MATHEMATICAL SOCIETIES AND JOURNALS. The oldest of the sciences, mathematics has always been cultivated and fostered, often with a degree of preferment over the later branches of the tree of knowl edge, by the universities, the great academies and the other scientific bodies of a general scope throughout the ciyilizedrokorld. The in dispensable condition for satisfactory progress, facility of publication, has been provided for mathematicians in a very large degree by the 'Transactions) and of learned societies representing a wide scientific field. The specialist will usually prefer the mathe matical journals proper, which indeed send out in a steady flow the finest product of the mathematical genius of the age. Theirs is the post of honor; it lies with them, by critical en couragement or repression, to maintain the standard of excellence of a great profession.
But there remains another set of functions, which to-day are more and more efficiently per formed by the mathematical societies. These include in their membership nearly every mathematician of standing in the four quarters of the globe. They provide a professional forum for the discussion of mathematical ques tions and of mathematical interests, and fur nish the powerful stimulus of association and solidarity. Their activities cover a wide range, including the presentation and publication of papers and memoirs, the encouragement of bibliographic and encyclopedic undertakings, the organization of international congresses, special conferences and lectures, the exercise of a beneficial advisory influence on the mathe matical curricula and equipment of the schools and universities, the diffusion of a better under standing of the science in the educated world, the formation of libraries, collections of models, etc., and the promotion of agreeable social and personal relations among mathe maticians.
The following list comprises the principal mathematical societies of the world, arranged in chronological order of foundation, with men tion of their several publications: 1690. Mathematische Gesellschaft in Hamburg. Mitteilun gen, 1881.
1778. Wukundig Genootschap to Amsterdam. Wiehasndige
Opgaven mit de Oplossingen, 1855; Nieuw Archirf voor Wiskunde, 1875; Revue Semestrielle des Publications Mathematiques, 1892.
1866. London Mathematical Society, Promedinis, 1865. 1866. Moscow Mathematical Society, Transactions. 1869 1873. Societe Mathemati9ue de France. Bulletin. 1873. 1883. Mathematical Society of Edinburgh. Pm:speeding& 1884.
1884. Circolo Matematico di Palermo, Rendiconti. 1884--. 1886. Mathematical Society of Charkow, Bulletin. 1879. 1888. American Mathematical Society, Bulletin. 1891: Transactions, 1900--; Mathematical Papers of the Chicago Congress. 1896; Colloquium Lectures on Mathematics. 1905, 1910. 1913. 1914.
1890. Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung, Jahreaberkht. 1892, 1895. British Mathematical Association, Mathematical Ga zette, 1894.
1909. Indian Mathematical Society, Journal, 1909. 1909. Calcutta Mathematical Society, Bulletin, 1909. 1911. Sociedad Mateniatica Espanola. Revista. 1911 1915. Mathematical Association of America, American Mathematical Monthly, 1894.
A history of the Hamburg Society, pre pared in connection with the celebration in 1890 of its 200th anniversary, may be found in vol ume II of the The (Wiskundig Genootschap' renders an especially valuable service in the mathematical world by the publication of the Semes trielle,> a condensed abstract of all the mathe matical papers published in the various journals, constantly brought up to within a few months of the current date. The value to a productive mathematician of this great labor-saving device is quite inestimable.
The first president of the London Mathe matical Society was the illustrious De Morgan, and the roll of members has included the names of Cayley, Sylvester, H. J. S. Smith, Clifford, Salmon, Stokes, Kelvin and most of the other eminent British mathematicians of the time. The secretary's office was efficiently filled for the long period of 34 years (1867-1901) by the late Robert Tucker. The (Proceedings,' which is the leading British mathematical journal, has recently been enlarged in size. The member ship of the society is about 300.