โ Scribed by E.W. Rice
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Honorary Chairman, General Electric Company.
Member of the Institute.
IN T~IE presence of such distinguished scientists, I hesitate to speak on any phase of scientific work, as I realize that I have no qualification beyond a deep love of science, and the good fortune of a life-long association with scientific men.
On this occasion, our thoughts naturally turn to Benjamin Franklin, that remarkable man, sage, philosopher, statesman and scientist, whose name this institution has borne for a hundred years--an institution which, during the century of its existence, has performed a service which has shed lustre upon the illustrious name which it bears.
Franklin's research into the nature of lightning, and its identification as electricity, by drawing the lightning from the clouds in the famous kite experiment, was not only remarkable for the time in which he lived, but would, I imagine, rank with the best methods of modern scientific research, as a model of simplicity of apparatus, and equally convincing in its solution of the problem.
The lightning rod which he invented for the protection of buildings and similar structures was, perhaps, the first illustration of the practical value of scientific research, and may, without too great a stretch of imagination, be considered as marking the beginning of our electrical industry.
Franklin was elected a member of the Royal Society of London without his solicitation, and was excused from payment of dues. He was, so far as I am aware, the first American to receive this great honor. While the Royal Society honored itself in thus honoring Franklin, he himself greatly appreciated the gift, and especially the manner of its bestowal.
We all think of the Royal Society as the Mother of Research, and the vision of Davy, Faraday and Dewar, to speak only of a few of those who have gone, immediately arises in our minds.
* Address delivered Thursday, September 18, 1924, on the occasion of the observance of the centenary of the founding of The Franklin Institute.
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