1875] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. 511 



ON THE ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.* 

 (From the Smithsonian Annual Report for 1875; pp. 217-219.) 



Dear Sir: In answer to your question, as 



to the plan of organization and operation of a scientific asso- 

 ciation, I submit the following: 



The object of your society being — as you inform me, to 

 cultivate "scientific taste and knowledge among its mem- 

 bers," this object should be kept constantly in view, and care 

 taken that it be not interfered with by a tendency to waste 

 the time of the meetings in the discussion of irrelevant mat- 

 ters, especially those which relate to the government and 

 organization of the establishment. I have been a member 

 of several societies which failed to effect their object, by end- 

 less discussions on points of order or propositions as to the 

 constitution and by-laws. There is in this country a tend- 

 ency to express little thought in many words, to cultivate a 

 talent for debate, or the art of making the worse appear the 

 better cause — which is by no means favorable to either the 

 increase or the diffusion of knowledge. The object of your 

 society is not that of a mere debating club, but that of an 

 association for the real improvement of its members in 

 knowledge and wisdom. 



It has been from the first, the policy of the Smithsonian 

 Institution to encourage the establishment of such societies, 

 on account of the great advantage they are to their members 

 in the way of intellectual and moral improvement, as well 

 as in the way of positive contributions to science. 



Such an organization is an important institution for the 

 advancement of adult education and the diffusion of interest- 

 ing and useful knowledge throughout a neighborhood. The 

 society must however be under the care of a few enthusiastic 

 and industrious persons; it should adopt the policy of awak- 

 ening and sustaining the interest of the greatest possible 

 number of persons in its operations, and for this purpose the 

 meetings must be rendered attractive. Care should be taken 



♦[Extract from a letter in reply to inquiries from a correspondent.] 



