COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS 17 



In the fulness of his powers, recognized as America's greatest physi- 

 cist, and one of a very small group of the world's most eminent, he died 

 on April 16, 1901, from a disease the relentless progress of which he had 

 realized for several years and opposed with a splendid but quiet courage. 



It was Eowland's good fortune to receive recognition during his life 

 in the bestowal of degrees by higher institutions of learning; in elec- 

 tion to membership in nearly all scientific societies worthy of note in 

 Europe and America; in being made the recipient of medals of honor 

 awarded by these societies; and in the generously expressed words of 

 his distinguished contemporaries. It will be many years, however, be- 

 fore full measure can be had of his influence in promoting the interests 

 of physical science, for with his own brilliant career, sufficient of itself 

 to excite our profound admiration, must be considered that of a host 

 of other, younger, men who lighted their torches at his flame and who 

 will reflect honor upon him whose loss they now mourn by passing on 

 something of his unquenchable enthusiasm, something of his high 

 regard for pure intellectuality, something of his love of truth and his 

 sweetness of character and disposition. 



