The Portland daily press., 1880-10-08

Inc SUBJECT OF membership formed the prin-
cipal topic for discussion, and the President
was requested to embody in an article for the
press the views held by the society in regard
to it, of which the following is summary:
When it is known that upon the income de-
rived from the annual assessment of two dol
lars upon each of its members the society must
for no inconsiderable time be wholly depen-
dent, it is at once seen how important it is that
the number of them should be at onoe consid-
erably increased. Until now no special effort
has been made in that direction, and that SIM
ply because until now the society could not
hold out the same inducements to become a
member that it is able to do at the present
time. 1t would seem to be simple affair to
preserve complete record of the names of all
its members. The catalogue published in 1851
enables us easily to ascertain all the facts re-
lating to membership to that date, but of those
subsequently elected the data in regard to
their election, as in regard to many other mat
tiers OF interest to the society, have had to pass
through the ordeal of two fires, which, in both
cases, destroyed very important sources of in
formation upon this point. The list has. how
ever, been made as complete as our present
information will permit. and before publish
Ing IL IN new catalogue, with the constitu-
ton and bylaws of the society, it is desirable
to make it entirely correct, or as nearly SO as
possible. 70 this end it is hoped that all of
the persons, still living, whose names are upon
the Old catalogue, will feel sufficient interest
In aiding to restore and build up the society to
even a greater degree of prosperity and success
than it ever before attained, to allow them
selves to be still considered as members bv the
payment of the small annual assessment of
two dollars.
IL Is very desirable that there should be an
explicit understanding upon this point. for
II is found that number of the old members
have entertained the erroneous idea that. in the
long interval since the last fire, during which
they nave not been called upon for the annual
assessment, their membership had ceased and
they no longer regarded themselves as men,
bers
The society has ever endeavored to do more
than offer simple "quid pro quo,' and when
1t found that from the Inconvenience arising
from the size Of its rooms and the many others
connected with their position in the third story
OF building so much used for public pur-
poses, 1t was not in condition to hold its usu-
al general meetings. it ceased to call for the
assessments which, according to its rules. it
had a right to ask. 1t was not at all its desion
OF wish to deprive any one either of member
Dershlp OF any OF the privileges attaching to it,
on the contrary, it has ever felt great satisfac-
ton i'll the good number of its members and
has always been DESTROYS of increasing it.
r AT great deal of Inconvenience the meet
lngs OF the society have been regularly held in
the library, and at no inconsiderable expense
the cabinets have been kept open TO members
during every week day, and we may add that
with commendable spirit of liberality thew
have been quite generally open to all our citi-
zens, as well as to all strangers who gathered
in large numbers in our city. Very many also
OF the teachers and pupils of our public
schools have profited by these privileges the
cabinet keeper having been especially DESTROYS
to aid all such persons in their INQUIRIES and
studies. Another fact in regard to member
ship, 1t may be desirable to make little more
clearly understood. A person NAV feel gem
eral interest in the success of such a society
and yet, having devoted but little or no
time to its studies, may feel that he cannot
add anything to increase the interest of its
meeting and that therefore he may not be
needed as member. This is very great
mistake. No one is expected to take part in
the exercises of the society unless he feels SO
disposed. This is altogether matter for his
own decision. The subjects, however. before
the society are SO varied, touching upon MANY
branches OF knowledge, art and science. that
IN me course OF season topics will b9 pre-
sented that in their succession must nrove a
source OF interest to all of the members and
prove to be subjects upon which each in turn
can throw some light and feel ali interest in
giving voice to his experience in regard to IT,
But tins is by no means the only inducement
to remaining or becoming member. 1t is in
tended to make the building so attractive that
all may feel desire to visit it often, and find
1t one OF the most desirable places of resort
not only for themselves but for all the mem
pers OF their families with the friends and
strangers they may have to visit them. When
large number take an interest in sustaining
such an institution, its attractions will be sure
to be increased in the same ratio. for ali are
ready to do something towards adding to them
and the collections are seen to increase rapidly
Doth IN numbers and value. 1t thus becomes
an affair of mutual interest, and this is an i'm
portant reason for largely increasing the list of
members; for small assessment from a large
number will soon make of it fiourishino in
stltutlon, increasing in interest every wear and
becoming at length one of the prominent OBJ
but for all who visit the CITY,
On this account it is very desirable that
not only all who have ever been considered
members should be willing to remain such. but
To the list which now contains the names of
upwards of 200 living members shonld he
largely increased. Notice of the assessments
for the year 1879 to 1880 will soon be sent to ali
that are now known to be members and the
condition of the treasury of this society. near
y exhausted by the great expenses incurred in
the construction OF its new hall on Elm street.
renders it very desirable that all should hearth
ly unite in replenshing it by the payment at
least OF the small assessments now due and
thus enable the society to defray the current
expenses incident to its ordinary operations.
Furthermore, 1t is to be hoped that there are
many OF our citizens who will not wait to be
formally invited to become members of the So
clety, but will express their wishes to become
such to any member of the society or to any of
its officers. who, after the formalty OF an cleo
ton, which it is for the interest of all societies
to aintain, they will without any other cere
mony IMAM the paymentof an initiation fee of
five dollars become members and entitled to
all the privileges which such membership ac-
cords.
During the last session of the society of
lS79-o0 quite large number was added to the
list OF members, gentlemen and ladies making
thelr requests I'm about every case unsolicited
by any member) to join the society This was
very pleasing to all, for it was the evidence of
an increasing interest in the welfare of the soci
ETY. and OF the willingness on the part of the
public to take personal interest in it's restora
ton.
Ii in the course of the present month of De-
tober any person who has at any time been a
member OF the society, shall fail to receive no.
tlce OF the assessment due, it will be, proba-
bly,, because it is not know1 by any record that
we have Saved from the fire that he or she is a
member, and il will be regarded as a great
favor If any one thus unwillingly or ignorantly
sighted would send notice of it to our treasur-
er, Mr.. a. l.. Burbank, at the Custom House.
when the name will he gladly restored to the
list of members
The present status of the society is that ow-
ing to the lateness of the season in which its
new building could be delivered up and made
ready for occupation, the removal of the cab
inets to it has but just been completed. The
cases are not yet even put together, and, of
course, there has been no arrangement of the
specimens. The dampness necessarily arising
from the newness of its construction is a seri-
GUS obstacle to this and a constant source of
danger to many of them as we'll as to the
books 1t must certainly occupy all the time
that the curator can devote to the classification
and arrangement of the specimens for some
time to come, during which the rooms must of
necessity be closed to the public
The Sebago water has been introduced into