Vol. 51.] ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. lxix 



Murchison, and other Members of Council, decided to arrange for the 

 admittance of ladies to the evening Meetings of the Society. It 

 was considered that the Apartments of the Society in Somerset 

 House were inadequate for such a purpose, and leave was obtained 

 to use the Meeting-room of the Royal Society, Burlington House, 

 for the experiment. Accordingly, on the nights of the Meetings, 

 Mr. H. M. Jenkins (the then Assistant-Secretary), Mr. Roberts, 

 the Clerk, with two Assistants and Charlton carrying the books, 

 diagrams, papers, and ballot-boxes in two four-wheeled cabs, repaired 

 to Old Burlington House to hold the Ordinary Evening Meeting. I 

 believe that the Misses Horner attended some of these specially- 

 arranged gatherings, but evidently the attempt was made 25 years 

 too soon, and it was accordingly abandoned as a failure. 



The British and the Geologists' Associations admit ladies as 

 Members, and to their Meetings and Excursions. 



The Royal Geographical Society and the Anthropological Society 

 admit ladies ; ladies have also been present at the reading of papers 

 at the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries. The Zoolo- 

 gical Society, whilst admitting ladies to Fellowship, illogically ex- 

 cludes them from its Meetings. 



I venture to suggest that this Society might once again (after the 

 lapse of 35 years) test experimentally the admission of ladies to 

 attend the evening meetings of the Society, and even, in special 

 cases of original workers, to the use of the Library also. 



"We have, upon several occasions, received, read, and published 

 scientific papers from lady-geologists, and as lately as 1893 an 

 award was made from the Lyell Fund to Miss Catherine Raisin, B.Sc, 

 ' for her excellent work in Geology both in the field and with the 

 microscope.' 



With the many brilliant examples before us of women who have 

 achieved distinction at our Universities and in the various branches of 

 Science and Art, and seeing that Geology has already become popular 

 with ladies of education, by their admission to the meetings and 

 excursions of the British and the Geologists' Associations, we may 

 well, I think, consider whether we have an exclusive right to shut 

 our doors against the advancing tide of public opinion, and whether 

 we should not rather contribute to the higher education of Women 

 by admitting thoso who desire the privilege, to be present at the 

 reading of papers before this Society. 



VOL. LI. 



