July 12, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



35 



The Ohio Academy, with which I have 

 been associated for a number of years, has 

 enthusiastic annual meetings, publishes its 

 own proceedings, has a research fund con- 

 tributed by a friend, and has been instru- 

 mental in founding several projects of 

 state-wide interest and importance. While 

 its work has been mainly in biology and 

 geology, its programs include papers on 

 widely varied lines of study, and it has 

 been of great service in promoting ac- 

 quaintance and cordial feeling among the 

 scientific workers of the state. 



These few references to particular socie- 

 ties are given not because they are more 

 important than others that might be 

 named, but because they will serve to in- 

 dicate the scope and sphere of the state 

 organizations in science. They certainly 

 amply justify the effort of the devoted 

 members who have given so unstintedly of 

 time and thought in the upbuilding of the 

 societies and the enterprise they represent. 



While the political boundaries of a state 

 do not always best limit the activities of 

 such a society, there is distinct reason for 

 such sphere in the relation the academy 

 may have to state problems of a scientific 

 character. Such a society composed of 

 representative students from various pro- 

 fessions and positions may well constitute 

 a useful advisory body for the legislative 

 todies in dealing with the problems re- 

 quiring scientific attention, but in addition 

 to this, the many problems that relate them- 

 selves naturally within state boundaries or 

 can best be associated with public state 

 enterprises, surveys, etc., give it a rational 

 sphere. Perhaps the most emphatic basis, 

 certainly one of the most forceful to the 

 membership, is the opportunity for ac- 

 quaintance, good fellowship and friendship 

 among the workers in a common field. 

 This alone would be ample reason for the 



time and effort given to the periodical 

 meetings. 



While these societies do not boast of mon- 

 umental edifices, great pageantry or dis- 

 play, their place in the world of science is 

 determined by the record of contribution 

 to the world's knowledge and this recogni- 

 tion in their several spheres will be based 

 on their service to the welfare of the com- 

 munities in which they labor. That this 

 service is a growing one and that its frui- 

 tion in years to come will bring credit to 

 all those who have labored in their promo- 

 tion is, I believe, beyond doubt. 



They are centers of research and re- 

 search is the breath of life for science. 

 New investigation and discovery are the es- 

 sential to activity. This has been shown irt 

 every period of the world's history. Wit- 

 ness the stagnation of the middle ages, 

 properly called the dark ages, when au- 

 thority took the place of progressive re- 

 search and the conquest of the unknown. 

 As such centers of research the academies 

 are factors in the advancement of learning, 

 and so of the progress of the race. Every 

 one is a force for betterment and speed the 

 day when such forces are operative in 

 every state of the nation. 



Sometimes we may think there is an over- 

 production of scientific societies — espe- 

 cially when dues become payable — but 

 while there may be some with no necessary 

 mission, we can learn to discriminate and 

 encourage those of merit. There is also, I 

 think, less danger of degeneration in a num- 

 ber of fairly independent societies than in 

 a too great centralization with the domina- 

 tion of small circles who happen to be in 

 control. 



This Iowa Academy was preceded by an 

 earlier society, organized in 1875, and 

 which held meetings up to 1884, when 

 from the removal of some of its most active 

 members and unfortunate disagreement be- 



