PEORIA SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION, 

RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING May 1, 1886. 

If at the close of last year the Association could congratulate 
itself on a marked degree of prosperity, the same can be said 
truthfully of the year now closed. The membership has in- 
creased-from 73 to about 100, the average attendance from 54 
to 105, and the interest in the lecture-course has been continu- 
ous. ‘The discussions have been well-sustained and free from 
all acrimony, whilst giving ample evidence of independence in 
the expression of diverse opinions; thus indicating clearly that 
the primary objects of the Association are kept strictly in view, 
and that here is a common meeting-place for all shades of opin- 
ion in matters of science and literature, where the studious and 
knowledge-loving can meet and discuss, and even argue the 
point without the danger of personal dispute or invidious reflec- 
tions. The well-known tendency of religious and political dis- 
cussion to lead to unpleasant misunderstanding had long ago 
determined this Association to eschew all such elements of pos- 
sible discord, without, however, intending any disrespect to 
these important interests, and the strict enforcement of this 
policy during the lecture-course just closed has helped, beyond 
doubt, to the perfect harmony that has characterized all the 
debates, and yet there has been no repression of the expression 
of the reverential element, and the more prominent religious 
workers of our city who have contributed to the large and 
attentive audiences, have had frequent evidence that in this 
Association when the religious tendency in man’s nature is 
brought within the circle of scientific discussion, the Peoria 
Scientific Association is ever ready for all the freedom for ex- 
pression that any reasonable lecturer or debater can claim 
judiciously. 
It may be added that the lectures and debates, besides dis- 
seminating much knowledge and information, have furnished — 
an important school of rhetoric and discussion for the younger 
