44 



most intelligent and therefore tlie most efficient use of resources, I beg 

 to bring to your attention some questions wliich I believe to be of vital 

 importance to tlie Academy and to its greatest efficiency as a state organ- 

 ization. This is an age of organization, and associations of various sorts 

 are rapidly mviltiplying. Everyone must feel the burden of the demands 

 of societies, local, state and national, upon his time, attention and means ; 

 and! to secure and maintain the lo.valt.v and devotion of its members, any 

 society must prove its value in substantial returns. It has been my privi- 

 lege to belong to the Academy since my advent into Hoosierdom, and 

 nearly two decades of membership ha\ e given me a high appreciation of 

 its value. I offer no excuse, therefore, f(u- bringing to your attention some 

 features of the \v(»rk of the Academy and in asking your consideration of 

 some suggestions which may be of service in making it of still greater use 

 fulness to its members. 



Societies, like individuals, mu.st be undergoing a continuous develop- 

 ment, unless indeed they are moribund. They must he adapted to the needs 

 and demands of the times and from time tf> time read.iustments are im 

 perative if a vigorous life is to be maintained. Not too infrequently, then, 

 sliould we pause to take stock of our present condition and consider ways 

 and means by which greater effecti\ eness can be secured. A few years ago 

 one of our distinguished past in-esidents, Dr. Jordan, said that the fight 

 for the recognition of science in the educational held and In the world at 

 large was a potent factor in binding together the members of the Academy 

 in a common cause. Times have changed. No longer is it necessary for 

 the man of science to assert his rights. The theoretic chemistry of yester- 

 day is at the foundation of modern industry ; the "plaything" of tlie physi- 

 cist of yesterday, today lights the world and i)uts distant peoples into in- 

 stant communication ; the marvels of the biologist's microscope and culture 

 tubes have become the dependence of the modern world for the mainte- 

 nance of its life and health, and the i)ublic has become well-nigh too cred- 

 ulous of the powers of science. The old field of battle has been won, but 

 ihere are other and greater promised lands of usefulness which must be 

 entered and possessed, and the new conquests require new adjustments and 

 new weapons. 



Section 2 of Article 1 *>f tlie constitution sets forth the purposes of 

 the AcadiMiiy as follows: •Tlic objects of this Academy shall be scientitic 

 research and the diffusion of knowledge concerning the various depart- 

 ments of science, to promote intercourse bet\\oon men engaged in scientifit- 



