Annual Meeting.] 
2 
[May 5, ^ 
resources has caused the continual refusal of important memoirs. 
This is greatly to be deplored since properly illustrated publica- 
tion is the reward of scientific labor, often its only reward. Quick 
and copiously illustrated publication is essential to the successful 
attainment of the chief object of all scientific associations, which 
pretend to foster or even encourage the spirit of original research. 
This building, its collections ^nd, its books, would be but useless 
cc'c ^C ICCC c 
burdens if they did not: embody the results of the researches of 
men who for the most part have not only given these away, to the 
manifest profit of; others', bntwho hawe been obliged to purchase 
the opportunities of giving them away by paying for their own 
publication. These material results are very valuable as the ere. 
dentials of a prudent and economical administration. We can 
rest well satisfied with the position which they have earned for us 
in the estimation of a community, which rightfully demands such 
guarantees of the proper use of trust funds. These are not, how- 
- ever, the best fruits of our exertions. These seem to me to lie in 
the fact, that the public and the schools are beginning dimly to 
comprehend that an institution of this kind creates an intellectual 
atmosphere around it, which is beneficial to them and to their 
children, and also that it means to do work directly for their intel- 
lectual improvement. Another result will come when they learn, 
also, that no love of the merely curious, no love of facts for facts 
sake alone, no love of nature even solely for nature’s sake, nor 
worship of any other kinds of idols, induced the busy men who 
founded this institution, or the naturalists who helped them, to 
give up their hard earned hours of rest to its service. Our 
Museum must make the public appreciate tha.t these men believed 
in self culture, in an intellectual ideal, and sought this with the 
exalted purpose of doing good to their fellow men. It must do the 
much needed service of lifting up an ideal aim before a commer- 
cial community. It must show that no amount of bricks and 
mortar, no heaped up collections, can make a n^useum valuable 
unless a practical and inspiring ideal aim animates and directs all 
its material resources. 
The resignation of Mr. Bouve was an event of importance and 
one which has created a great deal of feeling among the members 
of the Society. It will be remembered that an attempt was made 
