“On the programme for the second series of concerts, consisting of fourteen pairs, during the season of 1901-02, the names of the above gentlemen appear with the additional names of Mr. Alexander Van Rensselaer, President, and Mr. Henry Whelen, Jr., Treasurer. “The talents of Mr. Scheel, who died after seven years of devotion to the cause, soon placed the new organization among the first in America; and the work thus begun has resulted in an orchestra which has steadily and surely advanced to its present pre-eminent position under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski.” * * * * * “The history of the Philadelphia Orchestra cannot be written in this brief space. It is a story of the pioneers who were inspired to found an orchestra; of devotion, faithfulness and financial aid on the part of the Officers and Board of Directors; of continuous work by the four Women’s Committees; of an ‘Unknown Donor,’ who is no longer ‘unknown’; of loyal support from interested citizens, and of a group of artists, whose music speaks for them and for their leader. In short, the orchestra, which now speaks for Philadelphia the world over, is the result of co-operation on the part of all these groups; a co-operation which has made Philadelphia one of the great musical centres of the world.” [36] Programme book, November 19th and 20th, 1920. _Public Ledger_, November 20th, 1920: “ORCHESTRA GIVES BIRTHDAY CONCERT “Programme same as that presented at First Performance Twenty Years Ago “Players Warmly Greeted “Silver Urn for Mr. Van Rensselaer After His Review of Two Decades “The Philadelphia Orchestra gave a concert yesterday that was real music, all of it. There was nothing ‘modern’ in the programme, nothing that teased the ear with puzzle-problems or geometric exercises wrought ingeniously. The performance celebrated the Twentieth Anniversary of the first concert and the programme was the same as on that fundamental occasion.” * * * * * “After the symphony came the celebratory features. Alexander Van Rensselaer made a graceful address in brief review of the twenty years. The finished product of the present, he held, was the outcome of united effort. The chief credit must go to the indefatigable women’s committees. The munificence of the until recently ‘unknown donor,’ Mr. Bok, assured us five years more of the inspiring leadership of Stokowski, and has established the endowment fund.