RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 99 



Committee of fiye, to be appointed at the next regular meeting 

 of the Academy. 



The following resolution, oifered by Dr. Cochran, was unani- 

 mously adopted: 



Resolved^ That in consideration of important and valuable services, 

 untiringly rendered in behalf of the Davenport Academy of Natiu-al 

 Sciences by Mrs. Chas. E. Putnam, her name be enrolled as a life mem- 

 ber of the Academy. 



March 6th, 1877. — Social Meeting. 



In accordance with the resolution adojDted by the Academy on 

 February 23d, the evening of March 6th was appointed as the 

 time for the members to call upon and formally thank Mrs. P. 

 V. Newcomb for her valuable donation. The otiicers and gen- 

 tlemen of the Academy assembled at the rooms of the society, 

 and at four o'clock proceeded to the residence of Mrs. iS^ew- 

 comb. Here they were joined by the lady members, and other 

 friends of Mrs. J!^ewcomb and the Academy. The party, num- 

 bering nearly one hundred, was received in a very hosj:)itable 

 and cordial manner by their genial benefactress, her parlors 

 having been beautifully decorated for the occasion. 



After a pleasant half hour of social conversation, Rev. S. S. 

 Hunting, President of the Academy, arose and read the resolu- 

 tions of gratitude and thanks, adopted February 23d, presenting 

 theift with the following 



Address. 



Mrs. ;N"ewco:mb :— In addition to the resolutions of thanks which the 

 Academy of Sciences is only too glad to present on this occasion, it is my 

 privilege, because of the trust now imposed on me, to add a few words to 

 make this day a milestone on the road to that triumphant success on 

 which our Academy has started. 



In contributing for science, you may be assured that you are promot- 

 ing pure knowledge, for we take knowledge and science as synonymous 

 words. Need I suggest what the lamented Agassiz so often taught, that 

 every object of nature is the symbol of a divine thought, and all natural 

 science is knowledge of eternal verities. The martyrs of science are 

 enrolled with those of religion, and both are crowned with the same un- 

 fading wreath. The method of study, which to-day is called scientific, is 

 the best possible guarantee we can have that theory must conform to fact 

 before it can take its place as a recognized scientific truth. 



