Symbols
of the Society
Silver Gavel
Mr. President:
By the generous gift of Mr. J. W.
Richards of the Colorado Scientific Society, this silver gavel becomes the
property of this society, and I present it to the Society through you, sir,
with the compliments of Mr. Richards. This is a peculiarly fitting occasion
for such a gift, and the quarter century in the history of the Society will
always be associated hereafter with this gavel and the thoughtfulness and
generosity of the donor. With great pains Mr. Richards secured the solid
piece of native silver which forms the body of the gavel. It came from one
of the large mines of Aspen, Colorado, and is in one piece. This head
weighs 6 ozs. Troy. With even greater labor he gathered from ores of silver
the amount of 5 ozs. Troy with which he has made the handle. The total
weight of the gavel is 11 ozs. Troy. It is the wish of the giver and of the
Society, Mr. President, that this insignia of authority may be wielded by
you at many future successful meetings of the Colorado Scientific Society.
Permit me, on behalf of the Society, to now make you custodian of this
gavel.
The President received the gavel and said:
I accept this beautiful gavel, the
gift of Mr. Richards and present by you, on behalf of the Colorado
Scientific Society.
It is of pure silver, from this great
state: it was mined here; it was refined here; it was fashioned here. It
is entirely a Colorado product. It is of pure silver, and is befitting the
occasion of the silver anniversary of this Society.
May the decisions of the presiding
officer of this Society, with this gavel in his hand as his symbol of
authority, always ring as true and clear as does this silver gavel.
Click on images for detailed photos
Warning. These are very large files (3-5 MB)
all photos courtesy of Beth Simmons
