VIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



to meet the conditions of thia increasing intellectual development. As it 

 is now, a considerable number of pereons are shut out of the society on 

 account of the few opportunities annually oflered for their admission. 

 At the present time there are two vacancies in the second section, and 

 in considering how best to fill them the members of the section are much 

 embarrassed by the difficulty of making a selection out of a number of 

 names of equal merit — such names as W. McLennan, Dr. G. Bryce, D. 

 Campbell Scott, ])r. Drummond, Eev. Frederick G. Scott, W. D. Light- 

 hall, W. A. Phraser, W. Hill-Tout and others who are winning a high 

 reputation at home and abroad for their work in prose and v^erse. I may 

 also mention a well known ftict that for several years past a difficulty 

 has existed in the third section on account of a rivalry between some 

 branches of scientific labour with the result that vacancies cannot be filled 

 up under the rules. If the total membership of the society were en- 

 larged to a hundred and tAventy, or thirty Fellows in each section, it 

 would be doubtless possible to stop this rivalry and at the same time give 

 admiasion to a number of gentlemen who ought to have an opportunity 

 of co-operating in the work of the society, but who otherwise must re- 

 main probably for many years outside. I need not assure you that I 

 have no feeling in this matter except a desire to promote the usefulness 

 of the society and bring it immediately into practical touch with the 

 ablest workers in science and literature through the length and breadth 

 of the Dominion. Of course in making this increase of membership eveiy 

 care should be taken not to lower the degree of qualification now required 

 from all members. It is necessary, however, to remember that this 

 society has been established and has been always conducted, not in a 

 spirit of exclusiveness, but with the commendable purpose of giving an 

 opportunity to the ablest scientific and literary workeis of the Dominion 

 to meet together in ])rofitable discussion, to publish annually the result 

 of their investigations and studies, and give every possible information 

 to countries outside of Canada with respect to Canadian literature and 

 science. The Karl of Derby, when Governor-General of Canada, in the 

 coui-se of his last address to the society, very aptly said that the ' Eoyal 

 Society had done good work, especially by uniting those who are scat- 

 tered by distance, and who find in the meetings of the society a con- 

 venient opportunity of coming together for the exchange of ideas.' 



" It is assuredly one of our principal objects to bring together as large 

 a number of scientific and literary men as is possible in this j-oung coun- 

 try. We should certainly take some effective measures to bring together 

 a larger number of literary and scientific students and writers. I may 

 also here observe that in the election of new members the probability of 

 attendance should be always anxiously considered. We have now on 

 our list members who have never contributed papers, attended or other- 

 wise promoted the objects of the society. Membership is not intended 



