REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 35 
of the war. The other, “'The Energy Resources, a Field for Recon- 
struction,” coordinates and summarizes the work of several years. 
THH NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. 
The National Gallery of Art is fortunate in the acquirement of 
art works of exceptional importance during the year. Among these 
the most noteworthy is a gift by Mr. Ralph Cross Johnson of 24 
paintings, which comprises selections from the brushes of 19 of 
EKurope’s foremost masters. The Gallery is thus more fully assured 
of a worthy position among the galleries of the Nation. The exten- 
sion of the Gallery’s activities to wider fields than heretofore is 
marked by the acquirement by gift of an installment of a rich col- 
lection of art works of European origin from Rev. A. D. Pell, of 
New York. 
Notwithstanding the prevailing labor conditions much: progress 
was made during the year on the building being erected by the 
Institution at the expense of Mr. Charles L. Freer, on the south- 
western corner of the Smithsonian reservation, to house the Freer 
collections of American and oriental art. The building was entirely 
inclosed at the end of the year, the exterior granite and marble 
walls and the roofs being completed. Work on the interior is now 
progressing satisfactorily, and it is expected that the structure will 
be entirely finished this autumn. 
MEETINGS. 
Shortly after the armistice was declared and as soon as the audi- 
torium, which had been vacated late in November, could be re- 
painted and the chairs replaced, there was inaugurated a series of 
popular lectures, under the auspices of the Institution, on alternate 
Saturday afternoons, between the hours of 4.45 and 5.30, commencing 
January 18,1919. The lecturers and subjects are noted in the report 
of the secretary. 
The meeting facilities afforded by the auditorium and committee 
rooms were also availed of, as follows: 
By the United States Employment Bureau of the Department of 
Labor, for lectures by Dr. Meeker on the gathering and interpreta- 
tion of statistics, and by Dr. Prosser on training of the handicapped ; 
by the Children’s Bureau for a conference on child’s welfare, with 
an illustrated lecture; by the Ordnance Bureau of the War Depart- 
ment for an illustrated lecture by Lieut. Col. G. M. Barnes on battle 
scenes in the World War; by the Artillery Division of the Army for 
an illustrated lecture on the method in camouflaging used by that 
division during the war; by the Public Health Service of the Trea- 
sury Department for a moving picture, “Fit to win,” before the 
