THE CENTRAL Surgical Association is a young, vigorous organization which is now well established and has taken its rightful place among the major societies. Nowhere does one find a better balance among the three prime spheres of surgical endeavor, namely, teaching, research, and care of the patient. It is inevitable that in scrutinizing the candidates for membership, the Council of this Association, just as that of most others, cannot help but be impressed by a bibliography which is replete with titles reflecting earnest activities on the part of the candidate. At times, unsuccessful candidates may feel that the Council has been unduly impressed with the research factor and probably they have expressed secret criticisms concerning the "publish or perish" phenomenon. Personal experience on the Council, in one capacity or another over the past decade, has convinced me that the fairest possible selections have been made within the limits of human