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from his coming to the town been a warm and steadfast supporter 

 of the Chib. He had found dehght in being associated with 

 such gentlemen, in being able to fill a pubhc post of honour, 

 and in endeavouring to be the instrument of accomplishing 

 useful work, of diffusing the " fertilizing waters of intellectual 

 knowledge." He thanked the members for their forbearance at 

 a time of difficulty, when he succeeded in the Secretaryship, one 

 who was the main originator of the Club — Mr. W. Angelo 

 Waddington, whose ability and enthusiasm first gave the Club a 

 position in the town. He congratulated the Club upon possess- 

 ing as the present Secretary, Mr. Lloyd, whose abilities and 

 energies would be devoted to maintaining its interests. 



Mr. Grant then pointed out several matters in which he 

 should hke to see improvement. The membership might with 

 advantage be increased by the addition of many gentlemen in 

 the town. The average attendance at the meetings was not sat- 

 isfactory, and there was need for voluntary help in providing the 

 sessional programmes. He wished that members would realize 

 their responsibility, as this would widen the circle of contributors, 

 and give more spirit to the debates. Their Society had outlived 

 the average age of similar institutions, and had survived much 

 ridicule, derogatory criticism, and sinister prophecy. The policy 

 of its directors had not been to attempt the achievement of bril- 

 liant exploits in the fields of science, art and literature, but 

 rather to stimulate and diffuse a taste for letters and science, to 

 facihtate the interchange of ideas on these subjects, to ventilate 

 questions which affect the comfort and progress of the human 

 race. And in doing these, they were establishing a bond of 

 harmony between men of opposite opinions in religious and 

 political matters, and they were contributing, if only in a srnall 

 way, to the "general culture of human life, and the amehoration 

 of its somewhat hard conditions." The Club had done good ser- 

 vice in directing attention to sundry questions of local history 

 and antiquities ; and the publication of the Society's proceedings 

 shewed that its work was not of an ephemeral character. Mr. 

 Grant concluded by saying that the gift they had made to him 

 had a value in signifying that they strongly desired to see the 

 Club continue a prosperous career, and that they would heartily 

 second and encourage any efforts made to that end ; and he was 

 sure that cherishing the remembrance of its fourteen years of 

 pleasant and profitable work, they were sohcitous that the Club 

 should in the future assert itself by steady work and salutaiy 

 activities, and be maintained as an essential organisation in their 

 important town. 



Mr. Henry Nutter read an original composition recording, in 

 eulogistic terms, the labours and merits of the late Secretary. 

 Songs were given by the Eev. A. B. Edelstone and Mr. E, 



