224 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



This Society has not rested satisfied with making profession of this purpose. It has lived 

 up to its profession and its purposes have been faithfully carried out. Every promise has 

 been kept, and every reasonable anticipation realized. 



Persons who are not thoroughly acquainted with this Society, can hardly understand 

 the amount of talent and labor which has been concentrated in this work. What self- 

 sacrifice on the part of individuals, unremitting perseverance and toil have been necessary 

 to complete every arrangement. 



No one knows better than yourself, Mr. President, that no money could pay for the 

 thought and labor which has been freely rendered here by the officers and friends of this 

 institution, while their love for the Society and the cause to which it is devoted, has been 

 in their estimation an ample reward. 



After the dedication of the building, the work first inaugurated was a series of lectures 

 and addresses in this hall to the Teachers of the Schools of Boston. Between six and 

 seven hundred teachers availed themselves of the privilege. At the introductory meeting 

 the Governor of the Commonwealth, John A. Andrew ; the Mayor of the City, F. W. Lin- 

 coln ; the President of Harvard University, Thomas Hill ; the Secretary of the Board of 

 Education, Joseph White; the Superintendent of Schools, John D. Philbrick; and 

 George B. Emerson, one of the earliest members of the Society, took part, making it a 

 memorable occasion. 



After this there were lectures on successive weeks by Professor Jeffries Wyman, 

 Dr. Asa Gray, Dr. Augustus A. Gould, Professor W. B. Rogers and others. These lectures 

 were amply illustrated, covering botany, conchology, and general zoology. The instructors 

 of over thirty thousand children were present. The ablest scientific men in the country 

 on those days imparted freely of their knowledge, suggesting the best means of con- 

 veying instruction, and giving a fresh impulse to the educators assembled, who, on their 

 part, warmly appreciated the interest thus shown, and hailed it as one of the new instru- 

 mentalities for their improvement. 



This hope on their part has not been disappointed. The Society has been consistently 

 faithful to its avowed purpose, and whenever their limited funds have been inadequate 

 to meet the necessary expenditure, generous assistance has been liberally furnished by 

 public-spirited friends. 



To render the collections of the Society more instructive, a careful rearrangement has 

 been made throughout, involving immense labor. Thus through all the departments the 

 educational requirements have been recognized, and the successive stages in the history of 

 creation are visibly unfolded to the eye, exemplifying the actual results of scientific knowl- 

 edge and principles. The hasty observer can have but a feeble conception of the sublime 

 meaning emboilied in this careful and scholarly arrangement, but the more fully it is com- 

 prehended the more profound will be the appreciation. 



Teachers and pupils may oftqn be seen together, thoughtfully pursuing their investiga- 

 tions from hall to hall. Some with artistic skill making drawings, others takino- notes, and 

 many more lost in astonishment, and filled with admiration and delight. 



But added to this, regular classes have been formed to whom systematic instruction has 

 been given. The study of natural history having been definitely introduced into the pub- 

 lic schools, a new zeal has been awakened among the teachers. With some teachers, 

 additional knowledge is a necessity, while with all it is evidently a pleasure. The differ- 



