SCIENCE. 



FKIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1884. 



THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION MEET- 

 ING IN PHILADELPHIA. 



In selecting Philadelphia as the place of its 

 meeting in 1884, the American association for 

 the advancement of science has returned to its 

 birthplace. Forty-four years ago, a score of 

 geologists — one of whom, James Hall, still 

 lives in honor and vigor — assembled in the 

 rooms of the academy of sciences, and formed 

 the Association of geologists and naturalists. 

 Three years later, in Boston, it was decided to 

 enlarge this association ; and so at another 

 meeting in Philadelphia, on the 20th of Sep- 

 tember, 1848, under the guidance of a leader 

 who has but lately departed, — the beloved 

 William B. Rogers, — a new constitution was 

 adopted, other scientific professors and workers 

 were enlisted, and the association, as we now 

 know it in its catholic comprehensiveness, was 

 launched upon its course. 



The new name and the new form were doubt- 

 less suggested b} T the British association, which 

 dates its origin from the meeting at York in 

 1831. The object of the American society was 

 declared to be, "by periodical and migratory 

 meetings to promote intercourse between those 

 who are cultivating science in different parts of 

 the United States ; to give a stronger and more 

 general impulse and a more systematic direc- 

 tion to scientific research in our country ; and 

 to procure for the labors of scientific men in- 

 creased facilities and a wider usefulness." 

 Subsequently the scope of the society was 

 extended, and 'America' took the place of 

 'United States.' 



In again re-assembling at Philadelphia, when 

 time has reversed the digits from '48 to '84, 

 it is natural to consider how far the purposes 

 of the founders have been fulfilled. The most 

 sanguine among them could not have antici- 

 pated such a growth of scientific endowments, 

 in the period of one generation, as we now look 



No. 83. — 1884. 



back upon. The museums, the laboratories, 

 the surveys, the observatories, the professor- 

 ships, the schools of science and technology-, 

 which have been established and maintained 

 since the association was formed, not only in 

 the east but in the west, are results which, per- 

 haps, may not be directly attributed to the 

 association, but which certainly would never 

 have been secured without a wide diffusion of 

 scientific enthusiasm, such as usually follows 

 these migratory congresses of investigators and 

 teachers. We are among those who believe, 

 that, if it could be shown that the association 

 does nothing for the intellectual advantage of 

 its members, nevertheless, all the efforts ex- 

 pended in its management are rewarded like 

 the labors of the sowers in the springtime. 

 The seed springs up, ' some ten, some sixty, 

 some a hundred fold/ The educated people in 

 every community, whether they are specially 

 interested in science or not, are alwaj-s at- 

 tracted to the meetings ; and the reports of 

 papers and addresses are read far and wide 

 through the land. Impressions are thus made 

 in respect to the importance of different lines 

 of research ; and the names of scientific leaders 

 become known to those who would never enter 

 the dens and caves of the specialists, and would 

 never have the benefit of their inspiration were 

 it not for these autumnal conferences. 



Rarely is there a meeting of the association 

 which does not afford striking examples of the 

 relations of government to science, and of the 

 importance of securing for the public the results 

 of prolonged research. Astronomy, geology, 

 geodes3 T , certain branches of physics, ethnology, 

 and now biology, through the admirable studies 

 of the U. S. fish-commission, receive their most 

 generous encouragement from the national 

 government. To make the same assertion in 

 another form, we may saj T that an enlightened 

 people insists upon it that congress shall secure, 

 for the good of all citizens, whatever results 

 can be obtained by the liberal employment of 



