226 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



terday, while others take the mind back to that early time " when the morning stars sang 

 together and all the sons of God shouted for joy ! " 



Mr. President, I congratulate you on this interesting anniversary, and I am sure the 

 members will -unite with me in saying that the time of your official connection with this 

 Society covers one of the brightest periods of its history. 



At the close of the address of the Rev. Mr. Waterston, the President, expressing the 

 great satisfaction felt by the Society at such a large attendance on the part of its friends, 

 invited all present, with the aid of the "Introduction to a General Guide to the Museum," 

 which had been distributed among them, to look over the collections, either then or at a 

 more convenient time. The lateness of the hour prevented more than a very cursory 

 examination of them. 



In the evening a reception was given by the President, at his residence in Newbury 

 Street, to the members of the Society and many ladies and gentlemen interested in its 

 work. Thus the day was appropriately closed in the enjoyment of social intercourse, and 

 all parted, feeling that the celebration of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the founda- 

 tion of the Society had been thoroughly successful. 



The annual meeting of the Society was held on the fifth day of May, Vice-President 

 S. H. Scudder being in the Chair. 



After the reading of the records of previous meetings the report of the Custodian, of the 

 Secretary and of the Treasurer were presented. From these, abstracts will be here given. 



The Custodian commenced by stating that in some respects the official year just closed 

 was one of the most important in the history of the Society. It was marked not alone 

 by being the termination of the first half century of its existence, but by the fact that 

 the Museum had begun at last the career for which preparation had been making during 

 the past ten years. 



Of the publications he remarked that they were very creditable, but that it should not 

 be forgotten that paucity of resources had caused the frequent refusal of important 

 papers ; that this was greatly to be deplored, since properly illustrated publication is often 

 the only reward of scientific labor, and the prompt issue of memoirs is essential to the 

 successful attainment of the chief object of all scientific associations that seek to encour- 

 age the spirit of original research. 



The material results, as exhibited in the collections, the library, and the publications, 

 were very valuable as credentials of a prudent and economical administration. The Soci- 

 ety might rest well satisfied with the position which these had earned for it in the estima- 

 tion of a community which rightfully demands such guarantees of the proper use of trust 

 funds. These, however, were not the best fruits of its exertions. These seem to lie in 

 the fact that the community is beginning dimly to comprehend that an institution of this 

 kind creates an atmosphere around it which is beneficial to them and to their children, 

 and also that it works directly for their intellectual improvement. 



The celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the Society was dwelt upon at 

 some length by the Custodian, but as a full account of this has already been given it is not 

 necessary to repeat his remarks. Much was said by him also relative to the resignation of 

 the President which will be here omitted. 



