466 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



PROPER OBJECTS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 

 POR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



Bt EDWARD ORTON, 



PKOFESSOR OF GEOLOGY IN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ; 

 PREBIDENT-ELICT OF TlIE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOE THE AUVANOEMENT OF 801BNOE. 



THE objects of the American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science are clearly expressed in the opening paragraph of 

 its constitution, which was adopted at its first meeting, held Sep- 

 tember 20, 1848, in Philadelphia. From that day to this the para- 

 graph referred to has not been modified except by the replacement 

 of three words, viz., " the United States " by a single and more 

 comprehensive word — " America." 



As here defined, the objects of the association are " to promote 

 intercourse between those who are cultivating science in different 

 parts of America, to give a stronger and more general impulse and a 

 more systematic direction to scientific research in our country, and 

 to procure for the labors of scientific men increased facilities and a 

 wider usefulness." 



Three distinct elements are included in this general statement, 

 viz.: (1) The cultivation of personal intercourse or acquaintance 

 among the workers in science in this country; (2) the encourage- 

 ment, extension, and proper direction of scientific research; (3) 

 the gaining of popular recognition and good will for the results of 

 scientific work. These objects may be conveniently summarized as 

 (1) social, (2) scientific, (3) practical. 



There is nothing in the original paragraph to indicate whether 

 the elements of this threefold division were counted of equal value, 

 or whether they were arranged in either an ascending or descending 

 scale of importance, but from the fact that in the development and 

 expansion of the association during the last fifty years nothing has 

 been added to and nothing subtracted from this general statement, 

 while in many other divisions of the constitution large and some- 

 times radical changes have been adopted, it seems safe to conclude 

 that the present members of the association see its work and ofiice 

 in very much the same light as its founders did. 



But, while sailing under the old colors and apparently by the 

 old charts, it is quite possible that the association is, insensibly to 

 itself, undergoing modification more or less important. Such an 

 experience is unavoidable in all human institutions, at least in those 

 that retain their vitality in state, society, or church. 



The fifty years that cover the life of the association are unques- 

 tionably the most important, so far as the growth of science is con- 



