president's address. 477 



in our own clay. As in the case of most schools of thought, the 

 truth will be found to lie between the two extremes. The grand 

 truth looming in the future seems to be development through the 

 most varied means, one of which may be evolution. But we 

 cannot help deploring that questions on which the vital 

 interests of modern society certainly hang, should have been 

 prejudiced so much by ignorance of the natural sciences. The 

 hottest disputants have been men whose knowledge was derived 

 from very imperfect sources. Sweeping assertions, unjustifiable 

 conclusions, false inferences, and an unfair use of facts, have all 

 been used as weapons under the banner of a pretender miscalled 

 science. This could not have happened were the general public 

 more acquainted with the subject — nor, indeed, we may be sure, 

 would such a standard ever be raised. Can we hope that such a 

 consummation will be reached, if not in our own time, at least at 

 some future day ? Perhaps the existence and success of our little 

 Society is an earnest that we can. Still I would remind our 

 members that a good deal rests with ourselves. We can do much 

 to make the natural sciences a little more popular. We can 

 influence, we can encourage those outside — and, above all, we 

 can help each other. I hope it will not be considered an 

 inrpertinence if I refer to two things which rest with ourselves. 

 It is somewhat sad to think how much science is delayed by the 

 jealousies and bitterness of scientific men. I would not refer to 

 this if I had not in my mind a keen recollection of the opposition 

 and rebuffs I met with myself in early days. It is therefore with 

 the most pleasant feelings I glance over the history of this Society, 

 and see how smooth and untroubled has been its current during 

 that history. I trust this will be one of its constant traditions. 

 The other point to which I refer is the helping hand which we 

 can extend to the students of science, especially to beginners, 

 and to the public generally. There are, I am convinced, a great 

 number of lovers of nature through the length and breath of this 

 land who would be its students could they but see a way to begin. 



