- 

 ventor. He ever sought knowledge for its own sake and with 

 no selfish motive. Science in his view was the birthright of 

 humanity. And his philosophy was broad enough to include 

 religion as well as science within its scope. Without posing 

 in any religious character (if I may so express it) among his 

 scientific brethren, he ever exemplified that full accord of ex- 

 act knowledge with rational faith which distinguishes other 

 members of this philosophical body. 



If the American Philosophical Society has included in its 

 ranks the self-sacrificing votaries of science, it has also included 

 in them, and still includes, its munificent patrons as not less 

 worthy a place in the same goodly fellowship. We recognize 

 one of them sitting at this feast of reason whose praises I must 

 speak wherever my tongue is loosed ; a valued friend who has 

 shown generously his appreciation of Professor Henry's disin- 

 terested services, as he has shown his appreciation of every- 

 thing else that is noble and praiseworthy ; a loyal Philadel- 

 phian, without whom no assembly of Philadelphians intent 

 on any good work would be complete— Mr. George W. Childs. 



What a noble monument does the American Philosophical 

 Society present to us to-day ! As we sat this afternoon, spell- 

 bound listeners to the story of its origin and growth, so elo- 

 quently and touchingly told, who among us could fail to perceive 



