Annual Report.] 326 [May 4, 



record. But it should also be taken into account that times 

 have changed since then ; public opinion which formerly 

 sneered now applauds ; therefore we should seize the work of 

 the day and foster the sentiment already in our favor ; we 

 should " popularize Science," — not by degrading it, but by 

 divesting it of its mysteries, by elevating the popular knowl- 

 edge to our own standard ; yet that is not all ; we must our- 

 selves go forward, leading the way to higher fields of science ; 

 otherwise we forget the spirit of science itself, which is progress, 

 and ask of others what we do not ourselves perform. Our 

 Society has thus a double office to fulfil, and neither part can 

 be neglected without detriment to both. Let it open to the 

 public a museum fitted for study and showing, by the nicest 

 devices, the meanings of Nature ; let it set forth these truths 

 in lectures, from which practically none shall be debarred ; 

 but at the same time give the more thorough students an 

 opportunity to meet for mutual discussion, a library in which 

 to consult the investigations of their fellow students in all 

 parts of the world, and as prompt and satisfactory a channel 

 for the publication of their own researches as any kindred 

 institution affords. Debar our scientific men these privileges 

 and you take from yourselves the good fame which the Soci- 

 ety has fairly earned at home and abroad, and defeat the very 

 object for which it was founded ; you cast away the means of 

 properly displaying the treasures the museum affords; and 

 spum the good will of many officers of the Society — those 

 upon whom the chief burden of the meetings has always 

 fallen ; and it is a fact of no little significance that more than 

 one half of the office bearers to whom, during the past ten 

 years, the care of the Museum has been entrusted, have been 

 drawn from the ranks of those who have been under the in- 

 struction of Professor Agassiz. 



Concerning the Museum in particular, I will only add a 

 few words. The Society is in possession of very large 

 collections ; with but few exceptions, sufficient, in my judg- 

 ment, for all its purposes. Our aim should not be to sus- 



