1881.] TRANSACTIONS. 57 



we anticipated with the completest assurance protection and 

 shelter beneath its spreading branches or beside its massive 

 trunk ; it falls ! stricken at the root by something beyond our 

 calculation of probabilities — so inconceivably despicable is it — so 

 foul and loathsome ! The parallel comes home to us — Horticul- 

 turists. Yet, by whatever light it may be viewed, the lesson is 

 always the same. 



" Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." 



" In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not 

 thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall piosper, either this or 

 that, or whether they both shall be alike good." 



In the remoter centuries, thus spake the Preacher. For well 

 nigh Forty Years you have followed his instructions. As citi- 

 zens, — or associates of this Society, — what better can you do 

 than to adopt them as your guide through remaining life ? 



" Would it had struck me instead !" was the outcry of that son 

 of thunder* — our own Boanerges, — as tiie lightning from heaven 

 shivered the dying Oak before his very door. Did he not do it 

 with his might ? With his hand to the plougii, — when was he 

 known to turn back ? The inwrought convictions of himself, 

 and of men perhaps similar yet not actually like him; leavening 

 the whole lump; made it possible in this Republic to have a 

 President worth choosing. Without his active career, and that 

 of those his iirst tierce adversaries and subsequent disciples, it is 

 doubtful if we should have had, for many another dreary year, a 

 President worth lamenting. True and thorough : when his life- 

 work was done ; though he would never own it — possibly did 

 not see it; he became almost as devoted, in more placid days, 

 to the work which is so usefully prosecuted in these Halls. 

 Apt, — as diligent, to learn ; he was always cheerful to instruct. 

 Ready to advise, if solicited ; he had also the infinitely rarer 

 quality of being a patient listener. 



In these sere days of Autumn, this chaplet is laid upon his 

 fresh grave by one who seldom agreed with him in opinion 

 upon public affairs; but who had learned, amid the conflict and 



* Stephen Symonds Foster. 



