THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN.

Prepared by Prof. ALBERT GUTTSTADT, M. D.*

Translated and condensed by GEORGE H. BOEHMER.

I. THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

(Physico-Mathematical Class.)

The Royal Academy of Sciences was established in 1701 by King Frederick I, upon the solicitation of Leibnitz and received the name "Royal Society of Sciences;" the word Academy was substituted in 1744 on occasion of the reorganization of the society under Frederick the Great. The statutes, approved by royal decree of March 28, 1881, explain the object and composition of the society as follows:

The Academy of Sciences is a society of scientists whose object it is to promote science without being required to adhere to any plan of instruction. It comprises four classes of members, but in a more limited sense it is formed by the whole body of regular members, who, under the direction of the secretaries attend to the affairs of the entire academy. The Academy possesses the rights of a privileged corporation, has its own seal, owns its premises, has its own funds and a regular, guaranteed income which it dispenses according to the adopted rules.

For the conduct of some of its affairs the Academy has formed two sections: the physico-mathematical and the philosophical-historical class. (Formerly four classes existed, but since 1830 they became united into two.)

Each section manages its own affairs. No difference of importance. exists as regards the two sections.

The membership is formed of: (1) regular members, (2) foreign members, (3) honorary members, (4) corresponding members. The honorary members are not assigned to any special sections; all other members are assigned to the respective sections and can belong only to that section.

The seniority of ordinary and foreign members is regulated by the time of their election.

* “Die naturwissenschaftlichen und medicinischen Staatsanstalten Berlins,” compiled as a memorial volume of the fifty-ninth meeting of the Association of German Naturalists and Physicians, by authority of Dr. von Gossler, minister of worship, education, and medical affairs, Berlin, 1886.

To ordinary membership only such persons are eligible as are residents of Berlin or live in places the connection of which with the national capital permits them to take part in their regular academic duties. Any such member removing to a place not provided for in the above is transferred to the number of honorary members.

Each class may have twenty-seven regular members. A number of these places is intended for certain specified branches of science; for the remaining places all scientists whose activity lies within that specified section may become eligible.

Vacancies among specialists may be left open, yet, the advantage of the academy requires all possible competition. In that case the class has to decide whether any of its members may be selected for the purpose. Applications for these places can emanate only from regular members.

A proposed class election is to be communicated to the presiding secretary of the academy and then considered by the entire academy at its next regular session when the candidate is elected by ballot.

The result of the election is to be communicated to the minister who obtains the king's approval.

If a scientist, non-resident of Berlin or of any of the places allowed for, receives the election of regular member he is required to remove to Berlin within six months of the date of his confirmation-which time may be increased in special cases. If he fails to comply with this rule he is enrolled among the honorary members.

The regular members are both permitted and required to share the labors of the Academy; they have a seat and a vote both in the general Academy and in the class, and are permitted to attend the meetings of either of the classes.

A member of twenty-five years standing or having reached the age of seventy may be relieved from lecturing or speaking.

The regular members are entitled to all privileges of the royal insti tutions and collections. They are furthermore privileged to lecture at any university of the Prussian domain and enjoy equal rights with the professors in accordance with regulations to which they are also bound with regard to the lectures.

With regard to salaries the following regulations are in force:

(1) Each of the fifty-four regular members of the Academy receive an annual salary of 900 mark ($225.).

(2) Separate salaries, additional to the above 900 mark are given to two regular members of the physico mathematical class, of which one has to be a botanist and the other a chemist, and to two regular members of the philosophic-historical class, who are required to be philologists or historians. The salary of the chemist also includes the official dwelling in the building of the academy and the use, for scientific purposes, of any available room in the building not otherwise occupied. The payment of such a salary is made for special services required in the conduct of a certain oflice or professorship, or in the direction of a ific institute.

(3) A special salary for special duties may be given by vote of the academy for such a time as may be required in the performance of special duties. The pensioning of the salaried officials is optional.

(4) The two salaries may be granted at once at the time of election, provided the proposition is made at the time of election of the candidate. This requires the sanction of the minister.

(5) The widow or, in her absence, the children of a deceased member continue to draw the salary of their husband or father for the term of one year, commencing with the day of his death.

Foreign (or non-resident) members are such as do not reside at Berlin or at one of the places provided for in the statutes. Of these each class has ten. The Academy is not required to fill vacancies in this number. The non-resident members enjoy all the rights of the regular members, and in case of any visit to Berlin, and upon notification of the fact to the general secretary, they receive invitations to the meeting, etc., the same as the regular members.

Honorary membership may be extended to such resident scientists as are prevented from fulfilling the obligations of regular membership; it may further be extended to non-resident and foreign scientists who have excelled in scientific pursuits and in some way have given evidence of their interest in the welfare of the Academy. There is no limit to the number of honorary members.

The honorary members are entitled to participate in the meetings of the Academy of which they are, in each case, informed by invitation. They are at liberty to make scientific communications and to take part in the deliberations of business affairs.

