PREFACE 



THE Committee on Editing Transactions has considered that this volume, like 

 the preceding one, will be useful chiefly as a book of reference to the events 

 and current thought of the A. S. L. A., not only for its members but for 

 others. Conciseness has therefore been sought and repetition avoided ; mat- 

 ters that seemed of merely temporary interest have been omitted, and facts placed so 

 as to be easily accessible. Lists of members, executive and special committees, and 

 treasurer's reports have been tabulated so that the standing of members, officers, com- 

 mittees, and the finances of any year can be quickly found and compared with those of 

 other years. 



Reports of meetings have been standardized, attention being paid even to such 

 details as the order of statement of time and place of meeting, the omission of initials 

 of those present (which can be found in the membership list) and of the chairman, who 

 is the highest officer present. The membership list has been brought up to January, 

 1922, in order to make it as useful as possible. 



It has been thought best to record the meetings separately, not only because they 

 form a sequential history of the Society, but because of the individual and intimate 

 character which they still retain. The papers included in this volume have been print- 

 ed entire, abbreviated or even rewritten and, in several cases, revised by the authors ; 

 but it is believed that nothing of permanent value has been lost. 



It has not always been easy to decide what material should be rejected and what 

 retained, and complete consistency therein is not claimed. It is only to be expected 

 that opinions will differ as to judgment in selection, but it is hoped that as in the case 

 of the first volume the book may aid in establishing a standard for future Transactions 

 and thus lighten the labors of succeeding editing committees. 



