15 



It is a special feature in the programme of the Association, that the 

 presence of ladies at the meetings is desired. 



Although the Association is termed the " Lewisham and Blackheath 

 Scientific Association," it is not intended that it shall be confined in its 

 operations to Lewisham and Blackheath. but that it shall include the neigh ■ 

 bourhood generally. 



Clearly our object was to found a mutual improvcnunt society, 

 •and of set purjiose Ave termed ourselves an Association — not a 

 Society — in order that it might not be thought that our proceedings 

 were to be modelled on the lines of a Scientific Society. In a 

 neighbourliood like ours, so near to the head-quarters of all the 

 jj;reat incorporated learned bodies of tlie kingdom, a ScientiKc 

 Society must of necessity be a pretence, and its proper existence 

 impossible. 



To the continued useful existence of a mutual improvement 

 association two tilings are essential : improvers and tlio.se willing to 

 lie imin-oved. Xo rigid division of the two classes of members is 

 possible, however, as frequently an interchange of relative positions 

 must ensue in these dajs of extended knowledge. Our " Pi-o- 

 -ceedings " contain the record of the doings of the one class, and a 

 list of subjects brought under the notice of the members will l)c 

 interesting at this stage of my address, Let me give sucli a list: — 



1879. 



March 5th.— The Electric Light : ISlr. J. W. Waghom, Royal Naval College, 



Greenwich. Member. 

 April 1st. — .Starch : its formation and functions in plant life : Dr. Armstrong. 



Member. 

 May 6th. — Weather Forecasting : Mr. J. Knox Laughton, Mathematical and 



Xaval Instructor, R.N.C., Greenwich. Member. 

 ■October 7th. —Various forms of telephone : Mr. A. Haddon, R.N.C., Greenwich. 



Member. 

 November 4th.— Prehistoric man : Mr. F. W. Rudler, Curator of the Museum 



of Practical Geology. Non-member. 

 December 2nd. The Steam Engine : Mr. Yeo, R.X.C., Greenwich. Member. 

 Tivo Excursions took place, one to Keston Common and the Source of the 



Ravensboume on June 21st ; the second to the British Museum, on 



October 18th, when Professor Owen delivered an address on some of 



th'' Fossil Animals in the Museum. 

 The first jjresident of the Association, Mr. E. W. Brabrook, delivered an 

 (Id ess at th close of his year of office on January 2nd, 18S0. 



