6 



While it is no small task that is placed upon me, I am mindful of 

 the fact that it is no small honor to be permitted to deliver the open- 

 ing- address of the Annual meeting of this Association of earnest scien- 

 tific workers — the first and only society of its kind in all the world. 

 Particularly am I impressed with the honor when I remember we are 

 met in one of the foremost seats of scientific learning in our country. 



And then there is, perhaps, a sort of grim satisfaction in the feeling 

 that it is my unquestioned privilege at this time to act the part of an 

 adviser. I can praise you for your welldoing, scold you for your 

 shortcomings, and inflict upon you my own ideas as to what your duties 

 are to one another and to the people you serve. But, alas, how often 

 we find that what we supposed to be a new idea or a new species turns 

 out, after all, to be old. After reading again the addresses of former 

 presidents of this Association, it appears that my supposedly new ideas 

 have nearly all been "preoccupied." So I can not hope to ofier much 

 at this time that shall be considered new or worthy of specific rank. 



Like a freeborn American citizen, I have decided to speak of the 

 duties and privileges conferred upon us by section 2 of our constitu- 

 tion, which sets forth the objects of the organization. 



It is well to pause occasionally in our onward career and ask our- 

 selves why we exist. The founders of this Association had high and 

 noble ideas as to what should be attained by its members. In recount- 

 ing these objects it will be necessary to repeat much that has already 

 been given in addresses of this nature, but will it not be better to urge 

 the performance of duties that have already been recognized as such 

 than to advance many new plans of work to be neglected and soon 

 forgotten 'i 



Section 2 of the constitution gives the objects of the Association in 

 the following words: 



Its object shall be (1) to discuss new discoveries, to exchange experiences, and to 

 carefully consider best methods of work; (2) to give opportunity to individual work- 

 ers of announcing proposed investigations, so as to bring out suggsstions and prevent 

 unnecessary duplication of work; (3) to suggest, when possible, certain lines of 

 investigation upon subjects of general interest; (4) to promote the science and advance 

 the study of entomology. 



The objects are well chosen and clearly and concisely stated. Let 

 us consider them one by one. 



We are "to discuss new discoveries." This implies, first of all, 

 that new discoveries are to be made. It takes for granted that the 

 members of this Association are to be scientific workers and not mere 

 book students, content to thrash over old straw or to step exactly in 

 the footprints of another. Each is expected, by his own careful 

 research and study of nature, to add new facts to the sum of human 

 knowledge. It is a noble aspiration for one to desire to leave as his 

 legacy to the world some new idea or discovery to be of use to all 

 succeeding generations. 



