The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-13
The American Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Science.

The American Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Science
A large number of our best citizens assembled
last evening in the Council Room, City Building.
to consider the matter of the proposed session Of
the American Association f)r tie Advancement
of Science in this city in August next. On mo-
ton of DIR. Wood, Hon. I. Washburn, Jr., was
appointed chairman Of the meeting, and Clar-
ence Hale, ESQ.,, was chosen as Secretary. Dr.
Putnam of the Essex Institute of Salem, the
Permanent ecretary of the Association, who
was present by invitation, made statement in
regard to the character of the meetings and the
details OF the reception at Salem in 1869 he said
that about 600 members attended the meetins
there; that local committee OF nfty ei'iAen'
was appointed to welcome and entertain 'nem
and to make all arrangements IN cohhectioh
with the session; that $4,000 were raised by SUBJ
scription: that the City Government gave an
entertainment costing $1,000, and that the
Roard of Trade and several private citizens also
gave entertainments.
Rev. E. c. Bolles made some very pleasant
remarks on the great interest and value of the
meetings, the high scientific character of the
members and the advantages afforded in the
neighborhood of Portland for scientific explora-
ton, suggesting excursions both seward and
mountainward.
The chairman and several other gentlemen
made remarks expressive of appreciation of the
high character of the association and the dis
tlnguished attainments of its members, includ-
ing as it does, all the foremost scientific men of
America
On motion of Hon. c. P. Kimball the follow
ing gentlemen were appointed a committee to
select local committee, to Include themselves
and to consist of least fifty members, whose
duty it shall be to assume full charge of the
whole matter and to take such action as the dis
tinguished character of the guests and the dig
nifty of the city shall warrant:-Benjamin
Kingsbury, Jr., Mayor; T. G. Hersey, Presi-
dent Board of Trade; M. N. Rich, President of
the Mercantile Library Association; w. L.
Putnam, President Portland Institute and
Public Library; A. H. Waite, President Maine
Charitable Mechanic Association; William
Wood, President Portland Society of Natural
History.
The following general facts in regard to the
Association may be of interest. The American
Association for the Advancement of Science, or
pe.haps we ought to say an Association of Nat
uralists, was organized in 184S, and the present
association, on a new basis, with broader views
and larger purposes, was established in 1851.
Its places of meeting and the names of its pre-
siding officers have been as follows:-1S4S, at
Philadelphia, W. c. Redfield of New York,
President; 1849, at Cambridge, Prof. Joseph
Henry of the Smithsonian Institute, President;
1850, March, at Charleston, s. c., and in Au-
gust, at New Haven, Conn.,, Prof. A. D. Bache,
President; 1851, May, at Cincinnati, Prof.
Bache presiding, and in August, at Albany,
Prof. Agassiz, President; 1853, at Cleveland,
Ohio, Prot. Benjamin Pierce, the present head
of the Coast Survey, President; 1854, at Wash
sngton, Prof. j. D. Dana President; 1856, at
Providence, R. l., Prof. John Torrey Presi-
dent; 1856, at Albany, Prof James Hall Presi-
dent; 1857, at Montreal, Prof. J. w. Bailey
President; 1853, at Baltimore, Alexis Creswell
presiding; 1859, at Springfield, Prof. S. Alexan-
der President; 1860, at Newport, Isaac Lea, LII.
D., President; the meetings having been sus-
pended during the war; in 1866, the meeting
was held at Buffalo, Prof. T. A. p, Barnard
President: 1867, at Burlington, VT, Prof. J. s.
Newberry, President; 1868, at Chicago, Prof
B. A. Gould President; 1869, at Salem, Prof. j.
w. Foster of Chicago, President; 1870, at Troy,
N. Y, Prof. T. S. Hunt of Montreal, Presi-
dent; 1871, at indianapolis, Ind, Prof Asa
Gray of Cambridge, President; 1872, at Dubu-
que, Prof. j. Lawrence Smith of Louisville,
President.
In the above named places the Association
was most cordially welcomed, and the citizens
were unremitting in their exertions to render
the sojourn of its members pleasant, and the
meetings successful.
''The objects of the Association are, by peri
odical and migratory meetings, to promote inter
course between those who are cultivating science
in different parts of the United States, to give
a stronger and more general impulse and a
more systematic direction to scientific research
in our country, and to procure for the labors Of
the scieutifc men increased facilities and a
wider usefulness" Also, by bringing together
annually large number of educated persons
from all sections, to promote cordiailty.and har-
mony throughout our country.
The Association now numbers about six hun
dred members, embracing all the most dis
tinguished scientific men in the country. At
each meeting it divides into sections for the
reading and discussion of special subjects. The
The usual division is into section A. Mathemat-
les, Physics, and Chemistry, and section B.
Natural History.
The general meetings of the Association are
open to the public and all persons interested
are always cordially invited to attend. The
Constitution also provides that those who de-
sire to take part at any one meeting, or wish to
aid in its objects, may become associate MEM
beers, with all the scientific and social privileges
of members.