SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 227 



not be able to "prove all," we will try to "hold fast to those that are 

 good." 



Geo. W. Campbell. 



At this juncture a matter came up not announced upon the programme. 

 Secretary Garfield, who was seated in front of the audience, beckoned 

 President Lyon as if to engage him in a moment's conversation, and Vice- 

 President Gibson assumed the chair. Upon turning about the president's 

 .attention was attracted by an address from the vice-president that seemed 

 partially directed to him. Mr. Gibson spoke eloquently and with intense 

 feeling of the great work done for Michigan pomology by Mr. Lyon and the 

 reliance the society had always placed in his knowledge of horticulture ; 

 how he had given standing abroad to our society when it was yet weak ; and 

 of the work he is now doing for the State in writing a history of Michigan's 

 progress in horticulture for fifty years. While Mr. Gibson was speaking 

 Mr. W. N. Cook, a life member of the society, placed upon an easel a large 

 well-executed crayon 



PORTRAIT OF THE PRESIDENT, 



Which had, unbeknown to Mr. Lyon, been ordered by the executive board 

 •of the society, and in honor of his work and influence will be placed for 

 permanent keeping in the State Capitol at Lansing. 



It was to Mr. Lyon a complete surprise, and he was so deeply moved that 

 response was impossible, and he quickly resumed his seat, asking to be 

 excused from remarks. Mr. Gibson's tribute was spoken with much feel- 

 ing, and although he uttered high praise of Mr. Lyon, no member will say 

 he in any respect exceeded what was due. 



The lecturer of the evening was now introduced, President Edwin Willits, 

 •of the State Agricultural College, who spoke for forty minutes upon 

 ■"Culture and Horti-culture," as follows: 



CULTURE AND HORTI-CULTURE. 



BY PRESIDENT EDWIN WILLITS, OF THE MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL 



COLLEGE. 



Language expresses only a portion of our ideas. In a sense all men are 

 tongue-tied. Words suggest, but no more keep pace with the thought than 

 the hand follows the sfcone propelled by its power. Words, say the diction- 

 aries, are the signs of ideas, but words are visible, oral, material, and as 

 signs are no more the thing itself than the bill poster is the menagerie behind 

 the canvass. The holy Jerusalem in the apocalyptic vision was four square, 

 the walls of jasper and the city pure gold, like unto clear glass; but even 

 Divine inspiration had to take a golden reed to measure it, and the descrip- 

 tion of its lowest foundation, its pearly gates and the glory of the Almighty 

 that did brighten it, was material, and in no just sense was a truthful 

 description of the holy city as it is. Even in the vision it was let down out 

 of Heaven, but it was not Heaven. There was a veil between the jasper and 

 pearls, gold and glory on this side, and the bliss and fruition out of sight, 

 but not out of mind of the true believer. Words may be elusive, changeable, 



