SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 211 



membership to the select students of science. But, learning that this 

 fair structure, which embodies so many hopes, fears, struggles, which 

 has been sanctified by sacrifice and ennobled by high ideals, was being 

 assailed from without, and that a crisis had arrived in the history of the 

 Academy when its friends and patrons must rally to its support, I could 

 not refrain from taking my place in the ranks, and using my best en- 

 deavors to protect it from impending ruin. 



At the close of the preceding year there had appeared in the Second 

 Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, connected with the Smith- 

 sonian institution, a virulent attack upon the authenticity of the in- 

 scribed tablets and elephant pipes in the museum of our Academy, and 

 this was accompanied by a most unjustifiable assault upon the Rev. Mr. 

 Gass, the principal discoverer. These charges against our Academy 

 were made by Henry W. Henshaw, an employe in that department, 

 and had the approval, and were published with the endorsement of, 

 Major Powell, the Director of the Bureau. As the high position 

 attained by the Academy in the world of science has been largely due 

 to these important discoveries, it will be perceived that to permit this 

 charge to go undefended would be not only an injustice to the discov- 

 erers, but destructive of its influence and usefulness. The gentleman 

 making these accusations was not an archaeologist, never inspected the 

 relics in question, was never on the ground where they were found, was 

 unacquainted with the discoverers, as also with the members of the 

 Academy, never made an inquiry of either, and hence it should surprise 

 no one that his publication was made up of blunders and falsehoods in 

 about equal proportions. Still, as it appeared in a government publi- 

 cation, and thus was supported by official sanction, it was calculated, if 

 uncontradicted, to do great injury. Early in the past year, therefore, 

 a paper was prepared setting forth the facts in the case, and pointing 

 out the errors in the published statement of Mr. Henshaw, and this 

 vindication of the authenticity of our relics was printed in pamphlet 

 form, and widely distributed. It was generally received with favor and 

 approbation, as is evidenced by an extensive correspondence with 

 eminent archaeologists in this country and Europe. There should be 

 nothing discouraging in this controversy to the members of the Acad- 

 emy. We all know Rev. Mr. Gass to be a worthy and true man, we 

 all have entire faith in the genuineness of our relics, and, in the end, 

 truth and justice will prevail. Indeed, this attack itself attests the great 

 scientific value of these interesting relics. It discloses, too, the preg- 

 nant fact that, in the honorable strife for precedence in archaeological 

 research, we have outstripped our competitors, and hence this abortive 

 attempt to detract from the value of our discoveries. It also makes it 

 clear that at last the Academy has reached the age of manhood. In 

 our infant days we were encouraged some, petted perhaps a little, oc- 

 casionally, it may be, passed by with indifference; but now that our 

 little planet has crossed the orbits of these official luminaries, we are 

 the recipients of sturdy blows, which indicate that we are at last recog- 

 nized as among the stalwarts in the scientific world. I therefore con- 

 gratulate you, ladies and gentlemen, that we have at last attained to 



