Philadelphia Dental College - Class Book Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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been well attended by the students and their friends. We ven- ture to say that never in its history has the society been more p1'osperous, never has interest in its work been more enthusiastic, than during the session of 1897-98. A meeting was held in the college on October 19th, 1897, to reorganize the society and to elect officers for the current term. Prof. L. Greenbaum presided and officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. CHESTER G. SKINNER, '98, California. Vice-President, Mr. W. I. NoR'r11UP, '99, Oregon. Secretary, Mr. J. MILWARD Mfxckuz, '98, Scotland. Treasurer, Mr. W. C. SHARKEY, '99, Pennsylvania. The following Executive Committee of live was appointed by the President: Mr. A. C. NATHAN, '98, Australia QChairmanj. Mr. M. STEVENS, '98, Pennsylvania, Mr. W. L. BICVVILLIAMS, '98, Pennsylvania. Mr. W. F. BROWNING, '98, California. Mr. D. F. HENSIIAW, '98, Massachusetts. These officers have worked hard in the interests of the society and have spared neither time nor effort to formulate inter- esting programmes which would make our meetings a source of real enjoyment to all who attend. Our thanks are due to Profs. Stellwagen and Boenning for their able addresses, to Mr. B. Alexander for his instructive lecture on Dental jurisprudenceg to the Faculty of the Phila- delphia Dental College for their courtesy and assistance in many matters, and to all who have assisted us in the carrying out of our programmes. To-day the membership of our society far exceeds two thousand in number, and its members, like the Alumni of the P. D. C., are to be found in every civilized country of the globe. This article would lack much if it did not contain a few words in memory of the man who placed the Garretsonian So- ciety where it stands to-day. Unfortunately the members of our class C981 were not to enjoy the friendship and teachings of 220

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cm Gdl'l'QfS0llldll Society 0f the Pblldfklpbld Dellldl ZOIIQQC W - N the 27th ofSepten1ber, 1883, a 1111 mber of game- men then studying at the 1 D C, met in the office of Dr Leopold Gieenbaum a meeting to cele . . ., I A D 1 H ga AA brate the birth of The Garretsonian Society of the Philadelphia Dental College. The christening took place at the same meeting and the organization was named after and in honor of Dr. James E. Garretson, the well-loved Dean of the Philadelphia Dental College. The objects of the newly-born society were to improve the social relations, and for the intellectual elevation of its members. Officers were to be elected from the college classes, the President and Secretary to be members of the Senior class, while the Juniors were to fill the offices of Vice-President and Treasurer. At the first election held, the following gentlemen were chosen to office: President, Mr. W. E. THALL, '84. Vice-President, Mr. B. D. Se11LAU1J1sc1cIaR, '85. Secretary, Mr. W. R. HEliNARD, '84. Treasurer, Mr. I. L. ZKREWSON, '85. For a long time Dr. Garretson delivered lectures on philo- sophical subjects before the society, every Tuesday evening, and that those learned discourses were highly appreciated is evi- denced by the fact that the lecture hall was invariably filled to overfiowing by audiences composed not alone of the college students, but also of strangers, eager to listen to the gifted phil- osopher. For the past three years the society has given enter- tainments of a musical and literary character, and these have 219

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Dr. Garretson, for soon after entering college we were called to attend his funeral, but although a personal acquaintance was denied us, we know the man by his works-by what he did for the good of mankind, and we share the privilege of mourning his loss and honoring his memory. Dr. James E. Garretson was a teacher of unusual ability. As a surgeon, he attained international reputation, and as a writer he was indeed endowed with rare talent. The works of John Darby are widely known in the world of literature. The life of Garretson was a model one, which we would all do well to imitate. He is best pictured in the eloquent words of Prof. Henry C. Boenning: Garretson, the founder of Oral Surgery, was known to the world as a teacher, surgeon, thinker and writer, and as such his history has been largely written 3 but Garretson will be best remembered by those who lived within the circle of his sym- pathies. it ' ik One who knew him said, 'He is filled with the God,' and he who knew him judged aright. it it it No- where did the kindly thought of Garretson for his fellowman be- come more evident than in his work among the afifiicted poor. In his treatment of them he applied not only his best surgical skill, but also philosophized with them, for to him all men were matter-ego and soul. it Dk 'F Dr. Garretson was an op- timist-not a visionary, but a practical optimist. He believed that everything material and immaterial, animate and inanimate, heavenly and earthly, were but in a state of evolution: everything moved toward a greater perfection, a higher glory, and who may deny his creed? All day, perchance, the mists and clouds have darkened the earth, and their shadows even lie up upon our thoughts, but at the touch of a parting sun-ray the heavens burn with chromatic splendor. The ultimate destiny of all things is the beautiful, the good, the ideal. VVe live in transition and it is indeed true, as Garretson believed, that Even the dust we tread, Shall change beneath the summer showers. To golden grain and mellow fruit, And rainbow-tinted flowers. 22I