THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. 309 



publication and circulation of scientific books and journals; the place 

 of science in education and all external means for the advancement and 

 diffusion of science; the direction of public opinion and legislation 

 on science, more especially when connected with the national govern- 

 ment, and the different states and municipalities; the promotion of 

 conditions required by science and of reforms recommended by science 

 — in general, whatever will promote the advancement, diffusion and 

 usefulness of science. 



1. The first of these functions has in large measure been assumed 

 by the special societies and journals, and this is in accordance with 

 necessary conditions. Special research must be presented before, and 

 discussed by, small groups of experts and must be published in journals 

 that are of interest only to specialists. The special societies have com- 

 pact organizations; they are most competent to select their member- 

 ship, to arrange their programs and to conduct their publications. It 

 seems inevitable that the Association must relinquish its function 

 of providing sections for the presentation of special papers, except 

 in the rare case that a special society does not exist and may be 

 formed by the aid of the Association. In a joint meeting of a special 

 society and the corresponding section all the valuable papers will be 

 presented both before the society and the section, and only such papers 

 will be presented to the section alone as the society will not admit. 

 There is, however, no reason why the present general organization should 

 not be maintained, and the papers read before the affiliated societies 

 be made part of the proceedings of the Association. The Association 

 may, however, render important assistance to the special societies in 

 the ways indicated below. 



2. The promotion of research by grants of money and by provid- 

 ing the means for cooperation is a function that should be undertaken 

 both by the special societies and by the general Association. The 

 latter is, as a matter of fact, more likely to secure funds for this pur- 

 pose by bequests and gifts, owing to its national character, its long 

 history and its permanence. It can to special advantage further re- 

 searches in which more than one science is concerned and in which 

 independent societies might fail to cooperate. Efforts should be made 

 to increase the number of patrons of the Association and to secure 

 bequests and gifts, in order that the American Association may not be 

 behind the British and French Associations, which appropriate 

 annually $5,000 or more for the direct encouragement of research. 

 Invested funds yielding an income for this purpose would add greatly 

 to the stability, influence and usefulness of the Association, and to the 

 interest of the meetings at which the grants are made and the reports 

 of the work accomplished are presented. 



3. The special societies may with advantage present addresses and 



