The undersigned, having been appointed an Auditing Committee to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for 1888, have the honor to make the following report:
We have compared the receipts with the official list of members and find complete agreement. We have compared the disbursements with the vouchers for the same and find them to have been duly authorized and correctly recorded. We have examined the bank account and compared the checks accompanying the same. We have compared the balance in the hands of the Treasurer as shown by the ledger ($626.70) with the balance as shown by the bank book ($644.70) and found them consistent, the difference being explained by the fact that a check for $18 drawn in favor of the Secretary of the Cosmos Club has not yet been presented for payment. We find the condition of the accounts entirely satisfactory.
Very respectfully,
S. H. KAUFMANN.
G. K. GILBERT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARIES.
The first step toward the organization of the National Geographic Society was the circulation of the following invitation, on Jan. 10, 1888.
"Dear Sir: You are invited to be present at a meeting to be held in the Assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, Friday evening, January 13, at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of considering the advisability of organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge.
Very respectfully yours,
GARDINER G. HUBBARD, HENRY MITCHELL,
A. W. GREELY, HENRY GANNETT,
J. R. BARTLETT, A. H. THOMPSON,
and others."
In response to this invitation 33 gentlemen met at the appointed place and time. The meeting was called to order by Prof. A. H. Thompson, who stated its objects and nominated Capt. C. E. Dutton as chairman. The formation of a geographic society was discussed by Messrs. Hubbard, Bartlett, Thompson, Mitchell, Kennan, Gannett, Merriam and Gore.