24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
‘Our Cash Account is still very satisfactory. Our actual receipts, with 
the balance from last year, have been £9 6s. 1ld., and £1 6s. Od. in 
addition is still due—while our outgoings amount to £5 14s. 8}d.—thus 
showing a balance in our fayour of £5 7s. 24d. The number of members 
is still steadily increasing. 
‘Tt will be of interest to many of our members to Jearn that our former 
Secretary, Mr. Ullyett, has at length succeeded in establishing a Natural 
History Society at Folkestone, which promises to become as flourishing as 
our own. Our best wishes for his success will, I am sure, be given. 
“Our Fourth Summer Session has now opened upon us—shall we not 
make better use of it than we have done of its predecessors? Shall we, who, 
by becoming members of this Society, have pledged ourselves to its 
interests, do nothing to advance those interests? In the great vineyard 
of Nature none may stand all the day idle, It is not necessary that we 
should go far abroad in our search for objects of study—nor that. we should 
attempt more than we can accomplish, and then fall back because we 
cannot at once master even the alphabet of our science. One family of 
plants—one group of insects, or shells, will occupy us fully for this season, 
and give us more to do than we can now evenexpect. We are told by some 
who speak in ignorance of our study, that these scientific pursuits lead 
to infidelity. Isthisso? Weknowitisnot. Every flower, every tree, 
every bird, every insect, every created object, helps to swell the great 
Benedicite, the mighty Alleluia, which goes up from the whole earth 
to its great Creator. 
“‘The more advance we make, the more plainly shall we hear the voice of 
Nature, speaking to us, and calling us onward—leading us from one object 
to another—pointing out greater and greater wonders—taking us step by 
step, as it were, and at each step urging us higher. Then we shall hear 
her inviting us, as in Longfellow’s beautiful poem, she inyited the great 
French naturalist— 
‘¢*¢ Come wander with me,’ she said, 
‘Into regions yet untrod, 
And read what is still unread 
In the manuscripts of Gop.’ 
And he wandered away and away, 
With Nature, the dear old nurse, 
Who sang to him night and day 
The rhymes of the universe. 
And whenever the way seemed long, 
Or his heart began to fail— 
She would sing a more wonderful song, 
Or tell a more marvellous tale.” 
At the conclusion, the Meeting proceeded to the election of the Officers 
and Committee for the ensuing year. 
T. Marshall, Esq., in a highly complimentary speech, proposed the re- 
election of the Rey. T. H. Browne as President of the Society, which being 
seconded by R. M. Bowstead, Esq., M.D., was carried by acclamation ; and 
was briefly acknowledged by Mr. Browne. 
John Parker, Esq., then more briefly, but in terms equally flattering, 
proposed the re-election of J. Britten, Esq., as Honorary Secretary. The 
Rey. J. Power, of Tylers Green, seconded the proposition, which was 
heartily adopted, and acknowledged. The Committee, T. Marshall, Esq., 
Dr. Bowstead, and F. Wheeler, Esq., were then, on the proposition of J. 
Parker, jun., Esq., and Mr. Butler, unanimously re-elected, A most cordial 
vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs, Edwards for their hearty welcome and en- 
tertainment of the Society followed, which was acknowledged by Mr. 
Edwards. Thanks to Mr. Ramsay for his able paper were given and 
acknowledged, which concluded the business of the Meeting. 
