IV. PRESIDENTS ADDRESS 



times Belgium has rebuilt her ruined cities, and found a new 



prosperity In the Europe which is to be, it will be hers 



to extend the reign, of Faith, Justice, and Freedom." 



When justice has been done, and all possible reparation has 

 been made to Belgium — and the Allies have expressed their de- 

 termination on these points — we look forward to the beginning of 

 the fulfilment of the Abbe Noel's aspirations. But when Belgium 

 is again in undisputed possession of what is left of her own, we 

 have good reason to fear, after what has happened at Lou vain, and 

 what is known of the fate that befell private libraries there or 

 elsewhere, that Belgian Scientific Societies and Institutions may 

 find themselves sorely in need of books and scientific journals. As 

 soon as ever the time is ripe, and communications are restored, 

 the Society may rely on the Council to take the necessary steps to 

 endeavour to repay, with interest, the kindness that was extended 

 to this Society more than thirty years ago. Nevertheless, when 

 the Society has done its very best, it will not be disappointed to 

 find that it has not been able to do any more than the Scientific 

 Societies of the world have been ready to do. But in the mean- 

 time, the pressing need of the Belgians, who have not been 

 driven from their country, is for food. Wide publicity lias been 

 given to the pathetic appeal cabled from London to the Austral- 

 asian press. Response to this appeal is a matter for every one of 

 us, not merely as a duty, but as a matter of gratitude for tlie 

 great services to the cause of the Allies so freely rendered, at so 

 fearful a cost, by the Belgians. The Society's revenue is almost 

 entirely derived from trust funds, and its expenditure must be 

 regulated by the terms of the trust. It remains, therefore, for 

 us as individuals to do our share, and to do it whole-heartedly, 

 and to keep on doing it as long as the need for it continues. 

 On the present occasion, I think it is fitting that I should, on 

 behalf of the Society, place on record our deepest sympathy, not 

 only with the Scientific Societies of Belgium with whom we have 

 been so pleasantly and so profitably associated for so many years, 

 but with the Sovereign and the entire nation, who have so 

 bravely and so nobly acted up to their ideals without counting 

 the cost. 



