92 THE PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



least, learned that five or six hundred persons can combine to cheer 

 and strengthen and help each other in a favourite pursuit in perfect 

 harmony, because thoroughly in earnest. 



The best counsel that I can offer you on this last occasion of my 

 addressing you from the chair is that you seek to maintain in the 

 future the same features which have contributed to your success in 

 the past ; that you keep yourselves acquainted with the early history 

 and development of your club ; that you continue to bear in mind 

 the objects and aims of those who first called it into existence ; and 

 that the original programme, which is always regarded by your officers 

 and committee as their " Articles of Faith," be also your creed, 

 and its principles be maintained by you as inviolable as a Royal 

 Charter. I have seen the prosperity of societies diminished by 

 imprudent changes in the conduct of their affairs ; and, by the loss 

 of their original tone, their warmest supporters estranged, their 

 ardour damped, and their affections alienated. There appears to be 

 no danger at present of any such mismanagement of our own club, 

 therefore a word of warning may be the more freely given against 

 such a contingency in the future. Do not be too anxious for inno- 

 vations, alterations, new modes of action, or experiments which 

 would involve any modification of the club, more or less change its 

 character, and thus render it less fitted for the position it now 

 occupies. From so large a body of members there will necessarily, 

 from time to time, proceed suggestions and proposals inspired by the 

 best intentions, and which will doubtless always receive patient and 

 careful consideration. Let me urge you always to test them rigidly 

 by the principles of your " charter," and ascertain whether they 

 involve any departure from the original plan adopted by the founders 

 of the club, and maintained by you during twelve years of its exist- 

 ence. If they do, reject them. 



And now I have one duty left ; it is to resign the office to which 

 you did me the honour to elect me two years ago, to one far more 

 competent than myself, and in whom we recognise all that we could 

 desire in our President. I lay down my authority with supreme 

 gratification that I am succeeded therein by one of the first spirits 

 of the age, by one whom I have been accustomed to look up to with 

 profound admiration and respect as a great master in science, whose 

 name is known and revered wherever the English language is spoken. 



I hoped that Professor Huxley would be here this evening, but 

 before he was made aware of the date of our meeting he had 



