JUNE 21, 1901.] 
its organization to the growth and differen- 
tiation of science. In 1875 a formal division 
was made into two sections, one for the ex- 
act and one for the natural sciences, and in 
1882 nine sections were established. At 
this time, when the Association had fitted 
itself to existing conditions, it enjoyed a 
most prosperous period in its history, the 
meetings being large and fruitful. Thus 
the attendance at Boston in 1880 was 997 ; 
at Montreal in 1882 it was 937, and at 
Philadelphia in 1884 it was 1261. But 
with the organization and growth of the 
special societies and journals referred to 
above, the Association did not maintain its 
commanding position. The American So- 
ciety of Naturalists, with a more compact 
membership, chose midwinter as its time 
of meeting, and other societies became af- 
filiated with it. 
sisting of groups of experts, appealed to the 
The special societies, con- 
loyalty of their members more directly than 
did the larger and more amorphous Associa- 
tion. There was lack of sympathy between 
The 
attendance at the meetings became smaller, 
these societies and the Association. 
and the total membership decreased. Many 
eminent men of science and many younger 
workers were not regularly in attendance 
at the meetings and were perhaps not 
The 
programs of the sections became. hetero- 
even members of the Association. 
geneous and sometimes did not reach a 
very high standard. The amateur and 
picnic elements were rather prominent, 
while at the same time they were medi- 
ocre. Many men of science regarded the 
Association as a survival that had outlived 
its usefulness. 
SCIENCE. 
963 
But to-day no one acquainted with the 
most recent work of the Association will 
deny that it has entered on a new period of 
its history. This began with a change of 
attitude toward the special societies, re- 
There 
was much opposition to the plan of letting 
placing rivalry with cooperation. 
the American Chemical Society meet in af- 
filiation with the Association, but when this 
was accomplished chemistry at once became 
its strongest section. So it has been in 
other cases, where special societies have 
At 
the recent New York meeting there were 
met in affiliation with the Association. 
sixteen such societies, including practically 
all national societies that hold summer 
meetings. Other improvements in the or- 
ganization of the Association have been ef- 
fected. The council has been strengthened 
and made a truly legislative and executive 
body. The permanent funds have been in- 
creased, and appropriations for research 
have been granted to committees. Care 
has been exercised in the election of fel- 
lows, and in the admission of titles to the 
programs. This Journal is sent free of 
charge to all members, thus increasing and 
consolidating interest in the Association and 
in the advancement of science, giving even 
those unable to attend the annual meetings 
an adequate return for membership, and 
tending to unite all men of science and 
those interested in science in the Associa- 
tion and in the ends that it represents. 
The last three meetings, held at Boston, 
Columbus and New York, were all excel- 
lent, representing different types adjusted 
to the occasion and place. The meeting at 
Denver this year will be equally typical and 
