Memorial remarks. 



By GARY N. CALKINS. President. 



Nearly eighteen years ago, or to be more precise, on the 17th of 

 January, 1903, a small group of men, on the invitation of Dr. 

 Meltzer, met to discuss the formation of a new society for the 

 purpose of encouraging experimental work in the biological sci- 

 ences. The following month the Society for Experimental Biology 

 and Medicine was launched with 19 charter members, and Dr. 

 Meltzer was its first president. 



One of the most characteristic and lovable traits of Dr. Meltzer 

 was his interest in young men and their progress in science. He 

 saw in the National Academy a meeting place for those who had 

 reached established heights in research and he liked to think of his 

 new society as furnishing an opportunity for young men, fledglings 

 in science, to try their wings. Always helpful to them with advice 

 and by example, and always mindful of the highest ideals of 

 scientific research he not only fathered the new society but he 

 nursed it through its period of youth and watched its later growth 

 with a jealous eye to see that the high standard of aims and ideals 

 which he had set for it were maintained. 



We meet tonight to do honor to his memory. The young 

 society has grown and we believe, as we like to think, that his 

 scientific spirit extends today throughout the entire membership 

 of nearly four hundred active workers, and we like to think that 

 the nickname which the Society early received — the Meltzer 

 Verein — is synonymous with scientific idealism. 



In recognition of this scientific spirit, and in respect to the 

 memory of Dr. Meltzer, I am going to ask the members of the 

 Society, and all others present who think as we do, to rise and 

 remain standing for a few seconds. 



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