1902.] FAIRCIIILD — HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY. 333 



Finances. The expenses of the Academy, for meetings, lectures, 

 notices, postage, printing and distribution of the Proceedings, and for 

 some clerical work, have been borne entirely from the annual dues of 

 the small membership. No donations have been received or asked 

 from the public. While doing a valuable work for the city at large 

 the Academy has never placed itself in the position of an object of 

 charity. It has worked on quietly, economically using the small 

 means at command, not seeking popularity or notoriety, but following 

 the spirit of the seeker after truth for truth's own sake. Donations 

 to our treasury would probably not be refused. But if such come let 

 it be so as to preserve to the Society its present independence and 

 self respect. Much money is not the most valuable possession of a 

 scientific society. Like individuals, those that are so unfortunate as 

 to become rich lose their activity. 



One acknowledgment of valuable assistance should be made. 

 Since the reorganization of the Academy, in 1889, as previously, it 

 has paid no rental for places of meeting. For many years the Uni- 

 versity extended the hospitality of its buildings, and they are still 

 open to us. Later for some years the meetings have been held in the 

 assembly rooms of the Reynolds' Library, through the courteous 

 generosity of the Trustees. For some months we have been accepting 

 the hospitality of the Mechanics Institute. The writer is sure that he 

 expresses the sentiments of all the members of the Academy in here 

 thanking the officials of these three institutions. At the same time we 

 do not forget Talleyrand's famous mot, that gratitude is a lively expec- 

 tation of favors to come. 



Sections. Under the present Academy the sectional work has 

 not been made a prominent part. Sections have been proposed in 

 different branches from time to time, but only three have been organ- 

 ized. A section of Geology was organized Oct. 28, 1889, which con- 

 tinued for about three years. Two annual reports of the Section are 

 printed in the Proceedings, Vol. i. The Chairman of the Section 

 was E. E. Howell, and the Recorder, H. L. Preston. A Section of 

 Zoology was organized Apr. 14, 1890, with Frank A. Ward Chair- 

 man and Geo. W. Rafter Recorder, It held meetings about one 

 year. 



The Botanical Section deserves special mention and honor. 

 The section was organized April 13, 1881, at the house of William 

 Streeter, No. 14 Scio Street, which place has been its home since 



