THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 569
giving the word an important meaning and insisting on the great role played by reason in the evolution of human society. All sociologists are under a heavy debt of gratitude to him, and their indebtedness to Ward is at least as great as to August Comte and Herbert Spencer.
Professor Giddings' motion was carried unanimously, and Dr. Ward was at once conducted to the chair by Professors Wells and Giddings. In taking charge of the meeting, Dr. Ward ex- pressed briefly his appreciation of the totally unexpected honor thus thrust upon him, and ' declared himself proud of the dis- tinction of being the first president of the first sociological society in America,
The remainder of the report of the Committee on Nomina- tions was accepted unanimously, and the meeting was then adjourned, subject to the call of the Executive Committee, in accordance with the constitution.
