6 THE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS 



A thorough canvass of the subject was made at this meeting and 

 as a result the following recommendations were made to the Exposi- 

 tion authorities : - 



(1) That the sessions of this Congress be held within a period 

 of four weeks, beginning September 15, 1904. 



(2) That the various groups of learned men who may come together 

 be asked to discuss their several sciences or professions with reference 

 to some theme of universal human interest, in order that thereby 

 a certain unity of interest and of action may be had. Under such a 

 plan the groups of men who come together would thus form sections 

 of a single Congress rather than separate congresses. 



(3) As a subject which has universal significance, and one likely 

 to serve as a connecting thread for all of the discussions of the Con- 

 gress, the theme "The Progress of Man since the Louisiana Pur- 

 chase " was considered by the Administrative Board fit and suggest- 

 ive. It is believed that discussions by leaders of thought in the 

 various branches of pure and applied science, in philosophy, in politics, 

 and in religion, from the standpoint of man's progress in the century 

 which has elapsed, would be fruitful, not only in clearing the thoughts 

 of men not trained in science and in government, but also in preparing 

 the way for new advances. 



(4) The Administrative Board further recommends that the Con- 

 gress be made up from men of thought and of action, whose work 

 would probably fall under the following general heads : - 



a. The Natural Sciences (such as Astronomy, Biology, Mathe- 

 matics, etc.). 



b. The Historical, Sociological, and Economic group of studies 

 (History, Political Economy, etc.). 



c. Philosophy and Religion. 



d. Medicine and Surgery. 



e. Law, Politics, and Government (including development and 

 history of the colonies, their government, revenue and prosperity, 

 arbitration, etc.). 



/. Applied Science (including the various branches of engineer- 

 ing). 



(5) The Administrative Board recommends further referring to 

 a special committee cf seven the problem of indicating in detail the 

 method in which this plan can best be carried out. To this com- 

 mittee is assigned the duty of choosing the general divisions of the 

 Congress, the various branches of science and of study in these divi- 

 sions, and of recommending to the Administrative Board a detailed 

 plan of the sections in which, in their judgment, those who come to 

 the Congress maybe most effectively grouped, with a view not only 

 to bring out the central theme, but also to represent in a helpful way 

 and in a suggestive manner the present boundary of knowledge in the 



