BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 143 



the memory of the many distinguished and devoted members of the Society who, from its 

 i-iirliest period to that now under consideration, were active in its affairs, -to imply that no 

 plan of organization, or policy of administration had been acted upon. A common senti- 

 ment influenced all of them, that of affording means by which a better knowledge of 

 natural history might be attained by themselves and disseminated in the community, and 

 to act upon this they deliberately planned for the accomplishment of their purposes and 

 organized moans for the object. They established a Museum, they founded a Library, 

 they held meetings, gave lectures, and published scientific papers. Simply, they did not 

 define their course of action or their arrangement of the Museum, as more advanced 

 knowledge and experience suggested in 1870. What they did was in accordance with the 

 best thought prevailing anywhere in relation to such institutions as that of the Society. 



If the several departments of the Museum they formed were not placed in such se- 

 quence as to form together as now, the best means for the education of visitors, the collec- 

 tions of each were arranged in thorough scientific order. The time had however come for 

 a more definite statement of what was proposed on the part of the Society, especially as 

 views were held by some members tending to prevent such change in its policy and in the 

 arrangement of the collections as seemed desirable for its best good. The Custodian, Mr. 

 Hyatt, was therefore required, as has been before mentioned, to prepare a report as early 

 as possible, on the state of the Museum and a plan for its definite arrangement, so as to 

 best illustrate what the Society had in view in its foundation. This he did soon after, and 

 a vote was passed by the Council, adopting the proposed plan as a basis for action 

 until the annual meeting in 1871. 



This plan was not limited in its application to the Museum. The paper presented by 

 the Custodian and adopted by the Council, was termed "Proposed Plan of Organization," 

 and embraced views and suggestions concerning the meetings, the publications, and the 

 library, as well as the Museum. The essential details of this plan may be found in the 

 annual report for the year ending May, 1871, published in the fourteenth volume of the 

 Proceedings. Here only such portions of it will be referred to as tended to excite opposi- 

 tion and to lead to a conflict of opinion and action upon measures deemed essential to the 

 interests of the Society. 



After stating that the Museum of the Society was intended especially for the instruction 

 of teachers, general students and the public, and that therefore its collections should be 

 arranged according to some easily understood and comprehensive plan, illustrating the 

 general laws of natural science, the Custodian added, "All the different departments 

 should be connected as closely as possible, and form together a series of lessons in the 

 structure of the earth and its constituent parts, and in the organization of the plants and 

 animals living upon its surface." 



A clear understanding of the defective general character of the arrangement of the 

 Museum, as judged in the light of present experience, is necessary in order that the reason 

 for a radical change in the location of the several departments in the building, involving 

 large expenditure of time and money, may be manifest. 



As recently as when the new building of the Society was constructed, it is doubtful if in 

 any of the great museums of the world, the importance was recognized of arranging the 

 several departments in such relation to each other as would best serve educational inter- 

 ests; certain it is, that not a member of the Society gave a thought to it. The only idea 



