EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING. fl 
must equally. join in the common satisfaction in the measure of suc- 
cess which has been achieved. 
Six years back, when the subject was discussed in this hall, there 
were probably not a few who viewed the propositions then submitted 
as merely fanciful theories. Others who did not refuse to recognize 
their bearing, entertained the feeling that many grave difficulties 
presented themselves to interfere with any successful attempt to 
reform or modify usages so ancient as the computation of time. But 
the Institute, as a body, was hopeful. The action taken by the Council 
to extend the field of discussion and awaken the attention of foreign 
communities, evinced confidence, and we may now ask, was this 
confidence justified ? What are the facts to-day? Twelve months 
have passed since an important change in the notation of Railway 
Time was made with general approval throughout the length and 
breadth of North America, a revolution in the usages of sixty millions 
of people has been silently effected and with scarcely a trace that it 
has happened. A proceeding which has been followed by events of 
equal importance. On the Ist of October last a body of accredited 
delegates from the different nations, on the invitation of the Presi- 
dent of the United States, met in conference to consider the problem 
first submitted to the world by this Institute. The delegates were 
the representatives of twenty-five (25) civilized nations. The con- 
ference continued during the whole month of October, and, as a body, 
they came to conclusions affecting all peoples living under our: 
theories of civilization. 
It was early understood that a determination with respect to Uni- 
versal Time was not possible without the general recognition of an 
initial meridian. Hence the importance attached to its choice, 
that it should be universally accepted. 
For many years attempts have been made to effect the establish- 
ment of an initial meridian recognized in common by all nations, 
but every attempt hitherto had proved completely unsuccessful. It 
is therefore the greater cause for congratulation, that the efforts of 
the Washington conference have succeeded in its determination. 
The discussions of the conference were long, and being carried on 
in different languages, could not have been of equal interest to all 
present. Translations became necessary, so that all the delegates 
might equally understand the propositions which were daily submit- 
ted. This necessary course prolonged the sessions and multiplied 
