4 A. WTNCHELL — HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE G. S. A. 



the other, that its officers should be the same as those chosen for Section E. 

 Some, with more zeal for the interests of geology than for those of the 

 Association, advocated complete independence. Both ends were reached by 

 a compromise which provided that the original members of the Geologi- 

 cal Society must be active workers or teachers of geology, who were either 

 members or fellows of the Association; but that, after January 1, 1889, 

 other persons would be eligible. The compromise further provided that a 

 summer meeting should always be held at the same time and place as the 

 meeting of the Association ; but the business meeting of the society was to 

 be during the winter holidays. The meeting pronounced in favor of publi- 

 cation, and, with this view, an annual assessment of ten dollars. A com- 

 mittee was appointed to draft a constitution to be presented at an adjourned 

 meeting on the following day. The committee consisted of Alexander 

 Winchell, of Ann Arbor, chairman ; J. J. Stevenson, of New York, secretary ; 

 Edward Orton, of Columbus ; Charles H. Hitchcock, of Hanover ; and J. 

 R. Procter, of Frankfort. 



At the adjourned meeting, August 15, the committee presented the form 

 of a provisional constitution which, with slight changes, was adopted. As to 

 membership, meetings, and fees it embodied the instructions of the earlier 

 meeting; and, beyond this, contained only the usual provisions for name, 

 officers, and amendments, and a clause providing for going into effect. The 

 same committee was continued, with instructions to give the requisite atten- 

 tion to the completion of the organization. 



It is noticeable that the action at Cleveland was not undertaken by Sec- 

 tion E. but by American geologists, in pursuance of a call addressed to 

 "all American geologists." Nor did the plan of organization contemplate 

 restricting the Society to persons connected with the Association. It is thus 

 in no way subordinate to Section E, nor to the Association, though it pro- 

 poses to hold an annual meeting conjointly with the Association. It pos- 

 sesses complete autonomy, and requires no sanction from the Association 

 in its attempt to represent the interests of American geology. 



Thirty-seven eligible persons subscribed to the constitution before the 

 adjournment of the Association. Immediately after adjournment the com- 

 mittee of organization resumed its efforts, and by November 1 more than 

 one hundred names had been obtained, and the first meeting was promptly 

 called to assemble at Ithaca, under the hospitality of Cornell University. 



An informal conference was held on the alien a and evening of December 



26, and at 10 a.m., December 27, the formal meeting convened in the hall 

 of Sage < lollege. The attendance was small, but it was well understood that 

 the attendance was not an exponent of the deep and general interest fell in 

 the movement. The meeting was called to order and presided over by the 

 chairman of the organizing committee. In a preliminary statement made 



