tgoo/] Proceedings of Irish Societies. i 



w 



Nov. 21 —The President (Rev. C. H. Waddeli., B.D.) delivered a very 

 interesting lecture on 'The Work of the Club.' After some introductory 

 remarks, Mr. Waddet.i. stated that the object of a Field Club was to pro- 

 mote a study of nature among its members, to popularise such pursuits 

 among the community and gain new disciples, and work out in detail the 

 natural history of the district, placing the results on permanent record. 

 Their Club was the oldest in Ireland, and they had no reason to be 

 ashamed of the work already accomplished. The guide published in 1S74 

 for the visit of the British Association summed up in an interesting 

 manner what had been done up to that time. There were still, however, 

 many gaps in the records of the natural surve}' of their district which 

 should be filled up. The progress of science in all departments had been 

 so great that it had become necessary for anyone who wished thoroughl}- 

 to investigate anj' branch to become a specialist. For this reason, 

 and also from the improvement in instruments of research, the 

 older race of field naturalist was passing awaj-. Our old naturalists of 

 Belfast were " all-round men," such as Robert Patterson, who had done 

 so much to promote natural history; John Templeton, of Cranmore, 

 who set about the immense task of writing a complete natural history of 

 Ireland ; and William Thompson, who formed the same project for 

 zoology alone, and carried it out to a great extent before his death. The 

 ranks of this old tj'pe of naturalist should be filled up from the mem- 

 bers of the Club. The attraction of work in laboratories and herbaria 

 indoors, and the influence of the subjects taught now in our universities — 

 structure, physiology, and microscopic work — were telling against work 

 in the field. We need more life-histories of plants and animals, more 

 monographs of single species or individuals, than monographs of groups 

 and classes. There is work to be done on these lines of permanent 

 interest and importance which cannot be done in the laboratory alone, 

 but must be undertaken by the field naturalist. All that is required is, 

 first, choice of a subject, then patience, observation, and the power to 

 properly recording results. The true object of our favoured pursuits is not 

 merely to collect specimens, but knowledge, to try to understand some- 

 thing of the varied and prolific life with which this world is filled, to 

 study its origin, modes of development, and meaning. The members 

 should remember the traditions of the Field Club and endeavour to ex- 

 tend its usefulness. The Society had always been a centre of progress 

 and education in Belfast in all that relates to the love of nature, and the 

 pursuit of those humanising and elevating studies which lead us to 

 wonder even more and more at the greatness and goodness of the Creator. 

 In conclusion, he said — I\Iay we seek then, in our communion with 

 nature to be always learning at her feet, and to drink of her spirit, her 

 infinite patience and calmness to soothe the impatience and restlessness 

 of ours, her prodigality and kindness to give generosity to ours, her 

 widespread beauty kindling into flame the admiration, wonder, and 

 reverence of our spirits to ennoble and refine them. 



A very animated discussion followed. Several^ members expressed 

 a strong desire to have the lecture published. The possibility of 

 rendering the Club's collection of books available for use was referred to. 



