RECORDS OF MEETINGS. 363 



November 28, 1914. 

 Dear Senator Lodge, 



The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has received a letter, 

 dated October 10, 1914, from members of that Academy who are also 

 members of the society desiring national incorporation under the title 

 of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, stating their conviction 

 that the aims and purposes of the latter body do not conflict with 

 those of the older body. 



At a large meeting of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

 we were appointed a committee to reply to this letter, and since your 

 name heads the list of signatures, we send this reply to you, reaffirming 

 the protest of this Academy against the use of its name by a new 

 organization with the change of only one word. 



The American Academy of Arts and Sciences would not wish to 

 oppose the incorporation of any scientific or literary society, whether 

 the aims of the new body do or do not conflict with those of the older. 

 It does, however, strongly object to the use, in the title of the new 

 body, of five words out of six in the title — American Academy of 

 Arts and Sciences — under which the older body has won prestige 

 and honor during more than one hundred and thirty years, both in 

 this country and in Europe, through its membership, Proceedings and 

 Memoirs. 



The reputation and influence of the older body might be confounded 

 with those of the new, and confusion might easily arise and in fact, 

 has already arisen, in correspondence. 



We suggest that the new organization use the words "Institute" 

 and "United States," instead of "American"; and we venture to 

 think that the adoption of these changes would furnish a good illustra- 

 tion of the amity and comity which should always exist among learned 

 societies. 



Very truly yours, 



(Signed) Charles W. Eliot. 

 (Signed) John Trowbridge. 



A letter of protest, which quoted the above letter and also gave 

 a list of past and present distinguished members of the Academy, 

 in the section of Arts and Letters, was sent to the Library Commit- 

 tee of the House of Representatives. 



The following letter from Senator Lodge was received by the 

 committee : — 



