U4 



ferred upon him some time ago, of being appointed one of the Com- 

 missioners in the Behring Sea Arbitration, now pending between us and 

 the United States. It was only three weeks ago, and after he himself 

 had fixed upon this date on which to deliver his opening address, that 

 he informed us that he was suddenly re-called to England in connection 

 with his duties as Commissioner, and that consequently he would be 

 unable to be with us this evening. 



I do not pretend to fill his place. I merely, by reason of my office, 

 and at the urgent request of the Council, take precedence on the pro- 

 gramme. 



Before entering upon the subject of my address, however, you will 

 naturally expect me to say something regarding the growth, the welfare 

 and the present standing of the Club. I propose, therefore, to bring 

 before you very briefly, some of the more important facts and features 

 in the Club's more immediate history. Such information should be of 

 mterest both to us, who are members, and to those who are with us for 

 the first time to-night. It is the wish that every member should be a 

 real, active, live member, doing something tor his or her own educa- 

 tional good, and the furtherance of the interests of us all. Working 

 members ought to know — must know — what the Club is doing and how 

 it prospers, if the work is to be successful. 



THE CLUB. 



The Club is not composed, as some might imagine, of scientists. 

 We make no such claim. The Club is made up of those who have some 

 love for nature, in one or other of her phases ; of those who are wishful 

 to learn something more than they already know regarding animals and 

 plants, and the " solid ground of nature;'' of those who, thus learning, 

 are willing to share with and impart to others such fragments of know- 

 ledge as they have been fortunate in adding to their store. As Dr. 

 MacCabe rightly said, we are first and foremost, an educational 

 society. Opportunities to learn and investigate are offered to our 

 members, in winter and summer ; let us see to it that we take advantage 

 of them. 



Wd have also another feature in our club life. I have been pleased 

 to notice that we are a social Club, and to remark that there exists 



