l6 PKOCEEDINGS OF TILE 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDSESS, 1903. 



In addressing the Fellows of the Society at their Anniversary 

 Meeting for the third time, I feel that the occasion is one of 

 more than usual interest, not untouched with pathos ; for this is 

 doubtl<-ss the last Anniversary on which the assembled Eellows 

 will all be of the same sex. The question as to the admission 

 of Women to our Fellowship had already been raised when 

 we met here a year ago, and, as I explained in my Address, the 

 Council had taken steps to ensure that every Fellow should have 

 an opportunity of expressing his opinion upon so important a 

 matter. In due coarse a Special General Meeting was summoned 

 for January 15 of this year, to discuss and vote upon the 

 question, with the result that the proposal was carried by a large 

 majority. The Society having thus committed itself to the new 

 policy, the Council lost no time in taking the necessary steps 

 to obtain the supplemental Charter and to adapt the Bye-laws 

 to the altered circumstances. I regret that I am not in a position 

 to announce to you today that we already possess the power 

 to exert these new rights and privileges, nor can I tell you when 

 that moment will arrive. That it is somewhat impatiently 

 anticipated in certain quarters is shown by the fact that nomina- 

 tions of Lady-candidates have ah-eady been sent in. The process 

 of obtaining a Supplemental Charter is evidently one that 

 cannot be hurried ; but 1 have little doubt that, should you 

 again honour me with your confidence, it will fall to my lot to 

 admit the first Lady-fel'ow. In this respect, at any rate, my 

 tenure of office will be memorable. Regarding the matter, as 

 I am bound to do, from the point of view of the welfare of the 

 Society, I must confess that I am not altogether free from 

 apprehension as to the future. We are making a somewhat 

 heroic experiment, with no precedent, no working hypothesis, 

 to suggest to us what the results are likely to be. If purity 

 of motive can deserve success, then it should certainly be ours : 

 for this revolution in our constitution is the expression of a sense 

 of justice, of a desire to extend an equal recognition to all, 

 whether men or women, who work in or for biological science. 

 However, we must not shut oar eyes to the fact that the Society 

 is passing through a serious crisis, and that it claims more 

 strongly than ever all the support that the loyalty of its Fellows 

 can give. 



The Session that is now closing has been of importance in the 

 history of the Society, not only as regards this fundamental 

 question, but also in the scarcely less important matter of ad- 

 ministration. Tou will remember that a j'ear ago we made 

 changes in the Executive, placing Mr. B. Daydou Jackson at the 

 head of it with the title of General Secretary. Like other great 

 public institutions, the Society had realised the need for higher 



