1880.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



17Y 



tion to meet in the same place as 

 the A. A. A. S., but seemed deter- 

 mined to hold the meeting at a 

 great distance from that place. 



At Indianapolis, the best known, 

 and usually the most influential 

 microscopists, were at flrst inclined 

 to oppose the formation of a perma- 

 nent, new organization. It soon 

 became evident that such opposition 

 was useless, so they entered into 

 the new scheme with the desire 

 to make it a success, if possible. 

 They then endeavored to have the 

 meetings take place once in three 

 years, instead of annually, but this 

 proposition was overthrown. Then 

 it was suggested that the meetings 

 should be held each year at the same 

 place as the meetings of the A. A. 

 A. S., by which much time and ex- 

 pense could be saved to many mem- 

 l3ers, and the attendance would be 

 much larger than elsewhere, but this 

 was also voted down, as we have 

 already stated. Among the gen- 

 tlemen to whom we have refer- 

 red as being the best known and 

 most influential microscopists, we 

 take the liberty of naming Dr. R. H. 

 Ward, the Rev. A. B. Hervey, and 

 Mr. J. D. Hyatt, and we might add 

 others, but these will suffice to indi- 

 cate the character, standing and 

 mature judgment of those who were 

 most active in the opposition to the 

 movement. 



It seemed as though the matter 

 had all been pre-arranged, so that no 

 amount of argument could prevail 

 against the adopted programme. 

 We do not assert that this was a 

 fact — we merely say that it seemed 

 to be the case, and this presumption 

 is held by many others besides our- 

 selves. As we were engaged on 

 committees working for the estab- 

 lishment of the Society, we can speak 

 with more confidence about the 

 first steps than can many others who 

 were at Indianapolis ; we know that 



very strong and steady efforts were 

 made, by tne gentlemen whom we 

 have named and others, to induce 

 the Society to meet in connection 

 with the A. A. A. S. 



Now, we do not wish to be regar- 

 ded as desiring the failure of the 

 American Society of Microscopists, 

 if it can show any reason for its ex- 

 istence. It is the raison d'etre that 

 should, and doubtless wiU, determine 

 its future history ; if it is shovm 

 that the Society can maintain a 

 useful existence, then it will always 

 have our earnest efforts for its wel- 

 fare. 



So much we have written as an 

 introduction to what is of more im- 

 mediate importance, in relation to 

 the two organizations. 



We believe that unless the 

 American Society of Microscopists 

 decides to meet next year in con- 

 nection with the A. A. A. S. at 

 Cincinnati, that the next meeting 

 will be its last. We have received 

 intimations from gentlemen who 

 were present at the Detroit meeting, 

 to the effect that some of the mem- 

 bers there had about concluded that 

 the attractions of the meetings are 

 not suflicient to induce members to 

 undertake long and expensive jour- 

 neys to attend them. The ex- 

 perience of tWo meetings has shown 

 that a larger attendance is neces- 

 sary for the active existence of the 

 Society, and the only way to in- 

 crease that attendance seems to be 

 by meeting in connection with the 

 A. A. A. S. We hope this will be 

 done ; for if it is done, there may 

 be opened for the Society a long 

 career of usefulness. 



There is, however, another con- 

 sideration which we desire to men- 

 tion in this connection. We do not 

 believe that the really valuable mi- 

 croscopical work that is done in 

 this country, and which would be 

 presented at either the meetings of 



