The Darwin Commemoration at Cambridge

Abstract

THE celebrations in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of “The Origin of Species” are being held at Cambridge this week. The programme commenced on Tuesday, June 22, with a reception of delegates and other invited guests by the Chancellor of the University, Lord Rayleigh, O.M., F.R.S., in the Fitzwilliam Museum. By the kind permission of the master and fellows of Peterhouse, the college gardens were accessible from the museum. On the following day, Wednesday, there was a presentation of addresses by delegates of universities, colleges, academies, and learned societies in the Senate House. After an address by the Chancellor, and the presentation of delegates and addresses, there were a few short speeches. During the afternoon visits were made to the various colleges, and these were followed by a garden party, given by the master and fellows of Christ's College, in the college grounds. In the evening a banquet was held in the new examination hall; after which the master and fellows of Pembroke College gave an at home in the college hall and gardens. To-day (Thursday), the concluding day of the celebration, honorary degrees are to be conferred upon some of the delegates in the Senate House; the Rede lecture is to be delivered by Sir Archibald Geikie, president of the Royal Society, upon “Darwin as Geologist”; and a garden party is to be given at Trinity College by members of the Darwin family.