— 6 — 



now reaching large proportions under Dr. Conklin and Miss Haynes for the 

 Hepatics, and Mr. C. C. PHtt for the Lichens, and Mr. Kaiser the Mosses. 



If time permitted it would be interesting to dwell on the names of those 

 early contributors to the success of the Society and its journal. Among them 

 stands out as lichenists, Mrs. Carolyn W. Harris, who was constant in her devo- 

 tion till her death in May, 1910. Prof., now Dr. Bruce Fink was a contributor 

 from March, 1903, closing his most valuable series on Cladonias in March, 1908. 

 Mr. G. K. Merrill, Mr. R. Heber Howe, Jr., and our late Curator, Dr. H. E. 

 Hasse, continued valued contributors. For the Hepaticae, Dr. Underwood till 

 his death in 1907; Dr. Evans, Miss Haynes, and Miss Lorenz, all three happily 

 still with us. For the Mosses, Dr. George N. Best, whose carefully written let- 

 ters of elucidation of doubtful species were a boon to Miss Warner and me in our 

 studies during those early years. Then Prof. Holzinger, Mr. Williams, and Mrs. 

 Britten were ever ready to respond to all calls, either for manuscript or help in 

 determinations. 



If Mrs. Britton were not with us today I would feel more free to record the 

 great debt which not only the Society but which I, personally, owe to her ever 

 ready advice and helpful criticism in all times of need. If it had not been for 

 Mrs. Britton's constant companionship and willingness to hear all my trials, 

 and help solve the many problems as they arose, I would never have been able 

 to do my part of the work. To her I owe my education in the study of crypto- 

 gams, and in fact all that I have accomplished in this line in the eighteen years 

 since beginning the work in 1898. 



It only remains to record the public meetings which we have held in connec- 

 tion with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, this being 

 our eleventh session. I have spoken cf the meeting of June 27th, 1900, as our 

 second, though the first, held the year previous at Columbus, Ohio, can hardly 

 be called a meeting of the Society in any true sense, but we were glad through 

 Mrs. Britton, to take even a small part in the memorial meeting to William Star- 

 ling Sullivant and. Leo Lesquereux, held in their home city, in August, 1899. 

 The third meeting was held in Philadelphia, in 1904; the fourth here in New 

 York, in 1906; the fifth in Baltimore in 1908; the sixth in Boston in 1909; the 

 seventh in Minneapolis in 19 10, where Dr. ConkHn did so much to make the 

 meeting a success. The eighth meeting was in Washington, D. C, in 191 1; the 

 ninth in Brooklyn in 19 13, at the Museum Building of the Brooklyn Institute 

 of Arts and Sciences. The late Mr. Morris doing the honors of the Museum, and 

 Dr. Gager taking us on a walk through the grounds of the Botanic Garden, since 

 enriched by a unique Japanese Garden. The loth meeting was in Philadelphia 

 in 19 14, and today we are holding the eleventh. 



It will be seen from this rapid survey how close the connection has been 

 between the Sullivant Moss Society and The Bryologist. The journal start- 

 ing first, and hinting in its opening paragraph as serving as a medium for com- 

 munication between students interested in more definite study, the association 

 of such students soon followed, and their history has ever been identical, each 

 serving as an essential support for the other. I have chronicled the main events 



