90 J. J. STEVENSON — OUR SOCIETY 



The matter of publication was discussed at great length, but no defi- 

 nite decision could be reached, and a committee was appointed to con- 

 sider the whole question, with instructions to present a report at the 

 summer meeting. Another committee was appointed to prejoare a per- 

 manent constitution, to be presented at the next meeting. 



The Advisory Committee on Publication, another name for Professor 

 W J McGee, made an elaborate investigation of the whole question of 

 publication, and in August, at Toronto, presented the report, accom- 

 panied by a printed example of the form recommended.- This report 

 was adopted, and at the close of the following meeting Professor McGee 

 was chosen as the first Editor, that the recommendations might be car- 

 ried out faithfully. Our Bulletin, which marked a new stage in scien- 

 tific publications, owes its excellence of form and accuracy of method to 

 his indefatigable persistence. His determination to secure exactness in 

 all respects proved not wholly satisfactory to many of us, but before he 

 demitted his charge the justice of his requirements was conceded on all 

 sides. The discipline to which the Fellows of this Society were sub- 

 jected by the first Editor has served its purpose, and editors of other 

 scientific publications have found their labors lightened and their hands 

 strengthened in efforts to produce similar reforms elsewhere. His mantle 

 fell upon Mr J. Stanley-Brown, who inherited a double portion of his 

 spirit, so that the high standard of the Bulletin has been maintained 

 without abatement. 



Fears and misgivings abounded when it was discovered that this 

 Society was a success from the start. The American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science had been the one societ}^ for so many j'ears 

 that attempts at differentiation seemed to be efforts to cut away the pil- 

 lars of scientific order ; but the fears were merely nightmare ; our Society 

 has proved itself an efficient ally of the association. 



Our net membership at the close of the first year was 187. The new 

 constitution placed severer restrictions on membership b}^ requiring a 

 nine-tenths vote for election, the ballot being by correspondence and 

 shared in by all the Fellows. This has kept the number within reason- 

 able limits, and we now have 237 Fellows, our roll including almost all 

 of those who by strict construction of our constitution are qualified for 

 membership. 



Owing to the rigid administration of our affairs by Professor Fairchild 

 and Dr White, who have piloted us for eight 3'ears, our financial condi- 

 tion is satisfactor}^ and the income from the permanent fund now goes 

 far toward covering the cost of administration. 



Throughout, the Society has held closely to investigation. The recon- 

 dite problems — those of little interest to man}"-, of no interest to most — 



