34 PRESENTATION TO MR. FLE'ICHER, 



Fellows, from time to time, needed the guiding counsel and 

 advice of a Director; and Mr. Fletcher's experience and know- 

 ledge of the Society's affairs had always been available, with the 

 object of helping them, and promoting harmonious relations. 

 Kipling had divided the race of: men into two classes : 



The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part. 

 But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the troubled soul and the 

 careful heart. 



Tf Mr. Fletcher had, for the most part, become a Son of Martha, 

 it was not, as they knew, from a lack of interest in scientific 

 work; but because the Society's activities covered a more ex- 

 tensive field than usual, and the consequent official duties fully 

 occupied his working hours. 



The President presented the portrait, desk and chair from the 

 Members to Mr. Fletcher. He referred to the indebtedness of 

 every Member for many acts of courtesy and assistance. 



Mr. Fletcher, in reply, returned heart-felt thanks to the Pre- 

 sident and to the speakers for their kind and appreciative words, 

 and to the Members both for the Resolution which had been 

 recorded, and for the handsome gifts with which they had 

 endowed him. These he should value not only for what they 

 were, but for what he thought they were intended to mean. 

 While he had fairly definite ideas about his long official connec 

 tion with the Society, these could be very simply and modestly 

 stated. He would remind them of the ancient but sound maxim, 

 qui facit per alium, facit per se. The inaugural Meeting of the 

 Society was held on January 25th, 1875. From that date, for 

 eleven years, Sir William Macleay relieved the Council of all 

 anxiety and responsibility in the matter of ways and means in 

 carrying out the executive work of the Society. Then, as he 

 was getting on in years and wished to have more time for his 

 own work and affairs, as he was contemplating providing a per- 

 manent home for the Society, and was desirous of attending to 

 the preliminary foundational work for the development of the 

 Society's sphere of usefulness which he had in mind, he entered 

 into an arrangement with the speaker. This, in effect, though it 

 was not how Sir William stated it, was, that he should become tlie 





