Page:The National geographic magazine, volume 1.djvu/19



Vol. I.

I not a scientific man, nor can I lay claim to any special knowledge that would entitle me to be called a "Geographer." I owe the honor of my election as President of the National Geographic Society simply to the fact that I am one of those who desire to further the prosecution of geographic research. I possess only the same general interest in the subject of geography that should be felt by every educated man.

By my election you notify the public that the membership of our Society will not be confined to professional geographers, but will include that large number who, like myself, desire to promote special researches by others, and to diffuse the knowledge so gained, among men, so that we may all know more of the world upon which we live.

By the establishment of this Society we hope to bring together (1) the scattered workers of our country, and (2) the persons who desire to promote their researches. In union there is strength, and through the medium of a national organization, we may hope to promote geographic research in a manner that could not be accomplished by scattered individuals, or by local societies; we may also hope—through the same agency—to diffuse the results of geographic research over a wider area than would otherwise be possible.