Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/359

ROYAL ANTELOPE. onl}' 12 iiK'lu'S liigli at tlic .sIhuiUUt. Jt is cliost- nut in folur on tlio iijipiT jiait ami pure white below. It is a native of the Guinea coast. Con- snlt the I'rocccdiiigs of the Zoological Society of Lonilun, I'or 1S72. ROYAL ARCANUM, The. A fraternal and hi'iU'licial socictv iiij:ani/.ed l).y Dr. Darius Wilson and John A. Cunnuiiijjs, at Boston, in 1877. Start- inj; with nine nieiiiliers, the society lias now in Boston a substantial buihlini,' in which the l)usi- ncss ati'airs are conducted anil where the Su]neme t'ouneil meets. The society is governed through councils, which are dominated by the Supreme Council or governing body. Benefit certifi- cates are issued for .•flODO," .$2000. and .$:)000, |i.iyable at death of a member. Should a iiiember desire to increase his insurance over the limit fixed by the society, he can do so by making a]iplication for the increase in the Laval Additional Benefit Association, formed in 1889, practically within the Royal Arcanum, and incorporated in 1890 in New Jersey. The follow- ing statistics of the Royal Arcanum are brought dcnvn to February 28, 1903 : Number of grand councils, 27 ; number of subordinate councils. 2045; approximate membership, 258.746: total amount of death claims from date of organiza- tion, $70,190,352: amount of emergency fund, $1,885,780. The emblem of the society is a royal crown within a circle, on the circumference of which are ten small Maltese crosses with the motto, "Alercy, ^'irtue. ami Cluirity." ROYAL ARCH MASONS. See RIasons, Prek. ROYAL FERN. See Osmund.^. ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. See Geogkapiihai. Society. Royal. ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. See His- torical Society, Royal. ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. An organization foundeil in London in 1799 and chartered in the following year as the Roj'al Institution for the Promotion. Dif- fusion, and Extension of Science and Useful Knowledge. Its principal objects are to further scientific and literary research, to spread the principles of inductive and exijerimental science, and to promote the application of such princi- ples to the arts. The idea of such an institution originated with Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (q.v.), who was sup])orted in the execu- tion of his plans by Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society. It was Count Rumford's desire to extend a knowledge of the principles of physics and mechanics among the lower class- es by means of public lectures and demonstra- tions, with a view of ameliorating the material condition of the people. Almost from the begin- ning the Institution assumed a leading place in the scientific world, although it was soon found necessary to dcjjart from Count Rumford's idea of making the work of the society deal exclusive- ly with the welfare of the lower classes. Its continued prosperity has been due chiefly to a succession of brilliant lecturers and experi- menters, beginning with Thomas Young, who was professor at the Institution from 1801 to 1803, and including such great names as Sir Hurai)hry Davy. Michael Faraday, John Tyndall, Sir Edward William Robert Grove, Sir Edward Frankland, William Odling, John Hall Glad- 327 ROYAL SOCIETY. stone, Kdwin liay Lankester, Sir .rallies Dexvnr, and Lord Rayleigli. U illiin its labonitories have been made some of the most notable discoveries in [iliysieal and chemical science, and e«|M-- cially under Faraday and Tyndall valuable work was done in the pnpniarizatioii of tlic^e >cieii<i-i. A feature of the work of the Institution i> it-< evening lectures, at which the most einiiienl .scientists are invited to present the latest achievements within their lleUU to the public. The Institution has been the recipient of nniiiv benefactions, the most noted of whii'li is the he- quest of £10.000 by Mr. John Fuller. .M. I'., in 1831, for the estalilishment of a Fullerian pro- fessorship in chemistry and physics. Young men of special aptitude are ollered' facilitii's i..r car- rying on research work and in case nf need are given pecuniary assistance. The librurv of the Institution contains (lO.OOo volumes. (In June 5-7, 1899. the centenary of the rnstiiution wua celebrated with fitting ceremonies. ROY'ALL, Isaac (c.1719 8I). An Americnn colonist, born inobably in Anligna. B. W. L. where his father had large plantations, lie early settled in Jledford, Mass.. and was chosen to till various local ollices. From 17.52 until 1774 he was a councilor of the province, and in 1701. for his services in the French War. was comiiiissiiined brigadier-general, the first American to attain that rank. During the agitation which preceded the Revolution he remained loyal to the King, and three days before the battle of Lexington went into voluntary exile. After remaining for some time in Halifax, he went to Kngland. where he died of smallpox. Though he had been jiro- scriljcil and banished and his estates confiscated, in 177S he left liy will an endowment for the law- professorship at Harvard which still bears his name. The town of Royalston was also named in his honor. ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE. A professional school of the British Navy located at Greenwich (q.v.), and formally opened in 1873. It is de- signed for the training of midshipmen and higher officers and aft'ords technical instruction in the various theoretical and scientific studies, such as navigation, mathematics, engineering, ordnance, etc. See Xaval School.s of Ixstriition. ROYAL OAK. An oak-tree which stood near tile farm of Boscobel in Shropshire, and which for twenty-four hours alTorded concealment to Charles II. after the battle of Worcester in 1051. The tree was destroyed after the Restoration by relic-hunters, but an oak grown from an acorn of the original tree stands on the spot, and there is another, said to have been planted by the King, in Hyde Park. ROYAL SOCIETY, The. A society orgnnize<l in Loudon in lilOO as •The President. Council, and Fellows of the Hoyal Society of London for Iin- jiroving Natural Knowledge.' It is the oldest scientific society in (Jreat Britain and one of the oldest in Europe. The preliminary meetings were held on the suggestion of Theodore Ilaak. ii German resident of London, at diirerent places, princi])ally at C.resham College, where, on Novem- ber 28. 1600. the first journal of the society was opened by the originators. (Jresliani College In-- came the permanent headquarters and on March 6. 1661, Sir Robert Moray was elected president, which position he held until the incorporation of the society, Julv 15, 1002. The charter was