PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTENARY MEETING. xi 



In looking over the history of the Academy of Natural Sciences, I learn that it 

 was founded one hundred years ago by a few young, intelligent, and public-spirited 

 men, who met at first in their private homes, and gradually grew in number and 

 interest until The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, from its small 

 origin, erects a proud head to-day. I mention this simply as showing how great 

 things spring from the very smallest causes: I believe this is a scientific maxim. 

 If the few men who organized the Academy could look down upon what has been 

 accomplished in one hundred years, they would certainly feel amply repaid in 

 the thought that their work has been well done. 



Look at the Philadelphia of a hundred years ago. The city itself then had 

 only 53,722 inhabitants. To-day that part of the city which then comprised 

 the whole of Philadelphia has but 89,357 inhabitants; there lias hardly been any 

 growth at all. The men who founded this great Academy hardly knew how 

 well they were building. Philadelphia was at that time only a small place; 

 the whole of the city was not much larger in area than the adjoining Fifteenth 

 Ward. Gleaning from the past, should the work of old not be an incentive to 

 people living to-day, whenever the opportunity offers, to build likewise? Many 

 important undertakings had their origin in a small way. Never let us despise 

 small things, my friends, but encourage all those who desire to do something for 

 the progress of the world. It may sometimes seem idle to encourage their 

 ambition; but even a seemingly small effort in laboring for the good of mankind 

 and the welfare of the community should be encouraged. 



Your great institution to-day stands as one of the landmarks of Philadelphia. 

 It is being visited by hundreds and thousands of people every week : and since, 

 through the unceasing efforts and the genius of your President, Dr. Dixon, you 

 have secured at last this great building, one of the finest homes of its kind in 

 this country, with so much accomplished, I am sure the future of this organi- 

 zation is assured. Doctor Dixon tells me that there is a fund to-day which gives 

 you fifty thousand dollars a year for the maintenance of the wonderful collection 

 housed in this building, and that not one cent of the Academy's capital was 

 touched for the great improvements that have been made within the last few 



years. 



I do not intend to make a speech. My purpose is to welcome you — to 

 welcome you gentlemen and you ladies who come from a distance to the 

 City of Brotherly Love. You know of Philadelphia's hospitality. Everything 

 will be open to you. We shall be glad to take you to the great and renowned 

 places of which only Philadelphia can boast. There may be some among you 

 who have not even seen Independence Hall. If there be any let me know, and 

 I shall be glad to take you there to-morrow morning so that you may be able to 

 say, on your return home, "I have seen Independence Hall: I have visited the 

 Cradle of Liberty." I welcome all of you, ladies and gentlemen, whether from 

 home or abroad, and let this meeting be the forerunner of even greater success 

 for this great institution for all the centuries to come. 



