4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. VI. 
have “movers” and “seconders” to the motions submitted. As 
appears by the minute book the meeting simply “Resolved” this or 
that. One resolution adopted and formally placed on record reads: 
Resolved, “ That the members of the Canadian Institute do after this 
“date meet once a week, on each Saturday at 7 o'clock p.m., in the 
“ Hall of the Mechanics’ Institute ;—and that the first subject for discus- 
“sion be the act for regulating the admission of land surveyors and the 
“survey of lands throughout the Province. The first meeting to take 
“place on Saturday next, February 16th.” 
No fault was ever found with the action taken on that occasion. It 
was generally recognized that circumstances justified it. Meetings had 
been called once a month ever since June 20th, 1849, having in view the 
establishment of a Society. These meetings at first were well attended, 
but the attendance was not maintained, and at last it dwindled to two, 
(shall we call them?) devoted members or over zealous and not over 
particular young men. Be that as it may, matters appeared to them 
desperate, a. crisis had been reached, and it became, in their minds, 
necessary to take vigorous action. The resolutions passed were 
printed in circular form and sent to all interested. Happily, the young 
Society was galvanized into life. The meeting held the week following 
was well attended and discussions on various subjects were continued for 
several hours. The same may be said of succeeding meetings. Febru- 
ary 8, 1850, has proved to be a red letter day in the annals of the 
Canadian Institute. At no meeting before nor since have resolutions more 
far-reaching been passed. Then was inaugurated the practice of 
meeting weekly each Saturday evening, and for nearly half a century 
the Society has regularly maintained the practice during the sessions 
extending from November to April. 
On the second weekly meeting (February 23rd, 1850), the constitution 
of the Society, which had been prepared by the Standing Committee, 
was adopted. 
The first session came to an end on April 13th. Mr. Killaly having 
declined the office of President, Mr. Charles Rankin, at one of the weekly 
meetings, received the appointment. 
The second session began on Saturday, November 16th, 1850. At this 
meeting a prospectus of “The Canadian Journal, a Record of Industry, 
Science and Art,” was submitted by the Standing Committee and 
cordially approved. It was designed to be the official organ of the 
Canadian Institute and the medium of publication of its transactions. 
