Institute

Institution, (-ste-tūt; -tü'shun) [From L. institutio, a causing to stand.] Generally, any society established pursuant to certain laws or regulations, for the furtherance of some special object; such are colleges or seminaries for cultivation of the cla ics and sciences, literary societies, mechanics' institutes, and so on. Also, a society of individuals organized and established for the promotion of any object of public welfare; as a charitable or benevolent institution.-The National Institute in France is a great national institution, established by the Directory in 1795, and composed of: -1, The Académie Française; 2. The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres; 3. The Académie des Sciences; 4. The Académie des Beaux Arts; 5. The Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. Each Academy has its own independent government, and the free disposition of the funds allotted to it, an agency and secretaries; the library and the valuable collections of the Institute are common to the five; the common fund is managed by a committee of ten members (two from each Academy), under the presidency of the Minister of Public Instruction. Members are elected by ballot, the election requiring to be confirmed by government, and members of one Academy may be elected as members of any or all of the other four. [s. 487]