OBJECTS. 
This Society was founded in the year 1837 at a meeting of coal 
proprietors of the West Kiding at Wakefield, and for nearly forty years 
its operations were confined to that Riding. The purposes for which it was 
formed were the investigation of the Yorkshire Coalfield and the gathering 
of such definite information about its scams of coal and ironstone as would 
be of use in the prosecution of mining operations. The scope of the Society 
was soon enlarged to include the Arts of Mining and Metallurg}' and 
their dependent manufactures, and of the machiner}' and tools emplo\'ed 
therein, and the name was correspondingly expanded to "Geological and 
Polytechnic.'* The subscriiJtion was originally half-a-guinea, l)ut Mhen Pro- 
ceedings were published half-a-crown extra was added to meet the cost. In 
1838 the AvorU of establishing a Museum was commenced, and in 1839 the 
preparation of section across the Pennine Chain was commenced. Meetings 
were held regularly at Avliich papers on geology, palaeontology, mining, and 
kindred topics were read and discussed. In 1877 the rules were revised and 
it was decided to extend the Society's operations from the West Kiding to 
the Avhole county. In addition to the ordinary- meetings of the Society, from 
time to time investigations were undertaken by the aid of funds specially 
raised. Among these were the investigation of the bone-bearing deposits of 
Raygill, the pre-historic mounds of Grassington, the source of the Aire at 
Malham, and the Underground Waters of Ingleborough. In the two latter 
the Society Avorked in conjunction with a Connnittee of the British Associa- 
tion. At the Annual Meeting in 1906 it Avas resolved to change the title to 
"The Yorkshire Geological .Societ}'."' 
MEMBERSHIP. 
There is no entrance fee. 
A Member may be elected at any (jreneral Meeting on the proposition 
of two Members. 
Annual Subscription, thirteen shillings, payable on January 1st. 
Life Membership Fee, six guineas. 
A General Meeting for the reading of papers is held in Leeds each 
sprijig. 
General Meetings, associated Avith extende:! Field Excursions under 
the leadership of prominent geologists, are held at Easter and tAvice during 
the sununer months in various parts of the county, or in such areas out- 
side the county as afford important instruction on the problems of Yorkshire 
Geology. 
Tlie Annual General Meeting is held at the beginning of Xovember 
in one of the principal towns of Yorkshire. 
PUBLICATIONS. 
The Proceedings of the Society, illustrated by plans, sections, and 
photographs are issued free to the Members each A'ear. 
The back volumes, except the earliest issues, are obtainable on applica- 
tion to the Librarian, Philosophical Hall, Leeds. 
