THE PKESIDENT'S ADDEESS. 



Gentlemen, 



The recurrence of another Annual Meeting imposes on 

 me the pleasant duty of saying a few words by way of retrospect 

 of the year's proceedings ; and, on yielding up the Presidency, 

 I beg to renew my thanks for the undeserved distinction you 

 have conferred upon me, to express my hope that during the last 

 two years the position of the Society has not deteriorated, to 

 repeat my ardent wish for the prosperity of our body, and to 

 declare my firm belief in its future. 



I had hoped that it would have fallen to my lot to announce 

 that our petition for the grant of a Eoyal Charter of Incorpora- 

 tion had received a gracious response. It is with regret that I 

 can say nothing more than that the petition is still under the 

 consideration of the Lords of the Council, who have not arrived 

 at any decision as to w^hat advice should be tendered to Her 

 Majesty on the subject. 



If the year 1884 has not been marked by any striking 

 incident, it has not been one of retrogression or stagnation. 

 If we have not advanced by leaps and bounds, our onward 

 progress is none the less sure for being gradual and regular. 

 Development is the order of the day, and even an incorporeal 

 entity like the Society cannot escape the universal law of 

 Evolution. 



From lower to higher, from simple to complete, 



This is the pathway of the Eternal Feet ; 



From earth to lichen, herb to flowering tree, 



From cell to creeping worm, from man to what shall be. 



This is the solemn lesson of ail time, 



This is the teaching of the voice sublime ; 



Eternal are the worlds, and all that them do fill ; 



Eternal is the march of the Creative AVill ; 



Eternal is the life of man, and sun, and star, 



Ay, even though they fade awhile, they are ; 



And though they pause from shining, speed for ever still. 



