ae Phe OLDE Ne wDDRESS 
FOR THE SESSION 1882-3. 
BY J. M. BUCHAN, M.A. 
[Read at the Opening Meeting, November 2nd, 1882.] 
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : 
In appearing before you at this, the first meeting of the Canadian 
Institute during the present season, in order to assist in inaugurating 
what I trust may be an important and interesting winter’s work, I 
desire in the first place to acknowledge the high honor which my 
fellow-members have conferred upon me in electing me to the presi- 
dency. I regret, indeed, that the duties which that honor imposes 
have not fallen into abler hands ; but in undertaking to attempt to 
perform them I rely upon the kind forbearance and active cooperation 
of all who have at heart the welfare of this old, important and 
useful institution. . 
The value of associations of the kind of the Canadian Institute is 
very often not recognized by the general public. Nor is this to be 
wondered at. Our work is from its very nature not likely to make 
much noise or attract much attention. Nevertheless we discharge a 
function, the importance of which will at once be conceded when it 
is stated. The Canadian Institute serves asa rallying point for culti- 
vators of all branches of knowledge, for original investigators, and 
for all who without themselves performing original work, or in any 
special sense cultivating knowledge, desire to afford every aid and 
encouragement possible to those that do. Here any one who has in 
any way enlarged the sphere of our knowledge will find some to 
uppreciate and applaud his efforts. We do not, however, confine 
ourselves to mere appreciation and applause ; as well as we can, we 
discuss and criticise ; and every year a certain number of papers are 
selected for publication in our transactions. These transactions are 
sent to other similar societies in exchange for their published pro- 
ceedings, and in this way our and their knowledge of what work is 
being done is kept up. We correspond in this way with 114 bodies 
in various parts of the civilized world. You will find on our tables 
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