The corresponding members are composed of scientists, non-residents of Berlin. They retain the corresponding membership in the event of their locating at Berlin. Each class offers one hundred places for corresponding members.

The corresponding members are entitled to take part in the public and other meetings of the Academy and of the class to which they, respectively, have been assigned and to make scientific communications. They are also permitted to be present at business meetings, but have no vote in the same.

The business of the Academy is conducted by four permanent secretaries, of which each class furnishes two.

The secretaries are elected for life and draw a salary of 1,800 mark annually, which amount is also paid to the surviving widow or orphans for the period of one year succeeding the death of the incumbent. The secretaries range according to the seniority of their election. Each of the secretaries carries a seal.

Each of the two classes elect their secretaries out of their own members and in secret session. The election has to receive the King's sanction.

It is the duty of the secretaries to conduct the business of the Acad. emy and to execute its orders. The manner of arranging the duties among their number is left to their discretion.

In the presidency and the duties of that office and in the conduct of the affairs of the general Academy, the secretaries change successively every four months in accordance with their seniority, unless they arrange among themselves for some other method of succession. In case of enforced absence of the presiding secretary the last secretary has to take his place. All four secretaries being unavoidably detained from presiding, the senior of the ordinary members assumes the office.

The business secretary is styled the presiding secretary; he carries the great seal of the Academy and supervises the officials and clerks of the Academy. He calls the extraordinary meetings of the members and the meetings of the secretaries; he issues the invitations and presides at all meetings; in case of a tie his vote is decisive; he signs the protocols and arranges for the execution of the various resolutions. He has charge of the correspondence of the Academy, opens all communications, submits them and then takes charge of further action. He is responsible for the observance of the statutes, and for that purpose communicates directly with the minister. In submitting his charge of four months he has to surrender to his successor a complete inventory made in the presence of the archivist.

The presiding secretary, or his substitute, is the only person permitted to institute legal proceedings in the name of the Academy, for which purpose he may receive special identification on the part of the ministry. Money may be paid to the cashier of the ministry.

Within the classes of the Academy the respective secretaries assume the presidency and the execution of all business affairs for the term of from four to four months.

The regular salaried officials of the Academy-at present an archivist, one clerk, one door-keeper and one messenger-are appointed for life or any specified term in general session and by recommendation of the college of secretaries. The appointments have to receive the approval of the ministry.

The following rules are in force regarding meetings, labors, and publications:

The members participate in the meetings according to the rights of their respective grade. Others, not members, may be permitted to attend the scientific meetings; they have to be recommended by a member and introduced to the presiding secretary.

The meetings of the Academy are held every Thursday and alternate with those of the entire Academy and by those of the classes.

At each regular meeting a scientific paper is to be read by one of the regular members, at the expiration of which other members are permitted to make scientific communications or in any way to introduce scientific objects.

The general Academy is empowered to submit questions to the secre

tary of the respective classes for action or report; or a special commission or commissioner may be appointed for report on some scientific or business question; the appointment of such commission is made by ordinary election, or, if required, by secret ballot.

The general Academy holds three public meetings annually; the one on July 1 in memory of Leibnitz, its first president, a second one on January 24 in commemoration of the birth of Frederick II, the re-organizer of the Academy, and the third on the birth-day of the reigning King. If these days do not fall upon Thursday, the succeeding Thursday is set aside for such public meeting.

The secretaries alternate in the conduct of the presidency on these special occasions, and the presiding officer is required either to make mention of the occasion by a few introductory remarks or to read a special paper on the subject.

In the meetings held in memory of Leibnitz, regular members, elected during the year, make their first speech or deliver their first lecture, each being responded to by one of the secretaries. Eulogies of deceased members are read during the course of the meeting. The business of the public meeting consists of the announcement of prizes, the reading of annual reports on the changes in the personnel, and of other papers explanatory to the works and results of the scientific enterprises or foundations connected with the Academy. Papers read in regular session may, upon consent of the Academy, be read again in these public meetings.

In accordance with the intention of its foundation, it is the duty of the Academy to render assistance to the scientific enterprises of its members or scientists generally which require combined activity of several scientists, or which, on account of their compass or expense, would require the assistance of the Academy. A further duty of the Academy requires it to manage foundations of a strict scientific character, and to encourage or reward, by the giving of prizes, investigations, or researches in certain defined directions.

The Academy publishes "Sitzungsberichte" and "Denkschriften," the editing of which devolves upon the college of secretaries, subject to regulations adopted by the entire Academy. The members receive copies, beginning with the year of their admission.

Explicit permission of the Academy or one of its classes is absolutely required for the publication in the academic proceedings of any scientific paper. The request for publication must be accompanied by the ready manuscript, and the proposition may be voted on at once. If the expense or any other important point should require a further consideration a commission may be appointed for the purpose, or the subject may be referred to the board of secretaries or to one of the classes of the Academy.

Upon the request of one of the members present the acceptance for publication of any paper or any proceeding connected therewith may be voted on by secret ballot.