PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGIC INSTITUTE 1 



It is a source of profound regret that imperative circum- 

 stances prevent my attendance at what I am sure will be a most 

 important session of the International Geological Congress- 

 Forbidden this pleasure, I venture to show my interest by offer- 

 ing some suggestions relative to a line of effort tributary to the 

 leading purpose of the congress. At the first session of the 

 congress in 1878, which I had the pleasure of attending, a dom- 

 inant theme of discussion was geologic classification, and this 

 continued to be the foremost theme for subsequent sessions until 

 it was found impossible to agree upon any system proposed. It 

 furthermore developed that many of the most able and expe- 

 rienced geologists were of the opinion that it was premature to 

 attempt any authoritative action in the matter, since in their 

 judgment the groundwork for a permanent classification was not 

 yet sufficiently broad and firm, and they felt much apprehension 

 respecting the trammeling effects of sanctioning a premature 

 classification. Thoughtful geologists who have given the matter 

 careful study will quite generally agree that much is yet to be 

 learned of fundamental facts and principles before a classifica- 

 tion can be authoritatively adopted as the mature judgment of 

 the geologists of the world without great risk of hampering the 

 progress of true classificatory ideas. It seems not unlikely, 

 therefore, that an authoritative adoption of a general classifica- 

 tion will continue for some time to be regarded as a great end 

 to be ultimately reached, but not wisely attempted until the 

 foundation is better laid. 



In the meantime, what can be done to hasten the great 

 achievement ? 



A true classification of geologic history must represent its natu- 

 ral divisions, if there be such natural divisions. In the judgment 



1 Presented to the eighth session of the International Geological Congress at 

 Paris, August 1900. 



596 



