1902.] FAIRCHILD — HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY. 325 



Methods of Work. Results. 



It appears that the plan of work of the Academy during those 

 earlier years was to considerable extent that of a school, and one not 

 wholly limited to science. The sections were probably more in the 

 nature of classes, led by the more experienced workers. This was a 

 natural condition where the experts were too few to make a working 

 section, and there were others who desired to learn. The instructional 

 work of the sections doubtless met a want of the time which neither 

 the college nor other institution in the city fully satisfied. As far as 

 they went the results must have been good, as they cultivated an 

 interest in nature and helped to develop latent talent. Probably there 

 are persons who have achieved something in science or have found 

 great pleasure and benefit in scientific study who owe their start to the 

 meetings of the sections. All honor to the enthqsiastic workers of 

 those days who gave their time and labor without other recompense 

 than the satisfaction of helping others to an appreciation of nature! 



But without some endowment to at least partially pay the instruc- 

 tors this kind of section work was sure to terminate. When the 

 enthusiasm waned and the section work became more of a duty and 

 less of a pleasure, the attendance dwindled and the section became 

 inactive. The number of persons professionally or actively engaged 

 in scientific work was not sufificient to keep several sections alive, and 

 of all the sections formed during the whole history of the Society only 

 one has survived, the Botanical Section. The chief defects of the 

 early organization were the low dues (one dollar, later two dollars) 

 and the lack of concentration. The energy of the few workers was 

 not directed sufficiently upon the general meetings. In 1888, the 

 Academy was so weak and inactive that a committee was appointed to 

 adjust its affairs. 



At this juncture the writer, having just settled in Rochester, was 

 called into the consultation and he advised a reorganization of the 

 Academy instead of a dissolution. Acting upon the suggestion a new 

 set of rules was framed and promptly adopted and the present Society 

 began its successful work. The story of the reorganization is on 

 record in the first pages of the first volume of the Proceedings. 



