INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS. 63 



Acting-Secretary Baxter then read the following list of names, the members standing : 

 Ellsworth P. Bertholf, Martin C. Erismann, William D. Forbes, Frank L. Fernald, William 

 E. Francis, Emilio S. Godoy, Maury P. Gregg, WilliaiTi N. Howell, Samuel S. Jordan, 

 Henry Lysholm, John Mclnnes, Hugo J. Norman, Hugo B. Roelker, James B. Sneddon, 

 Peter Cooper Hewitt, F. J. Renz, 



The President : — Gentlemen, among these names you will all recognize many of those 

 of members who have achieved high place in their profession. One of them is that of a 

 scion of a family greatly distinguished in its patronage of art and science, who himself 

 greatly advanced the world's knowledge in pure and applied science and placed it under 

 special obligation to him. I refer to Peter Cooper Hewitt. 



Another achieved the highest place in his chosen profession, was given special recog- 

 nition by his government for the saving of many lives under difificult conditions, and, on his 

 retirement from active service, accepted a high office in our principal Classification Society. 

 Commodore Ellsworth Price Bertholf was well known to many of you, and his passing from 

 the scene of his activities is a matter of deepest regret. 



Another distinguished member, who perhaps was not so well known to the younger 

 generation, was William D. Forbes, a man who gave to the earlier deliberations of our Soci- 

 ety the benefit of his ripe judgment. And though, in later years, deprived of the power of 

 vision, he always maintained his interest in the welfare and activities of this Society. 



Proper recognition will be made, in our published transactions, of all of our departed 

 associates, but it would be quite inappropriate if the Chair did not make special allusion 

 to another name on this list, the name of a man who was an incorporator and one of the 

 original Members of Council of this Society and who, almost up to the very moment of his 

 death, maintained an active interest in it. I need hardly say that I refer to the Nestor of 

 our profession, Francis Lysander Fernald ; a man of high professional attainments, rare 

 personal simplicity and charm, and beloved by all who knew him. A slight incident in his 

 official career will quite well illustrate his point of view. Many years ago — more than 

 thirty now — when graduates of the Naval Academy were not an "old story" in the Con- 

 struction Corps of the Navy, one of the comparatively recent graduates was assigned to 

 duty under Captain Fernald. This officer was a man very much younger than Captain 

 Fernald and was, of course, a man lacking in practical experience, but he had had excel- 

 lent theoretical, professional training. Captain Fernald, instead of receiving him casually 

 or critically, made the following comment : "Well, my young friend, I have lived very much 

 longer than you, and am, perhaps, at some disadvantage so far as theoretical training goes, 

 but I have acquired certain practical experience. You, on the other hand, have had the best 

 scientific training that the United States Government can give. I think that, together, we 

 will make a very fine working team. I welcome you cordially to our official family." Noth- 

 ing could have been finer, nothing could have illustrated more perfectly his generous point of 

 view. Gentlemen, we deeply regret the passing of all these dear friends, but they have left 

 behind them hallowed memories, and we must accept the inevitable as best we can. 



Yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Council, held in conformity with the provisions 

 of the Constitution, the filling of vacancies or prospective vacancies in the offices of the Soci- 

 ety was considered. The first on the list of prospective vacancies was the office of President. 

 After very thorough consideration, the Nominating Committee made its report to the Coun- 

 cil. It had selected a gentleman whose name when presented was immediately recognized 

 as that of a man who had been closely associated with the Society from its very beginning, 



