August 5, 180S.J 



SCIENCE. 



143 



Boye, Epes S. Dixwell, "Wolcott Gibbs, 

 Oliver P. Hubbard, Charles E. West. 



It is not intended at this time and place 

 to write a history of the Association, but 

 only to suggest such comparison between 

 its spirit and work in the earlier stages of 

 its existence and in later years as may, 

 possibly, indicate ways of bettering present 

 conditions. 



That the Association has been of incal- 

 culable value to American science no one 

 can deny. The first Constitution declares 

 its objects to be, " by periodical and migra- 

 tory meetings, to promote intercourse be- 

 tween those who are cultivating science in 

 different parts of the United States ; to give 

 a stronger and more general impulse and a 

 more systematic direction to scientific re- 

 search in our country, and to procure for 

 the labors of scientific men increased facili- 

 ties and a wider usefulness." This decla- 

 ration is still retained in the organic law of 

 the Society, except that its jurisdiction has 

 been enlarged by substituting the word 

 'America ' for ' United States ' and omit- 

 ting ' our country.' It is principally by 

 ' promoting intercourse between those who 

 are cultivating science ' that the Associa- 

 tion has been beneficial. The enormous 

 extent of territory over which its member- 

 ship is scattered has been at once a decided 

 obstacle to that intercourse and the strongest 

 reason for it. Hardly anywhere else in the 

 world has the man of science been so 

 isolated as in this country. The early and 

 wide diffusion of public education resulted 

 in the establishment of a large number of 

 institutions for advanced instruction widely 

 distributed over the States and Territories. 



However imperfect they may have been in 

 many respects, nearly every one became a 

 nucleus of scientific activity and from them 

 have come some of the finest contributions 

 to science of which America can boast. 

 The inspiration which came to hundreds 

 of young men through personal intercourse 

 at the annual meetings of the Association — 

 intercourse not only with the recognized 

 leaders in science, but with each other — was 

 worth many times what these meetings 

 cost, directly or indirectly. During per- 

 haps the first thirty years of its history the 

 American Association was the one and only 

 great scientific body of this Continent. Its 

 meetings were attended by all men of dis- 

 tinction in all departments of science, and 

 its influence in all matters relating to 

 science was great. Although a popular 

 body, admission to which was easy, its 

 affairs were in the main directed and con- 

 trolled by the ' select ' in science, and the 

 standard of its work was well maintained. 

 The presence at its meetings of the highest 

 authorities in special departments of learn- 

 ing unquestionably, although perhaps un- 

 consciously, served as a check upon com- 

 munications of a vague and uncertain 

 character. The charlatan was not much 

 in evidence in those days and generally had 

 little mei'cy accorded him. The ' migra- 

 tory meetings ' of the Association were 

 blessings to the communities in which they 

 were held, often stirring the people to an 

 interest in science and an appreciation of 

 the importance of scientific men that lasted 

 for years and resulted in largely increased 

 facilities for scientific work. The people 

 everywhere knew something of the very 



