OO Ee eee 
PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
NATURAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 
OF 
STATEN ISLAND. 
VoL. VII. No. 18. 
The regular meeting of the Association 
was held at the residence of Mr. J. Blake 
Hillyer, New Brighton. 
In the absence of the president Mr. A. 
K. Johnston was elected chairman pro 
tem. 
The following paper by Mr. Ira K. 
Morris was read: 
THE TOMPKINS LYCEUM. 
After a persistent effort, covering pos- 
sibly two or three years, the Tompkins 
Lyceum was organized on Tuesday, 
January 11th, 1842. A public meeting 
was held at'Tompkinsville, at a house 
“formerly known as the New York House, 
for the purpose of establishing a Village 
Lyceum and Library.’’ 
The Rev. John E. Muller, (pastor of the 
old Dutch Reformed Church), presided at 
this meetirg, and George Catlin acted as 
secretary. At this meeting a committee, 
consisting of Rev. John E Miller, Rev. 
William Walton, William S. Root, Francis 
L. Hagadorn, John M. Nixon, George 
Catlin and Archibald Gordon, was ap- 
pointed to frame a constitution, and re- 
port on the next Tuesday evening. 
This adjourned meeting was held on 
Tuesday, January 18th, at the same place, 
when the committee reported the consti- 
tution, which was unanimously adopted, 
and the meeting adjourned for one week. 
On January 25th, the Association he!d 
its first annual meeting, and elected 
George Nixon, Samuel Barton, William 
Emerson, Francis L. Hagadorn, Thomas 
Standerwick, William Walton, Archibald 
JUNE 9th, 1goo. 
Gordon, William S. Root and John M, 
Nixon directors for the ensuing year. 
On Thursday, January 27th, the Board 
of Directors held its first meeting and 
elected the following officers: George 
Nixon, President; Samuel Barton, Vice- 
President; William Emerson, Correspond- 
ing Secretary; Francis L. Hagadorn, Re- 
cording Secretary; Thomas Standerwick, 
Treasurer. 
On January 31st, 1843, the Board of 
Directors adopted by-laws, which pro- 
vided for regular monthly meetings on 
the second Monday evening of each 
month. The price of shares in the 
capital stock of the corporation was five 
dollars each, and the annual dues two 
dollars. 
The Trustees were empowered ‘“‘trom 
time to time, to admit to the privileges of 
the Jibrary and to the lectures, for a 
period of not more nor less than one year, 
any siare-holder at the rate of three dol- 
lars per annum.,’’ 
Of special interest to us were the fol- 
lowing provisions in the by-laws: 
“In addition to the officers required by 
the statute, there shall be one Curator of 
Natural History, one Corresponding Sec- 
retary, and one Recording Secretary,’ 
‘*The Curator of Natural History shall have 
control over the arrangement and exhibi- 
tion of all the curiosities and specimens in 
Natural History, presented to or deposited 
with the Lyceum.” 
Article IX. of the by-laws provided as 
follows: 
‘There shall be members of the Tomp- 
