tlUI 



OUR SOCIETY' 



F. C. HARRISON 



Principal, Macdonald College, P. Q., Canada 

 INTRODUCTION 



The constitution of our Society states that the object of the 

 Society shall be the promotion of the science of bacteriology, the 

 bringing together of American bacteriologists, the demonstra- 

 tion and discussion of bacteriological methods, and the considera- 

 tion of subjects of common interest: Thus, in accord with other 

 scientific societies, its ultimate object is to make life a better 

 thing than it is, to help in the service of man, and to attempt in 

 some small measure to attain what Aristotle in Book III of 

 The Republic has expressed that: 



Our youth will dwell in a land of health, amid fair sights and 

 sounds and receive the good in everything; and beaut}% the effluence 

 of fair works, shall flow into the eye and ear like a health giving 

 breeze from a pure region and insensibly draw the soul from earliest 

 years into likeness and sympathy with the beauty of reason. 



To accomplish these benefits, our work lies ready to our hands, 

 but our strength may be the greater and our faith the firmer if 

 we spare a moment from present toils to look back upon the 

 achievements of the past, to gather strength and encouragement 

 before confronting the future. 



The Society was founded in 1900, under the presidency of the 

 late Prof, W. T. Sedgwick, a great teacher, an inspiring investi- 

 gator and a kindlj' spirit that radiated good will and courteous 

 consideration to others. In the two decades just past the Society 

 has increased in stature and in wisdom and in favor with fellow 

 workers. 



' Address of the President at the Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Society 

 of American Bacteriologists. 



149 



JOCRX.VL or BVCTERIOLOar, VOL. VII. NO. 2 



