Brlnton.J OOO [March 15; 



Finally, Dr. Franklin called the organization a Society. 

 Nothing is more impressive in the biography of this great 

 man than the profound appreciation he had of the benefit of 

 uniting men together to accomplish a purpose, of the value 

 of free combination, of voluntary co-operation in social and 

 national life. This idea lies at the basis of all modern, as dis- 

 tinguished from ancient progress. In the classic periods we 

 read of the master and his disciples, of the noble and his 

 retainers, of closely united classes and callings, but of nothing 

 which corresponds to a modern scientific or literary Society. 

 Such an institution belongs to a period when the sacredness of 

 the individual is recognized, when an equality of knowledge 

 overweighs the difference of wealth or birth, when all are wil- 

 ling to take off their shoes as they enter the temple of Truth. 



One of the earliest public results of Franklin's life was 

 the gathering together of his "ingenious acquaintances'" 

 into the well known " Junto." The fundamental principles 

 of the Junto were three: — to be free from prejudice on 

 account of profession or religion ; to desire the welfare of 

 mankind in general; and "to love truth for truth's sake." 

 Whether our Society was or was not an outgrowth of this 

 Junto, undoubtedly it was the intention of the philanthro- 

 pist who created both associations, to inspire both with the 

 same grand and holy principles of toleration, good feeling 

 and sincerity. All that tends to these ends would surely bo 

 consonant with the name we assemble under and the projects 

 of our founder ; and certainly an occasion like the present, 

 which brings us together to recall the worthy labors of 

 our predecessors, to extend to each other the social courte- 

 Bies of life, and to express our aspirations for the continued 

 advance of the Society in the grand career which was from its 

 birth marked out for it, does in a significant manner meet the 

 requirements of our name and the objects of our association. 



