Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-19
V0TARIES OF SCIENCE.
The Great Association That Begins
Its Sessions Today.
POINTS FROM ITS HISTORY.
The Thirty-nins Previous Meetings-Men
who Have Presided Over 1.-THE Present
Omcers-Ths Sections and the Men 1t Their
Head.

Dating from the organization OF the parent
society the American Association of biologists
and Naturalists. the American Association for
the Advancement Of Science, which began its
sessions in this city today, Is only ten years
younger than the British association, which is
now also holding its annual session. The Amer
lean association. like the British, has accom-
plished much in the way of promoting scientific
inquiry and spreading scientific knowledge.
BY reason Of its widespread membership. it is
thoroughly representative of scientific work and
scientific thought Of America Its honOrs are
sough; BY scientific men among the highest
that could be conferred upon them The pres
emit membership is over 1000. embracing nearly
every scientific man in the United States. but
the actual attendance at meetings does not usu-
ally exceed 200.
The official time given for the association
meeting il from August IL to September z
These dates have been fixed in order TO allow
members to unite with and attend the meet
ings OF other scientific societies, including that
of the international congress OF geologists.
which will hold its first meeting In tins country
during the last week in August The actual
general sessions of the association, however.
begin today and will be concluded next Satur-
day evening.
AT this evenings session the address Of the
retiring president, Prof. George Lincoln
Good.le will be delivered. and following that
a reception to the members of the association
will be given at the Arlington Hotel by the
board Of trade Of Washington.
SOMETHING OF IT'S HISTORY.
The American Association for the Advance
ment Of Science began its existence under that
name from September, 1s47, when 1t was
formed by the American Association of Geolo-
sists ana Naturalists, which held its first meet
g .R,a
ton : the annual meetings of members, at
which those who have made scientific dlseoy-
cries or added To scientific knowledge by re-
search or experiment during the year present
the matter to the association III the form Of
paper Members engaged in the same depart
ment Of science listen 10 and discuss the papers.
and the reports of the annual meetings. into
which all these papers are gathered. form an
interesting and valuable record OF the progress
Of science in America.
The association was Incorporated In the year
1874 BY the general court OF the commonwealth
of Massachusetts,. the incorporates named IN
the act being Joseph Henry of Washington,
Benjamin Pierce Of Cambridge, James ID. Dana
of New Haven, James Hall OF Albany, Alexis
Caswell of Providence. stephen Alexander of
Princeton Isaac Lea of Philadelphia. +. A. L.
Barnard of New York, John ;. Newberry of
Cleveland, Il. A. Gould ot Cambridge. L. Sterry
Hunt Of Boston. Asa Gray of Cambridge. j.
Lawrence Smith Of Louisville. Joseph Lowering
phia-
The objects of the association as set forth in
the constitution are, BY periodical and NIL
gratory meetings to promote intercourse be-
tween those who are cuitIyatnS science IN
different parts Of America. to give stronger
and mere general impulse and more systematic
direction 10 scientific research. and to procure
for the lsoOrs of scientific men increased faell-
ties and . wider usefulness
IHE MEMBERSHIP.
The association consists of members fellows,
patrons and honorary fellows. ANY person
may become a member of the association upon
Recommendation in writing of two members or
fellows and election by the council. Fellows
are elected by the council from such of the
members AZ are professionally engaged in
science or have by their labors aided in advanc-
ing science. Any person paving to the asso-
citation the SUM Of Il 600 shall be classed as a
patron and be entitled TO all the privileges of a
member. Honorary fellows. not exceeding
three for each section. may be elected The
nomins ton must be made by the council and
approved by ballot in the respective sections
before election by ballot in general session.
The officers Of the association are chosen from
among the fellows. The association list at the
Indianapolis meeting last year contained the
names Of three patrons. 1,2lS members, one
honorary fellow and 125 fellows. making a total
membership at that time of ,g4i. Since then
nearly 30c members have been elected
The American Association for the Advance
ment OF Science grew, as stated above, out Of
the American Association of Biologists and
Naturaiists which held its first meeting in
Philadtlp his April 2, 1870 presided over by
Edward Hitchcock The other annual meeting
places Of the parent organization and the chair
men for each year were as follows: lo4l, Phila-
delphis, Benjamin SilIiman; ls42, Boston, S. G..
Morton; 1913, Albany, Henry u. Rogers; 1874,
Washin yton, John Locke; ls45, New Haven, VIM.
b. Rogers; 1876, New York, Z. /. jackson; 1s47,