JOHN 0UMMING8. 



with pleasure the dignified cordiality of his greeting, his kindly sympa- 

 thy in others' joys and Borrows, his tenderness of heartland his wide- 

 spread interest in all that was going on about him. These traits 

 continued to the last, even gaining in intensify as his long life approached 



■ ml. 



Chaklbs 1'. Bowdj m ii. 



JOHN CU.M MINGS. 



Hon. .John Cummings of Woburn, Mass., was elected Resident 

 Fellow of the Academy, in Class III., Section 3, on the 12th of 

 October, L881. He was at the time well known in this section of the 

 State as generously promoting the teaching of Natural Science in the 

 public schools, and as liberally aiding institutions and individuals in 

 the prosecution oi more advanced scientific work. He was Vice-Pn 

 dent of the Boston Society of Natural History, and had materially con- 

 tributed to its museum by the gift of valuable collections, while the 

 botanical specimens were being arranged and multiplied by his liberality. 



One of bis noteworthy contributions was the entire financial -upport 

 he gave to the "Teachers' School of Science " for the first two years of 

 its existence. When he was elected to the Academy this school had 

 become of established value in the diffusion of scientific knowledge and 

 iii advancing the true method of teaching from objects and natural 

 features. 



At the same time he was identified with those who were establishing 

 and building up the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was 

 early made a member of its Corporation and was serving as its Treasurer, 

 an office which be filled with great credit during a long period in the his- 

 tory of the institution when it most needed the services of a treasurer 

 who believed in it and who had the energy and the courage to Btruggle 

 with many difficulties and discouragements. To him the Institute of 

 Technology ia deeply indebted for its present condition. 



lie was filling many positions of confidence and responsibility and was 

 highly esteemed in business ciroles. He was President of the Sbawmut 

 National Bank; he had served as President of the Boston Board of 

 Trade and of the Shoe and Leather Association; and he had held impor- 

 tant offices in the Massachusetts Charitable .Mechanic Association. Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society, and the Perkins Institution for the Blind; 

 he was State Director of the Host on and Albany Kail road, also a director 

 of the Eastern Railroad. He had rendered valuable service as a mem- 



