R. H. JESSE, PH.D., LL.D., President University of Missouri. HENRY S. PRITCHETT, PH.D., LL.D., President Massachusetts Institute of Technology. HERBERT PUTNAM, LITT.D., LL.D., Librarian of Congress. FREDERICK J. V. SKIFF, A.M., Director of Field Columbian Museum. * * * * * The action of the Executive Committee of the Exposition, approved by the President, was as follows:-- There shall be appointed by the President of the Exposition Company a Director of Congresses who shall report to the President of the Exposition Company. There shall be appointed by the President of the Exposition Company an Advisory Board of seven persons, the chairman to be named by the President, who shall meet at the call of the Director of Congresses, or the Chairman of the Advisory Board. The expenses of the members of the Advisory Board while on business of the Exposition shall be a charge against the funds of the Exposition Company. The duties of the said Advisory Board shall be: to consider and make recommendations to the Director of Congresses on all matters submitted to them; to determine the number and the extent of the congresses; the emphasis to be placed upon special features; the prominent men to be invited to participate; the character of the programmes; and the methods for successfully carrying out the enterprise. There shall be set aside from the Exposition funds for the maintenance of the congresses the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). The standing Committee on Congresses from the Exposition board of directors was shortly afterwards appointed and was composed of five of the most prominent men in St. Louis:-- CHAIRMAN: HON. FREDERICK W. LEHMANN, Attorney at Law. BRECKENRIDGE JONES, Banker. CHARLES W. KNAPP, Editor of _The St. Louis Republic_. JOHN SCHROERS, Manager of the _Westliche Post_. A. F. SHAPLEIGH, Merchant. To this committee were referred for consideration by the President all matters of policy submitted by the Director of Congresses. This committee had jurisdiction over all congress matters, including not only the Congress of Arts and Science, but also the many miscellaneous congresses and conventions, and a great part of the success of the congresses is due to their broad-minded and liberal determination of the questions laid before them. IDEA OF THE CONGRESS OF ARTS AND SCIENCE