Fraley.] ' y ~ J ' [March 1 i, 



body devoted to the "promotion of useful knowl- 

 edge." 



It has not forgotten either to recognize that women 

 as well as men are in the circle of those to whom 

 the world is indebted for its progress, and that same 

 roll contains the names of women of eminent and 

 varied knowledge deemed worthy of such honorable 

 recognition. 



Let me repeat here the counsel given in 1843, by 

 the Committee of Arrangements and specially en- 

 forced by a resolution then offered by our late asso- 

 ciate, Joseph Henry, that it should be a matter 

 of special concern that the officers and members 

 should keep constantly in mind that it is an imperative 

 duty to cail every one to membership who by worth, 

 virtue and special fitness is calculated to benefit the 

 world by what he can give to it out of the gifts be- 

 stowed on him. 



But I come now to a field on which I really fear to 

 tread. My predecessor in Centennial duty shrank 

 from it on account of its vast extent ; and the years 

 that have elapsed since he spoke have added immense- 

 ly to any adequate conception of what has been, wrought 

 in the civilized world from 1743 to 1880. I shall, there- 

 fore, as he did, leave to others, to make special refer- 

 ences to the various subjects into which the history 

 divides itself and present only a summary of what has 

 marked our human progress. 



As on good government all the true advancement of 

 society mainly rests, we may mark what has been accom- 

 plished for the settlement and amendment of political 

 institutions. The principles introduced into the gov- 

 ernment of Great Britain in 1688, had to be cultivated 



