HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 47 



States Agricultural Society for several years ; he is 

 senior member of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 and holds many other offices of trust and honor; 

 yet he continues to remain one of the main stays of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, a constant 

 attendant at its meetings, and an earnest and active 

 guardian of its concerns. I stand now in the pres- 

 ence of many members of that Society, and I remem- 

 ber the important and valuable services of Dearborn 

 and Lowell, of Bigelow, Hunnewell, the Hoveys, 

 the Brecks, the Mannings, Whitmore, Strong, Hyde, 

 Parkman, Gray, and many others ; yet I think the 

 members of the Society will unanimously concur 

 with me in the opinion that no one has been a more 

 prominent friend of this institution, no one has done 

 more, if so much, for the cause of horticulture in this 

 community, by his tongue, his pen, and his various 

 labors, as the honored guest of this evening. 



Mr. Chairman, I cannot but allude to the benevo- 

 lence and kindness of heart of our venerable friend, 

 and the reliijious element which is at the foun- 

 dation of his character. Notwithstanding the emi- 

 nent positions he has occupied, notwithstanding the 

 high esteem and respect his life has commanded, and 

 though social elevation is not infrequently attended 

 with hauteur and reserve, separating apparently the 

 more distinguished from those less highly favored, 

 yet our friend always shows himself the simple Chris- 



