18S0-] 00 ° [Lesley. 



self-illustrated and self-luminous. G rowing with the growth 

 of the world, and of man, and of knowledge, the freshest 

 hlood of each successive generation courses through their 

 veins. For them the past is rectified in the alembic of the 

 present. Like the mountains they grow gray without grow- 

 ing old. Like the immortal gods, they are not subject to 

 the decay of memory ; nor can their wealth become the 

 prey of robbers. 



We celebrate to night the proofs of the immortal youth 

 of our Society. 



Nevertheless, the desnotic law to which all living beings 

 are subjected is the same for them all : they must eat ; and 

 their food must be wholesome. 



This is the topic of reflection which I wish most to in- 

 trude into the menu of this festival. 



Who is to feed our Society? or, rather, with what food is 

 it bound, by the laws of life, to feed itself? For, all nature 

 shows us that Only invalids are fed by other hands than 

 their own. Let us feed ourselves. I appeal to evevy mem- 

 ber of the Society to judge between him and it, whether he 

 has felt this necessity. I ask you to consider — to frame in 

 a picture — what our stated meetings would be like were we 

 to come to them as people come to a picnic party, each one 

 with a hamper of savoury viands to swell the common feast. 

 I see around this table lawyers, doctors, clergymen, natural- 

 ists, mathematicians, poets, artists, merchants, mechanicians, 

 politicians and philanthropists (which are, of course, one and 

 the same)— every one of whom has been taught tine things 

 of (and by) his self-elected art or profession. One hundred and 

 fifty such members reside within walking or riding distance 

 of the Hall. Only thirty meetings are held in the year. If, 

 then, each member of the Society would — only once in 



