68 



Table decorations were in charge of Mr. George Bishop, who 

 used material collected from the grounds by Mr. Charles McCinley, 

 supplemented by interesting gourds generously donated by Miss 

 Helen M. Tillinghast, oi Vernon, Conn. 



This was the fourth general organization dinner to be held in 

 the Laboratory Building, the three previous ones being as follows: 

 April 20, 1922, coinciding with the return of Dr. ( Irland E. White, 

 then curator of plant breeding, from the Mulford Expedition for 

 the Biological Exploration of the Amazon Basin, June 1. 1921- 

 April 14, V)22, with about 35 present ; May 22, 1930, marking the 

 twentieth anniversary of the opening of the Garden and oi the 

 appointment of the first director, with 03 present; Nov. 15, 1034, 

 marking 20 years service ot eight employees, with 72 present. 



M EM BKKSII i r 



It is an interesting fact that, in all ages, art and science and 

 education have, for the most part, been carried on by men and 

 women whose main or only endowment was their skill and their 

 intellectual ability. For their financial support they have, with 

 few exceptions, been dependent upon " patrons " —men of wealth 

 or the state or, more recently, foundations. The social value ot 

 art. science, and education has been increasingly acknowledged, 

 and they are now recognized as indispensable to modern society. 

 In a democracy they should look for their financial support to the 

 people as a whole, as well as to a relatively few " patrons." It is 

 important for us to keep this fact in mind, for in periods of stress 

 and financial stringency, like the present, it seems natural to decide 

 to economize first in these things, which are the very core and es- 

 sence of modern civilization. Their financial support has become 

 nut only a privilege or an opportunity, hut, especially in a democ- 

 racy, a social obligation — tor each according to his ability. 



It is in the light of such a consideration that membership in our 

 museums and botanic gardens should be partly considered. ()i 

 course special privileges are offered to members in consideration 

 of their membership dues, but membership also affords an oppor- 

 tunity to make some contribution, however small, to those activities 

 which really make lite worth living tor all ot us. 



