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The earlier state scientific societies, in other states, had, in 

 their beginning, a comparatively open field. They originated 

 many movements and nourished the germs of many institu- 

 tions which we now find permanently organized and in full 

 operation here. We can not imitate them, consequently, even 

 if we would, but must adjust ourselves independently to our 

 own environment. Now, after two years of active operation, 

 and with a membership list which insures us opportunity and 

 promises us power, this seems a suitable time to start some 

 fundamental inquiries as to our ends and purposes, and to 

 begin the earnest discussion of practical answers to them. 



Although I hold today a place of temporary advantage, and 

 might assume to speak to some extent at least in the name of 

 the society itself which has chosen me as its president for the 

 year, I wish to disclaim any such privilege, and shall merely 

 undertake to express my personal views from my own stand- 

 point. 



Our most immediate duty, as it seems to me, is to our other- 

 wise unattached, active membership — to the private student, 

 the isolated investigator, the occasional scientific worker in an 

 unscientific environment, to whom we may, through our or- 

 ganization and our meetings, bring helpful acquaintanceship, 

 appreciation, stimulus, and aid. Next we especially owe op- 

 portunity and elementary inspiration to the young — to the be^ 

 ginner, who may find in our meetings and in his own first 

 paper on our program a not too difficult first step in a career 

 which may lead him no one knows how far or how high. And 

 then we owe to all of us, young and old, beginner and veteran, 

 attached and unattached, an opportunity to know each other, 

 and to learn something of each other's interests and accomplish- 

 ments, and a look, at least, now and then, over some easy 

 place in the wall of division between specialties and depart- 

 ments, — a chance to hear and to see the best and the latest 

 thing in some other field than the one which we know best. 

 And out of all this will come good fellowship and a broader 

 knowledge, and not infrequently a reflected light on some prob- 

 lem of our own, involved in darkness hitherto, which no direct 



