PBESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 



The adoption of the Report was moved by the Hon. A. 

 Norton, M.L.C., seconded by Mr. A. J. Turner, and carried. 



The Election of Officers for the year 1902 then took place, 

 with the following result : — President, Dr. John Thomson ; 

 Vice-Presylent,!)!-. W. V^\ R. Love; Hon. Treasure/, Hon. A. 

 Norton, M.L.C. ; Hon. Secretar;/, J. F. Bailey; Hon. Librarian, 

 R. Illidge ; MemherK of Council, A. G. Jackson, C. J. Pound, J. 

 Shirley, B.Sc. ; J. W. Sutton, and F. Whitteron ; Hon. Auditor^ 

 A. J. Turner. 



The retiring President (Mr. W. J. Byram) then delivered 

 an address, entitled ♦' Recent Aspect of the Cell Theory." 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



Recent Aspect of the Cell Theory. 

 The history of science presents numerous instances of 

 theories which have, for the time being, appeared to receive 

 confirmation from observed facts, and to afford a satisfactory 

 explanation of the phenomena involved, and which yet, on 

 further research and fuller scrutiny, are found to be but half- 

 truths, or generalisations based upon data too restricted in their 

 scope. This resting for the time being upon defective induc- 

 tions in order to obtain a working hypothesis, and by recourse 

 to repeated experiment and observation, to draw ever nearer the 

 truth, is indeed the essence of the scientific method. A discip- 

 lined imagination has been as large a factor in the progress of 

 science as the most laborious research, or the most persistent 

 and patient observation, but the mind which has become imbued 

 with the scientific method is scientific even in its imaginings, 

 and holds all its inferences tentatively, and ready on every oppor- 

 tunity to subject them to the most rigorous criticism and to the 

 test of actual experience. This is the method which is the gate- 

 way to truth, and some of its most beautiful applications are 

 found in the phases through which the cell theory has passed 

 since it was first vaguely foreshadowed at the close of the seven- 

 teenth century, and was definitely promulgated in 1838, by the 

 German biologist Schleiden. The conception of this theory^ 

 and of evolution, has created the science of biology in its modern 

 sense, and has changed the whole attitude of thought. It can- 

 not, therefore, be otherwise than of the deepest moment ta 

 realise what this conception was, how it has been modified by 

 the results of subsequent research, and to what conclusion the 

 most recent views are tending. The cell theory is simply the 



