AMERICAN FERN SOCIETY 25 
of members. With this end in view, a set of Volumes 
7-20, inclusive, of the Fern Bulletin has been acquired 
by an exchange with Prof. Clute and is now ready to 
lend. Three members have already availed themselves 
— of it, and it is hoped that many more may do so in future. 
Mr. Christensen’s generous gift of 18 reprints and 
originals of his works is an even more notable addition 
to the Society’s literary assets. 
At the annual election an amendment to the Consti- 
tution, providing a method of election of honorary 
members and limiting their number, was adopted. Its 
text is as follows: 
Amend Article III by adding: 
N 6. Honorary members may be chosen when unanimously 
nominated by the Council, and their bmi to the members at 
the next succeeding annual election. Three-fourths of the vote on 
of the Society without payment of dues. The number of such members 
shall not exceed five at any one time. 
During the year two persons have changed from 
ordinary to life membership, making a total of three 
life members now on the rolls. Two members, Mr. 
Laird and Mr. Bates, have died and news of the earlier 
deaths of two others has reached the Secretary for the 
first time; eleven have resigned; and five have been 
dropped for non-payment of dues. Twenty-six new 
members have been received. The total membership 
at the date of this report (December 31, 1916), not 
including the one honorary member, is 261, a gain of 
six over last year and a new record for the Society. 
The growth is small, but it seems to be normal and 
healthy and, best of all, to have been brought about 
by the codperation of a number of the present members 
in securing new ones. That is the only sure way: we 
must all see to it that growth continues during the 
coming year. 
C. A. WEATHERBY, Secretary. 
