Fraley.] Oil [Mar<?h 15, 



The then roll of members is greatly diminished, but 

 our ranks have been filled up with the names of men 

 whose worth and whose works keep up our well- 

 earned history. 



It has been my good fortune to have had personal 

 knowledge of all the Presidents of the Society, except 

 the first three, and to have been knit in bonds of active 

 friendship and almost constant intercourse while they 

 lived, with Chapman, Patterson, Franklin Bache, Dallas 

 Bache, Kane and Wood. Dr. Patterson spoke of 

 Franklin, Rittenhouse, Jefferson, Wistar and Tilghman ; 

 and what histories were theirs. 



Franklin, the philosopher, economist and statesman, 

 the diplomatist, the noble and true courtier, the man of 

 America, the useful citizen of Philadelphia, to whom 

 we owe so much for the establishment of our insti- 

 tutions of learning and charity. We may thank Bos- 

 ton for having given him to us, but God planted 

 him in his true field and he did great honor to the 

 planting. 



Rittenhouse, the astronomer and mechanician, self- 

 cultured, like Franklin, mild, modest, benevolent, just 

 the man to be loved for his virtues and to be honored 

 for his great and perfect knowledge. 



Jefferson, the statesman and philosopher, whose pen 

 could write the strong words that came from heart and 

 head to rouse a young people to the assertion of their 

 rights, and afterwards to command and guide them in 

 the path of wisdom for their preservation. 



Wistar, the beloved physician, the gifted Anatomist 

 and Surgeon, one of the worthiest of the worthies, 

 who raised the Medical Department of the University 

 of Pennsylvania to its great reputation, and withal, the 



