120 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



may well be that our tribute to the world of scholarship and 

 criticism will be insignificant, nor do Ave flatter ourselves 

 that the thinkers of far-off lands will ever learn to wait till 

 we have spoken. But we need not, therefore, underrate the 

 importance of our actual work. If self-culture only were 

 the end and aim of our association, there would be ample 

 justification for this section's existence ; for as no man liveth 

 to himself, whatsoever be our gains in freshness and depth 

 of thought, in wealth of widened culture, and clearness of 

 intellectual vision, we win for others also. From the 

 quickening of a man's mental powers, a magnetic influence 

 thrills those with whom he mingles, nor does he, in rising, 

 wholly leave his fellows behind. But this indirect and 

 insensible influence is not the limit of our hopes ; we trust, 

 even in this our day of small beginnings, to render more 

 direct service to the community, and to take a more active 

 part in meeting the needs of our generation. It is no new 

 observation, that to the life and thought of this Colony the 

 poet's words are peculiarly applicable, "The world is too 

 much with us, late and soon getting and spending we lay 

 waste our powei-s." We claim no right to make this a 

 reproach to our fellow citizens, nor to look upon them as 

 from a pedestal of superiority. The rush of the tide of 

 commerce, rising almost too fast for our financial argosies to 

 ride its crest, the imperious stress of business, the merciless 

 strain of competition, the bewildering swiftness with which 

 vistas of opportunit}^ open on every hand, the eager energy 

 of a young community pressing in the first flush of its vigour 

 ever on to new conquests, the thrilling consciousness that 

 we are here laying the foundations of an empire, and doing 

 a mighty work for ages unborn — all this makes it seem less 

 strange or sad, that men should fancy that these interests 

 claim all their thoughts and powers ; that when art and 

 literature are beckoning, they should tliink that they do well 

 to reply, like the sternly earnest builder of old time, " I am 

 doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should 

 the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you?" 

 It is not obvious to all, but only by ex]Derience do men learn 

 that the pursuit of culture is no hindrance, but a secret 

 help in the race for worldly success, that wealth of intellect 

 makes material wealth more valuable when won, widening 

 the range of its application, and creating taste and refine- 

 ment in place of vulgar profusion and senseless display. We 

 cannot too steadfastly believe, nor too earnestly proclaim, 



