ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY 17 



Thus was launched the new Society, dreaded as the wedge to work disin- 

 tegration of science and of the American Association ; but that Association has 

 almost thrice as many members as it had 25 years ago. Other societies have 

 been organized which, like our own, retain only a shadowy affiliation with the 

 Association. Our Society has been of incalculable service to geologists. Prior 

 to its organization there was little community of feeling, but abundance of 

 personal antagonism. Misunderstandings arose because of isolation, which 

 grew through correspondence into personal enmity ; but that is of the past. 

 In personal touch we have learned that we are all alike, each with many 

 virtues and many frailties, and we have learned to judge ourselves more 

 justly. The right of individual judgment is recognized and difference of 

 opinion, even though extreme, no longer imperils personal friendship. Discus- 

 sions at our meetings prove that the judicial temper prevails. In the former 

 days men became more dogmatic as they advanced in age; now increasing 

 years seem to bring with them increasing toleration for new conceptions. 



The Society increased rapidly, so that at the end of the second year there 

 were 203 Fellows and accumulation of a Permitnent Fund had been begun. 

 Mr. McGee, of the Advisory Committee on Publications, had been chosen as 

 Editor, and the form proposed by him had been adopted. It proved so ac- 

 ceptable that it became the model. The older geologists, as well as those of 

 the rising generation, gave generously of their time and strength, so that the 

 Society's Bulletin became a standard publication, respected everywhere. The 

 Secretary's work was that of rough-hewing. He was like one who excavates 

 a cellar and lays a foundation. For one of his temperament, the duties were 

 attractive only in part. The Society was new ; the Fellows were not bound 

 to it by tradition; some of them had an uudue sense of importance and in- 

 sisted on receiving much attention ; the membership was scattered over the 

 vast continent, and it was difficult to conceive means of convincing a far-off 

 Fellow, who could not attend meetings, that he was as good as one living on 

 the Atlantic coast. There were many who appeared to believe that the secre- 

 tary was a lonely man and who sent him too many letters of advice, comfort, 

 or expostulation, all of which had to be acknowledged with thanks for the 

 kindly consideration. This burden of actual labor, which could not be trans- 

 ferred, with, in addition, the compulsory exhibition of patience and grateful 

 courtesy, was too great for one already bearing much responsibility in other 

 kinds of work. At the end of two years the executive staff was remodeled. 

 Professor Fairchild became the secretary ; Dr. I. C. White took charge of the 

 finances ; Mr. McGee retained the editorship for three years, when he was suc- 

 ceeded by Mr. Stanley-Brown. These men undertook the work of erecting the 

 edifice, a house beautiful, its parts fitly bound together and standing four- 

 square. How they performed the work, you know. The inscription to Sir 

 Christopher Wren in Saint Paul's Cathedral is for them also— "If you seek 

 my monument, look around you." 



REVIEW OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 

 BY HERMAN L. FAIRCHILD 



The remarkable success of our Society is primarily founded in the altruism 

 of science — the unselfishness of the search for truth. This spirit found ex- 

 II — Bull. Geol. See. Am., Vol. 25, 1913 



