THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

STATED MONTHLY MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 1939.

The regular monthly meeting of The Franklin Inst i tute was called to order by Dr. Henry Butler Allen a t 8:3o o'clock, p.m.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as published in the Journal.

The additions to membership since the last report were as follows:

Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I3 Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I

Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

The Chairman then announced tha t this was a joint meeting with The American Philosophical Society and was the conclusion of the Symposium on the Progress in Astrophysics which began in the Hall of The American Philo- sophical Society this morning. He then introduced Dr. Henry Norris Russell, of Princeton University who spoke on "Stel lar Energy and the Evolution of Atoms."

The speaker pointed out tha t the only known source of energy which could keep the sun shining as long as it has is the transformation of hydrogen into helium or other heavier atoms. Processes recently discovered in the laboratory could accomplish this, and would occur at about the right rate at the temperature of the sun's interior. The probable history of a star was also discussed. The subject was illustrated by lantern slides.

After a brief discussion the thanks of the meeting were extended to the speaker.

Adjourned. HENRY BUTLER ALLEN,

Secretary.

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS.

(Abstract of Proceedings of Stated Meeting held Wednesday, February 8, z939).

HALL OF THE COMMITTEE, PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 8, 1939.

MR. WILLIAM C*. ELLIS in the Chair• The following reports have been presented:

No. 3o63, No. 3064. The Standing Committee on the Franklin Medal recommended tha t Franklin Medals be awarded to Edwin Powell Hubble of Pasadena, California, " I n recognition of his extensive study of the nebulae, particularly those outside our galaxy, as a result of which the dimensions of ob-

• served space have been greatly increased," and Albert Sauveur (posthumously), of Cambridge, Massachusetts, " I n recognition of his outstanding work in the

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