TRANSACTIONS 
OF 
VASSAR BROTHERS INSTITUTE. 
1889-1890. 
NOVEMBER 12, 1889—FORTY-EIGHTH REGULAR MEETING. 
The president Mr. Henry VY. Pelton, read a paper, en- 
titled—‘‘ Literary Association,” as follows— 
One of the most familiar ideas at the present time is 
that of association. Itis not peculiar to this age but 
it has recently become greatly developed. There seems 
to be no limits to its growth. Manifold are the circum- 
stances which call it forth ; innumerable are the pur- 
poses for which it is put into operation. It has passed 
beyond the point where its advantageousness may be 
discussed. ‘To dispute it would be to quarrel with the 
experience of civilized man in all places and at all times. 
The earliest organizations were, doubtless, those relat- 
ing to trade, as the earliest ideas developed in man, after 
those of self-preservation, were those which sought the 
improvement of his condition and circumstances, through 
barter with his fellow-man. It was much later before 
associations were formed within the limits of profes- 
sional practice or among those whose labors were in the 
higher branches of the arts. But both of these, in most 
cases, if not all, antedated those organizations which 
brought together those who followed divers callings; 
where the tie which held them was not the similarity of 
their occupations but the agreement of their tastes. 
Now that these three classes are in full tide of both opera- 
tion and growth, my statement, made a moment ago, that 
we could set no limits to the growth of this idea of associ- 
