60 Boston Society of Natural History 



brief retrospect shows, these aims have never varied. They are the 

 warp and woof of our Society to-day, so that the problem before us 

 is plain and straightforward. In order to live up to the ideals of our 

 forebears we have to organize the expansion of plant, facilities, and 

 personnel, for which the development of New England calls. It is 

 up to the present generation to raise our Society to a standard of 

 efficiency in the twin causes of Science and Education which will 

 win for it a place second to none among kindred Institutions. 



Our Society, as we have seen, decided, most wisely, to concen- 

 trate its efforts on a study of Nature's work in New England, a policy 

 which is perhaps unique among kindred institutions. New England 

 is a field large enough and rich enough to need an institution wholly 

 devoted to the study of its natural phenomena. The foundation of 

 our work is thus laid on lines which only call for expansion — not 

 demolition or alteration — to bring our Museum into line with the 

 need for the greater ser vice and facilities which are now overdue. 



We have for some time been carrying on with inadequate finan- 

 cial resources, but we have cheerfully struggled along with cramped 

 means because we felt that our Hundredth Milestone was the point 

 at which it was in every way appropriate that we should ask for help 

 to carry us on past many another Milestone. 



As our forefathers, in founding the second oldest Natural History 

 Society in America did their duty by us, so we are bound in the 

 same spirit to do likewise by posterity. 



Our Centenary, as it happens, coincides with the Tercentenary of 

 our State, so the urge to show our gratitude to the men who hewed 

 Massachusetts out of the wilderness,by doing in our turn a work for 

 which posterity will thank us, is doubly stimulating for those of us 

 who reverence the mighty part which Massachusetts has played in 

 the development of our country. 



