434 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP [1879. 



rational disposal of leisure moments." At a subsequent meeting 

 the association is described as "a society of generous, ffood-willim> 

 emulation for the acquirement, increase, simplification and diffu- 

 sion of natural knowledge." 



During the earliest 3'ears of the Society the members were often 

 entertained at the meetings by some one, previously appointed, 

 reading about some natural history subject, selected from a pub- 

 lished book or essay, which was discussed after the reading. Such 

 proceedings imply that mutual improvement was one of the objects 

 of the association. 



For the reason that the founders and first members regarded 

 themselves to be learners they called their Society an Academy, 

 meaning a school, the word being derived according to lexico- 

 graphers from AxaSj^oj, the name of an Athenian citizen whose 

 house was converted into a school in which Plato taught. 



The general policy of the organization included the idea of 

 securing "the greatest good to the greatest number," and that all 

 should cheerfully and sincerely co-operate to promote the welfare 

 of the Society according to the ascertained views of the majority. 

 March 21, 1812, the Society consisted of the six founders. In 

 the minutes of the meeting of that day they say, "unless we be 

 faithful and honorable to each other, and zealous for the interests 

 of science, such an establishment as we desire may never take 

 place." 



The qualifications for membership were friendliness to science 

 and good moral reputation and nothing more. To this day can- 

 didates are not required to possess an}' other qualifications. 

 Membership of this Academy does not, nor was it ever intended 

 to, imply any kind or degree of scientific attainment, any more 

 than membership of a building association implies mechanical 

 skill in any department of construction t>r house building. 



There are societies whose certificate of membership is, in public 

 estimation, at the same time a certificate of scientific attainments. 

 The Academy cannot be properly classed with such societies, nor 

 is there any conclusive reason why it should aspire to be, or to 

 compete with institutions established on different principles or 

 for different purposes. 



The co-operative principle seems to have been recognized by the 

 founders. They began at once to collect materials for a museum, 

 and books for a library, to the use of which all the members were 



