The Institute reception

A reception and ball held at the Hotel Astor, New York City, February 28, was made the occasion of honoring the living past-presidents of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. The committee of arrangements decided that a function of this character would offer a better opportunity for the social intermingling of members and guests than a formal banquet. This not only proved to be the result, but all present were highly pleased, while the official presentation of the badges made a most acceptable break in the program of the evening, which otherwise was devoted to dancing, refreshments, and conversation. Upon completion of half the dancing program of 24 numbers the following named past-presidents were grouped in the west gallery of the grand ball room: T. Commerford Martin (1887–8); Frank J. Sprague (1892–3); Louis Duncan (1895–6–7); Arthur E. Kennelly (1898–1900); Carl Hering (1900–1); Charles P. Steinmetz (1901–2) Bion J. Arnold (1903–4); John W. Lieb, Jr. (1904–5); Schuyler S. Wheeler (1905–6); Samuel Sheldon (1906–7); Henry G. Stott (1907–8); Lewis B. Stillwell (1909–10). Letters of regret due to inability to attend were received from past-presidents Edward Weston (1888–9); Elihu Thomson (1889–90); Alexander Graham Bell (1891–2); Edwin J. Houston (1893–4–5); Francis B. Crocker (1897–8); Charles F. Scott (1902–3) and Louis A. Ferguson (1908–9). The ceremony of presentation of badges was begun by President Dugald C. Jackson, whose address, while in substance historical in its reference to the Institute, was accompanied by appropriate personal references, not only to the past-presidents, but to the charter members, and the three living secretaries, past and present, Messrs. Keith, Martin and Pope, all of whom were in the audience. Dr. Nathaniel S. Keith was fittingly referred to as the founde- of the Institute. After the distribution of the badges, the senior past-president T. Commerford Martin, in behalf of his colleagues, absent and present, acknowledged the honors which had been bestowed upon them. The past-president´s badge is of the same design as the regulation emblem, but with white enamel back ground, and is much smaller. The attendance at the reception was about 300, and so far as is known there was no exception to the feeling that the entire affair was extremely enjoyable, and was a fitting tribute not only to the past-presidents, but to the committee which was entrusted with its organization.