MINUTES OF THE SEVENTH REGULAR Meeting of tHE CHI

CAGO SECTION A. S. P.

The seventh regular meeting of the Chicago Section was held June 15, 1891, at the Kenwood Physical Observatory. The occasion had been selected for the dedication of the Observatory, and a number of invited guests were present. Mr. G. A. DOUGLASS presided, and after a few remarks. introduced Prof. C. A. YOUNG, who had made the journey from Princeton in order to be present at the dedication. Prof. Young made a very interesting address, in which he referred to the great importance of spectroscopic investigations in astronomy, and spoke of the physical observatories at Potsdam and Meudon, and those in this country formerly directed by Dr. RUTHERFURD and Dr. DRAPER. He described the recent photographic studies of prominences and their spectra made at the Kenwood Observatory, and pointed out their connection with his own observations made at Mount Sherman.

Other speeches were made by Prof. G. W. HoUGH of the Dearborn Observatory, Mr. J. A. BRASHEAR of Allegheny, Mr. J. W. ScOTT of the Chicago Herald, President E. D. EATON of Beloit College, Dr. H. H. BELFIELD of the Chicago Manual Training School, Prof. S. I. CURTISS, Rev. E. L. WILLISTON, Rev. Dr. E. F. WILLIAMS and Rev. FRANK GATES.

The following have been proposed for membership in the A. S. P. and Chicago Section:

WILLIAM HOSKINS, Lagrange, Cook County, Ill.

J. H. KEDZIE, Evanston, Ill.

Prof. MALCOLM MCNEILL, Lake Forest University, Lake Forest, Ill.

GEORGE E. HALE, Secretary.

MINUTES OF THE EIGHTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHICAGO SECTION A. S. P.

Held on Tuesday evening, July 14, 1891, at Dearborn Observatory, Evanston, Ill., the chairman, Mr. GAYTON A. DOUGLASS, presiding.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Mr. A. C. BEHR called attention to doubts expressed by Dr. KLEIN, as to estimates of the mass of Arcturus, based on its parallax as given by Dr. ELKIN.

Prof. HOUGH said in substance, that while, theoretically, stellar parallaxes as small as second might be detected and that the mean of a large number of observations would leave the probable error at a minimum, yet, practically, unavoidable personal error much exceeded that amount, and rendered the result uncertain by much more than second.

Mr. BEHR, Prof. HOUGH and Mr DOUGLASS showed by lime-light a large number of excellent lantern-slides from lunar, solar and stellar photos and drawings also a lantern-slide of the great Aztec calendarstone-of which a brief description and account was given.

Applications for membership in the A. S. P. and the Chicago Section thereof, were received from

JOHN P. HELY, C. E., 418 Claremont Avenue.

T. A. HAGERTY, 537 Belden Avenue.

KIRK HIMROD, 150 Lincoln Avenue.

All of Chicago, Ill.

For the remainder of the evening Prof. HOUGH courteously gave the society members the use of the large telescope of the Observatory.

R. W. PIKE, Acting Secretary.

302 Publications of the Astronomical Society, &c.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.

WM. M. PIERSON (508 California Street, S. F.),

Board of Directors-Messrs. ALVORD, BURCKHALTER, CAMPBELL, HILBORN, HILL, HOLDEN, MOLERA, PIERSON, SCHAEBERLE, SOULÉ, ZIFL.

Finance Committee-Messrs. ZIEL, HILBORN, BURCKHALTER.

Committee on Publication-Messrs. HOLDEN, YALE, CAMPBELL.

Library Committee-Messrs. MOLERA, VON GELDERN and GITCHFLL.

Committee on the Comet Medal-Messrs. HOLDEN (ex-officio), SCHAEBERLE, BURCKHALTER.

OFFICERS OF THE CHICAGO SECTION.

Executive Committee-Messrs. DOUGLASS (Chairman), EWELL, HALE (Secretary), PIKE,

THWING.

NOTICE.

The attention of new members is called to Article VIII of the By-Laws, which provides that the annual subscription, paid on election, covers the calendar year only Subsequent annual payments are due on January 1st of each succeeding calendar year. This rule is necessary in order to make our book-keeping as simple as possible. Dues sent by mail should be directed to Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 819 Market Street, San Francisco.

It is intended that each member of the Society shall receive a copy of each one of the Pub lications for the year in which he was elected to membership and for all subsequent years. If there have been (unfortunately) any omissions in this matter, it is requested that the Secretaries he at once notified, in order that the missing numbers may be supplied. Members are requested to preserve the copies of the Publications of the Society as sent to then. Once each year a title. page and contents of the preceding numbers will also be sent to the members, who can then bind the numbers together into a volume. Complete volumes for past years will also be supplied, to members only, so far as the stock in hand is sufficient, on the payment of one dollar to either of the Secretaries. Any non-resident member within the United States can obtain books from the Society's library by sending his library card with ten cents in stamps to the Secretary A. S. P., 819 Market Street, San Francisco, who will return the book and the card.

The Committee on Publication desires to say that the order in which papers are printed in the Publications is decided simply by convenience. In a general way, those papers are printed first which are earliest accepted for publication. It is not possible to send proof sheets of papers to be printed to authors whose residence is not within the United States.

The titles of papers for reading should be communicated to either of the Secretaries as early as possible, as well as any changes in addresses. The Secretary in San Francisco will send to any member of the Society suitable stationery stamped with the seal of the Society. at cost price, as follows: a block of letter paper, 40 cents; of note paper, 25 cents; a package of envelopes, 25 cents. These prices include postage, and should be remitted by money-order or in U. S. postage stamps. The sendings are at the risk of the member.

Those members who propose to attend any or all of the meetings at Mount Hamilton during the summer should communicate with "The Secretary Astronomical Society of the Pacific," at the rooms of the Society, 819 Market Street, San Francisco, in order that arrangements may be made for transportation, lodging, etc.