ABERDEEN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. AT a Meeting of the Society, held on the 8th April, 1884-Sheriff Dove Wilson, President, in the Chair-it was resolved that the Paper, "On the History and Public Work of the Society," read by the Secretary, Mr. Alex. D. Milne, should form the introduction to the First Volume of the Society's Transactions; and, with the view of making those members who have not received the First Volume of the Transactions conversant with the history of the Society, the Paper has been reprinted almost entire in this volume. The volume contains A List of the Titles of all the Papers read since the commencement of the Society in 1840, with the names of the members who communicated them. A List of the Summer Excursions made by the Society. The Names, and the Designations at the period of their election, of all the members ordinary, honorary, or corresponding-elected since the commencement. - A full Report of a Selection of Papers read since the issue of the First Volume. The Constitution and Rules of the Society. The present Office-bearers and Members, Honorary and To the third of these lists are appended, within brackets, the positions, from their election down to 1884-when the First Volume was issued-occupied by members, where these could be ascertained with accuracy, in spheres of life and work-literary, scientific, educational, &c.—cognate to the objects of the Society. The present designation is given in the List of Membership at the close of this Volume, and in the Continuation at page xvii. The following is the Paper above referred to as being here reprinted from the First Volume : ON THE HISTORY AND PUBLIC WORK OF THE SOCIETY. The history of the Society is, in some important respects, interesting in particulars which cannot be gathered from the records above alluded to. During these years the Society, as a Society, and also through many of its leading office-bearers and members, took part in much interesting and important work in the literary and scientific world, and also in the discussion of national and local questions of interest to the public, besides lending its aid to various public undertakings in harmony with its objects. To have printed a full copy of the minutes and transactions from the commencement might doubtless have indicated most of this work, but it would also have involved the reproduction of much that is now of little consequence. The Council thought it better, therefore, that I should briefly present a resumé of the history and public work of the Society, as more likely to serve the purpose of a permanent record. Origin of the Society. In the volume will be found the record of the preliminary meeting held in Professor Gregory's house, Old Aberdeen, on 11th January, 1840. At that meeting the Society was originated, and at the next meeting it was formally constituted by the adoption of general rules, and the election of members and officebearers. Reference to the list will show that the Society originated mainly amongst the professors and lecturers of the two Universities, which were then, and for twenty years thereafter continued to be, separate institutions. Constitution and Objects of the Society. In the preliminary minute referred to, the members denominated themselves "Cultivators of Natural Science." This seems to fall short of what is implied in the name, which was adopted at the same time-the Aberdeen Philosophical Society. But a glance at the Papers read during the first few years of the Society will show that the Society, from an early period, followed the name rather than the comparatively narrow definition referred to, and its papers have ever since been in harmony with the formula embodied in a print issued in 1857, which defined the object of the Society to be-"To receive, at its stated meetings, original Papers contributed by its members on subjects of science, literature, and philosophy." By a tacit agreement, which has existed all along, the discussion of party politics and sectarian differences in religious belief has not been considered to be in accordance with the objects of the Society. Conditions of Membership. From the commencement members and office-bearers were admitted by ballot, one vote in five, and at a subsequent period, one vote in three, being considered a vote of non-admission. During the early years of the Society it was also laid down as a condition that members should promise to contribute to the Papers of the Society, and failing to contribute, they remained subject to payment of the annual subscription after other members had. ceased to do so. This restriction was found to be either impracticable or inexpedient-probably both-and was abolished. Although, strictly, admission is by ballot, the Society has, from its very first meeting, entrusted its President-subject to the approval of the other office-bearers-with the liberty of proposing the admission by acclamation of persons already distinguished as suitable for membership. Subscription. At an early period of the Society's history, the annual subscription ceased to be payable after a few years, but this was departed from. For many years the annual subscription was 5s, and is now 10s. 6d. Unless the subscription had stood at this latter amount for some years, the Society's funds would not have admitted of the donations made to various public objects from time to time, nor of the publication of this volume. The single entry subscription has varied between 10s. 6d. and 21s., at which latter point it has remained for a good many years. Honorary and Corresponding Members have never been called upon to pay any subscription. The Places of Meeting. According to a resolution of the Society at its commencement the meetings were held for some years in the Lemon Tree Tavern, Aberdeen, and occasionally in Old Aberdeen. In 1845 the Society migrated to the Agricultural Hall, King Street, for a few months, returning to the Lemon Tree in the same year. This arrangement seems to have been considered after all unsatisfactory, as at the December meeting of that year the Society resolved-"To discontinue meeting in a tavern." It is not, however, to be supposed that the resolution originated in anything incompatible with the nature of such a Society, as we find, what some may recollect, that each member present contributed only the sum of 6d. as his share for entertainment and accommodation. From 1855 to 1858 the Society met in the County Rooms, now the Music Hall Buildings; from 1858 to 1872, in the old Advocates' Hall; from 1872 to 1874, in the Faculty Room, Marischal College; from 1874 to 1878, in the Music Hall Buildings; and since then, in the Library, 199 Union Street, in Watson's Rooms, and in the Bath Hotel. Other Work of the Society. To the other work of the Society, indicated in its minutes, and which cannot be gathered directly from the mere titles of Papers read, allusion will now be made. In most cases, records of the work of the committees were not preserved by the Society, but it is quite possible that, if occasion should arise, some of them might be recovered. |