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knowledge has shown the world the importance of gathering together the almost 
endless forms of life, preserving and storing them where they will safely remain for 
years to come, and where the student may find them after their living counterparts 
have ceased to be, or have become inaccessible. We feel greatly encouraged to 
know that the institutions of America are doing so much in this direction, and that 
so much more is contemplated. In Europe nearly every large city has a museum 
of natural history, and in due time we shall be able to say the same of the United 
States. If we succeed in bringing the art of Taxidermy up to a high state of per- 
fection, such as it has never yet attained, rest assured there will be important work 
for all our hands to do. 
This age is an age of improvement, and we cannot refuse to acknowledge that 
progression is a working law, visible in all things created. This law is so self- 
evident that I deem the organization of this Society but the natural result of it. 
From the day of its formation down to the present time, we have felt great anxiety 
in its behalf. The occasions have been many when we have asked ourselves, “Will 
the frail bark that has been launched upon the troubled waters, find strong and 
steady guiding hands, and survive the storms, or will it sink beneath the waves of 
opposition ? ” The possibilities and probabilities have been freely discussed, and 
the outlook many times has been dark indeed. Yet we have never failed to see 
some light that has encouraged us to push forward. From the first, our most ser- 
ious difficulty has been to awaken a lively interest and enthusiasm on the part of 
taxidermists generally, sufficient to induce them to enter heartily into the plans of 
the Society. Few men have the courage to embark in a new and doubtful under- 
taking in which their reputation is at stake. Every artist, whatever may be his line 
of pursuit, is jealous of his reputation, and in my estimation justly so ; for should 
it be impaired by any failure or mistake, it is sure to re-act adversely. The pain- 
ter, the sculptor or the musician regards his reputation as so much capital invested, 
the loss of which means the loss of position, luxury, and sometimes even comfort. 
The art of taxidermy has attracted many zealous and ardent students of nature 
who follow it for the pleasure it affords them. In point of numbers, amateurs pre- 
dominate over the professionals, but tip to this time it has been the rule with both 
to jealously guard their knowledge of methods, and to assist no one in learning the 
art. This course has been considered necessary as a means of self-preservation. 
Self preservation is the first law of nature, and for this reason it is our duty to be 
charitable to jealous and exclusive taxidermists, even though we know they are 
laboring under a mistaken idea. This much I offer in extenuation of the taxider- 
mists who have thought best not to identifv themselves with this movement, or have 
lacked faith in the undertaking. Yet I will not for a moment excuse the men of 
acknowledged ability who have withheld their support in the hour of need, after 
they have been fully assured of the meritorious objects and character of this 
Soc iety. It is more praiseworthy to be a pioneer in any good cause than to be a 
follower, and every sacrifice we can make in this cause should be a source of pride 
and pleasure. Years hence when all naturalists, and the admirers of the beautiful 
forms in animated nature generally, shall accredit this Society with having wrought 
a great change for the better in the . taxidermic art, then I believe that every one 
whose name stands on the roll to-day will be proud of the fact that he or she was 
one of the first members, a willing and a working pioneer. 
A short account of the formation of this Society may not be out of place, since 
it is the first of the kind ever formed. Until less than a year ago the taxidermist 
