Xll. 



MAY 8th, 1911. 



The general monthly meeting of the Society was held at 

 the Museum on Monday evening. May 8th, 1911, Hon. G. H. 

 Butler, a vice-president, in the chair. 



Mr. R. Hall read a letter from Professor Orme Masson, of 

 the Melbourne University, president of the Australasian Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, requesting him to take 

 steps to form a Tasmanian sub-committee to assist in the collec- 

 tion of funds for the Antarctic expedition to be undertaken by 

 Dr. Douglas Mawson. 



Mr. T. Stephens moved tliat a committee be appointeil foi tiie 

 purpose named. 



Professor Flynn seconded the motion, which was carried 

 without discussion. 



The appointment of the committee was allowed to stand 

 over until next meeting, the secretary stating that he would be 

 glad to receive subscriptions in the meantime. 



Mr. J. A. Johnson moved that there be added to riije 42 

 a sub-section E^Psych()loii;_v and Education. He did not think 

 it necessarj' to weary the Fellows present b.v explainin*^ that 

 psychology and education, cither separately or together, formed 

 a science coming within the objects of the Royal Society. In 

 his opinion, the greatest revolution which had taken place in 

 the last 20 years in any department of scientific work was 

 that which had taken place in regard to education. It was at- 

 great as that which took place in regard to physical science, 

 when we learnt that this world of ours was not the centre of 

 the solar system. In arguing on behalf of ps.ycholog^- he wished 

 his hearers to understand that he was not arguing on behalf of 

 metaphysics, but for the study of the simpler facts of mental 

 phenomena on which all were agreed, and facts bearing on the 

 work of education. That, he proposed, should be the work of 

 the new sub-section. He knew several engaged in the work of 

 education who would be glad to take part in the work of the 

 society if subjects such as these were included. 



Mr. Herman Ritz supnorted the motion. He considered 

 it too late in the day now to deny that the training of the 

 human mind was scientific work, and for that reason it came 

 well within the .scope of the society. 



Mr. T. Stephens said that lie had the fullest sympathy with 

 the objects of the mover, but he thought thoy should consider 

 whether such subjects as education and psychology came within 

 the original scope of the Rnyal Society. The original founders 

 of the socirtv contemplated as its .scone phvsical science and 

 natural philosophy, and it was many years before any attempt 

 was made to introduce innovations. As a member of the 

 profession of education for over half a century, he agreed with 

 everything that Mr. John.son had said, but he considere<l that 

 education and psychology were big enough subjects to have a 

 society of their own. Tliere was a good denl to be said in 



