SESSION 1906-7. 
Sere WY SY Se 
Address given by the President, 
WALTER ALARRISON, D2M:D.,:L.D.S., 
At the Conversazione held at the Royal Pavilion, Oct. 18th, 19006. 
Ghe Communication of Chought. 
Ladies and Gentlemen,— 
In thanking you for the honour you have conferred on me 
by electing me to the position of President of this Society, 
founded more than half-a-century ago, I recognise how difficult 
it will be to follow in the steps of such a line of talented men as 
have preceded me. My lot is especially hard as my immediate 
predecessor, Mr. Henry Davey, was such an able and genial 
gentleman—one of the best of those who have occupied the 
presidentia] chair—that by the unanimous choice of the members 
he was elected for a second year, the longest period that the rules 
of our Society allow. 
I have to express one regret when I look round the room, 
that is, how few young people join our Society. If during my 
year I can persuade our younger folk to become associates at 
least, I shall feel that I have done something, not only for the 
Society but for the community at large, as I can confidently 
affirm that no one can attend our lectures and converse with the 
members without learning much about many things. 
I have re-introduced in a small way the Conversazione, 
which used to be an annual one; I hope also to re-establish the 
annual Banquet, and I shall ask your sapport in making a whole 
day excursion in the summer of next year. The syllabus of our 
lectures will, I am sure, commend itself to you as being of the 
same high standard as in past years ; and I may add we hope to 
supplement the monthly lectures by a monthly visit to some 
place of interest, on the lines started by Mr. Davey. 
With these prefatory remarks I will now direct your atten- 
tion for a few minutes to another subject— 
‘‘And the dove came unto him in the evening, and lo, in 
her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off. So Noah knew 
that the waters were abated. . . .” 
