1881.] TRANSACTIONS. 83 



liarly appropriate for such disquisitions, were Schools the proper 

 place for developing " character." " Suffer little children to 

 come unto me !" at iifteen cents each. 



Yet again, — at Jeru ? — salera "Church " a Concert is advertised 

 of " Mendelssohn Four Part Songs," " with Cornet and Yiolin 

 Solos, Songs, Duets, and Readings. Tickets 25 cents." It is 

 unquestionably according to the canons to " make a joyful noise 

 unto the Lord !" but that the "noise" should be in four parts 

 argues a division savoring of dissonance, and warrants a doubt 

 as to the share that the Lord may have in it : — more especially 

 when it " is set to the tune of twenty-five cents ! But — the 

 while, — the Assessors, like Baal — were deaf ! or had gone to 

 Oak Bluff's ! and, not being at hand, could not detect the 

 " appropriation to purposes other than religious worship." 



Once more we are among the Puritans ; but, on this occasion, 

 in a " Vestry ;" and the " religious worship " is restricted within 

 the somewhat contracted outlines of " English Literature and 

 History." The theme is more dignified and the price is varied, — 

 to correspond. For "Three Dollars"! you can spend your 

 evenings at the Mermaid, with Shakespeare and Ben Jonson; 

 sip at the wells of English, — pretty thoroughly defiled by the 

 minor play-wrights of the Elizabethan age ; or go on a jaunt 

 with Chaucer's pilgrims. Waiving inquiry into the present 

 validity of the Apostolic injunction : — " Let Woman keep silence 

 in the churches !" it may not be impertinent to ask wliether she 

 should hasten to uplift her voice in a recital of the Wife of 

 Bath's Tale ! 



And, still ! no " portion of such house " not even that 

 " vestry," is " taxed, at the value thereof, to the owners." 



In the opinion of your Secretary^ you are imperatively 

 required, by every dictate of reason, — every sentiment of self- 

 respect, to recover the sums that have been unjustly extorted 

 from you. Acquiescence in such exactions may not lead to 

 greater wrong : but it would be an admission, on your part, 

 that Horticulture is not a " Science "; or that you are not 

 " advancing " it,— the " purpose " for which you were chartered. 

 And, — if you are not fulfilling the objects of your organization ; 



