406 ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT 



case, then, of an active member who desires to bring a friend, he could 

 liave the same privileges as now for the sum of eight dollars instead 

 of five. 



It is not alwa^'s easy to make a change involving increased expense 

 to members. In my opinion, however, it is absolutely necessary that 

 some change should be made in this direction at the present time. 

 Tiie superb lectures we provided during the past year were actual)}'' 

 given to members and their friends at the average rate of five cents per 

 lecture. [The active membership fee was five dollars. Allowing two 

 dollars for the Magazine — the same amount paid b}' corresponding 

 members — the extra amount of three dollars was charged for the 

 purpose of i)aying the expenses of lectures. During the jiast year we 

 gave thirty lectures (see pages 415, 416) for this amount, three dollars, 

 which is at the rate of ten cents })er lecture, but as each member's 

 ticket admitted two })ersons, the actual per aipita amount received 

 for each lecture was only five cents.] 



Surely our meml)ers and their friends would gladl}' contribute a 

 larger amount than this. 



In my opinion, we have been in the habit of giving too many lect- 

 ures. I recommend that, next season, we limit the number to twent3^ 

 Then, u[)on the plan proposed, we should receive from members and 

 their fi'iends the sum of three dollars each for twenty lectures, 'i'his 

 means an average per capita amount of fifteen cents per lecture. This 

 would give us twice as much for twent}^ lectures as'we have hitherto 

 received for thirty, and at two-thirds the expense for rent of halls, etc. 



A HOME FOR THE SOCIETY IN WHICH TO ESTABLISH N.ATIONAL 

 HEADQUAHTEKS 



If we are to become a great national organization with branches in 

 different parts of the United States, it would be very advisable that 

 we should have a building of our own in Washington as a permanent 

 home for the Society in which to establish the national headquarters. 

 In this connection I am glad to inform the Board that the plans for 

 the proposed Memorial Building to our late President, Hon. Gardiner 

 Greene Hubbard, are graduall}' taking form and assuming a i)racti- 

 cable i)hase, and it is not unlikely that a Memorial Building may be 

 erected this year and offered for the use of the Society. 



It is proposed that the building should contain a few small rooms 

 that could be used as offices, a library and map-room, and a hall 

 or meeting place sufficiently large to seat about 100 people. This 



