ORIGIN OP THE SOCIETY 89 



summer meetings. In any event, it was clear that the interests of geology 

 required the formation of a society with severe restrictions upon mem- 

 bership and with publications which would be a credit to American 

 science. A compromise prevailed, whereby the original members enti- 

 tled to take part in organization must be members of Section E of the 

 American Association, and that all members of Section E might enroll 

 prior to the first meeting, if they so desired. This last provision caused 

 not a little anxiety, as membership in any section of the Association 

 predicates nothing more than a friendly feeling for science — whatever 

 that may mean. 



A committee* was appointed to prepare a plan of organization with a 

 provisional constitution. The committee's report on the morning of the 

 fifteenth provoked debate, as the provisional constitution placed a posi- 

 tive limit upon the membership by permitting after the organization 

 only working geologists and teachers of geology to become members and 

 by requiring a three-fourths vote for election. The organization was to 

 be effected when the list of original members contained one hundred 

 names. The provisional constitution, with a few unimportant amend- 

 ments, was agreed to unanimously, and the committee was continued 

 as a committee of organization. The details of arrangements were placed 

 in the hands of Professors A. Winchell and Stevenson. 



Happily the high dues and a general belief that no society could be 

 formed on the proposed basis kept the list of Original Fellows from 

 being swollen by those whose relation to geology began and ended with 

 attendance upon the American Association's meetings. The committee 

 was enabled from the very outset practically to choose the men who 

 should make the Society. The required number having been obtained 

 by the 1st of December, a meeting was held at Ithaca, New York, on 

 December 27, 1888. Only thirteen were present, but ballots of prefer- 

 ence had been received from seventy-two Fellows, in accordance with 

 which the organization was completed by the election of — 



President . . James Hall. 



^^. _ ( James D. Dana. 



Vice-Presidents | j,^^^^^^^^^. Winchell. 



Secretary John J. Stevenson. 



Treasurer Henry S. Williams. 



^ John S. Newberry. 

 Councilors < John W. Powell. 



^- Charles H. Hitchcock. 



*This committee consisted of Alexander Wincliell, J. J. Stevenson, C. H. Hitchcoclc, John R. 

 Procter, and Edward Orton. 



