rate basis, have become purely graduate organizations. Others, however, elect senior students to membership and this custom is followed most generally and properly in dealing with engineering students since the requirement of a thesis or definite piece of work from all seniors in engineering courses enables one to pass advisedly upon the originality and independence of such students.

Only four chapters have a membership of less than 25; most chapters report 40 to 60 members, while four, Cornell, Yale, Columbia and Chicago, have over one hundred active members. The number of alumni members has grown to more than 600 at Cornell, and reaches a grand total of about 3000 for the entire chapter roll. When one considers also that last year the active membership reached a total of 1350 and that there were added 120 faculty members, about the same number of graduates, and twice as many senior students, or in all about 500 new members, it is evident that the membership of the Society has attained a very respectable figure and is advancing rapidly with each year. While numbers alone do not at all determine the value of an organization, they are none the less an important element in effectiveness and aid in the realization of results which would be beyond the reach of a smaller body.

The relation of the Society of the Sigma XI to engineering is strikingly intimate. Founded at Cornell in 1886, it now has twenty-five chapters. Of these two are at exclusive technological schools, namely Rensselaer and Case; one, Chicago, has no direct connection with an engineering faculty, but the

other twenty-two institutions possessing chapters all engage in engineering instruction and may fairly be said to be among the most prominent institutions of the country offering this line of work. Furthermore the Society was originally established by a few earnest workers in engineering sciences for the encouragement and development of those qualities which the founders deemed of first importance in their own line of investigation. Not only its founders but its present supporters in most if not all chapters include prominently the men in engineering departments. Finally, the convention of 1895 in adopting a policy of extension voted that in awarding a chapter to any institution the number of distinct branches of science represented by full professors should be at least five and that these branches should include engineering. Thus in its origin, in its support, and in the conditions set by it for extension, the society of the Sigma Xi is distinctly associated with engineering education. While it is correct that this feature should be distinctly set forth in a meeting like the present, devoted to a consideration of the problems of engineering education, yet it would be equally wrong not to emphasize the fact that in its influence and ideals Sigma Xi is broader than any one field of science, it aims to work equally in all scientific fields and to exert its influence for the development of all sciences whether pure or applied.

There have been those who have regarded the function of our Society as a purely honorary one. On this point permit me to cite the words of Professor S. W. Williston in his address before the Philadelphia

convention on retiring from the office of national president, "as an honorary society I believe Sigma Xi may do some good, but if it existed for the purpose of giving honors only, it were better never born. To set ourselves apart as better than others, to expose our phylacteries in the public temples is not the object of Sigma Xi, though unfortunately there are those who have thought so."

Sigma Xi is primarily a research society in the broadest sense of the term, and all of its activities are directed toward the accomplishment of this end. By virtue of its relation to the whole field of science it renders valuable service in keeping workers in the diverse fields in touch with each other, and with the investigations in other fields. This coordinating function, though incidental in a sense, is yet exceedingly valuable in contributing to the solidarity of our great institutions of learning, where the more intensive research becomes, the more powerfully each individual line of work tends to draw apart from the rest of the institution. The presentation of the results of research at the meetings of Sigma Xi and the discussions incident thereto act as an evident stimulus to investigation and good fellowship within the limited circle of its own membership. They are equally. important in disseminating among the members of the university community a general knowledge of the advance that has been made in scientific fields. Many chapters contribute also to the elevation of science in the university through the celebration of a great scientific anniversary in much the same way that Phi Beta Kappa has been the means of holding regular

literary festivities in our older universities. The annual Sigma Xi address at a number of our larger institutions brings together the university to hear from some man of prominence, the guest and speaker of the occasion, a dignified presentation of the development of research in some particular field. Such an event lends dignity to the Society and also stimulates the whole institution through contact with the men of achievement who are thus brought before it. Every such exposition of any scientific problem by a man of research-power means at least a few converts from credulity to reason, a few brought to regulate habit and action by judgment rather than prejudice, a few moved to take a step into the unknown and by their discoveries add something to the sum of human knowledge and happiness.

In the specific encouragement of research there are several activities of the society which have had marked influence. In spite of criticisms which have been passed in individual cases, yet on the whole care and judgment have been exercised in the selection of members and even the mistakes have not been sufficient to hide the primary object which the society has had in mind. By announcing at the start that in its estimate the research ability is fundamental in importance for the student, it has held up before the institution ideals of the greatest value in counteracting the mercenary tendencies of the day. It has undoubtedly served to arouse some zeal for investigation among the student community and in doing this has pointed out a worthy goal for their ambition.

This constant exaltation of the research ideal has

not been carried out in any narrow spirit. Evidently the possibilities, the directions, and the achievements of research are not alike in all fields, and especially as between pure and applied science radical differences suggest themselves at once. The society has fairly recognized these differences and freely acted in the light thereof. It has recognized that the originality of the engineer, and the highest type of creative power, may be demonstrated in the production of a concrete object rather than, as in pure science, disseminated through the medium of the printed page.

The relations of the Society of the Sigma Xi to scientific education require at least passing mention. President Williston has called it "a larger association composed exclusively of science teachers than exists elsewhere in the world"; certainly its twentyfive chapters with nearly 1500 active members, which are made up almost entirely of the teaching staff in the broad sense, justify this statement; and when heads of departments,. professors of various grades. instructors, fellows, scholars, assistants, and those about to enter upon technical careers, come together in its meetings on terms of fraternal equality, the problems of the institution cannot fail to be at least quietly discussed and indirectly influenced for the general good of the educational results. The furtherance of research is the advancement of scientific education at its highest point and rests back ultimately upon the satisfactory development of the student by the educational experiences through which he has passed. Thus Sigma Xi is vitally interested, and though not exercising as yet any definitely directed