Privileges of Members 131 



MEMBERSHIP 



The number of Members of the Museum is greater than ever 

 before despite the present disturbed conditions of the country, 

 which are making such unusual demands upon the income of 

 every citizen. This is a source of special gratification and en- 

 couragement to the Museum, since it indicates that the public 

 service the institution is rendering is more widely appreciated 

 than ever before. 



It has often been stated that many become members of the 



Museum, not because they expect in person value received for 



the membership fee, but because they believe that 



Privileges t ^ e wor k the institution is doing for science and 

 of Members ... , . ° TT , . 



education is worthy of support. Unquestionably 



this civic pride is an important factor in maintaining the mem- 

 bership. On the other hand, a little reflection will show that 

 every member is offered a very large personal return -for his 

 contribution. Every member receives copies of The American 

 Museum Journal, a magazine which keeps the members in 

 touch with Museum activities and presents in authoritative 

 manner the results of the latest explorations and researches in 

 natural science. 



The lectures that are given annually to members compare 



favorably with those given in any lecture course in the City. 



In 19 1 7, more than 85 lectures were given to which 



Lectures to Members were welcome. 

 Members 



The spring course of lectures to Members was 



as follows : One by C. William Beebe, "In the Jungles of British 

 Guiana," describing the work carried on at "Kalacoon," the 

 tropical research station, ideally situated for studying the 

 problems of habitat and distribution. In place of the lecture 

 which was to have been given by Mr. Herbert W. Gleason, "In 

 the High Sierras with John Muir," a lecture was given on 

 practically the same region by Mr. Leroy Jeffers, with stereop- 

 ticon views of that part of the country and also of the rocks 



