6o BANQUET TO THE 



narrow for our needs ; and our venerable and enter- 

 prising President has already obtained some impor- 

 tant pledges for its proper enlargement. 



In Colonel Wilder's relation to all this growth, I do 

 not mean to say that he has not had able, earnest, 

 efficient, and responsive co-workers. But I do mean 

 to say, that, by his annual addresses and appeals, 

 unfolding in numberless ways his appreciation of the 

 great value and importance of family and local his- 

 tory, and by his assiduous and unremitting labors, 

 and especially by the potency of his magnetic power 

 over the minds of other men, he has done much to 

 inspire not only the members of the Society, but the 

 great body of our New England population, with a 

 just love and interest in this line of study, and they 

 have consequently been ready and happy to furnish 

 the means and facilities for carrying on these impor- 

 tant investigations. 



I began, Mr. President, and Gentlemen, by pointing 

 out some of the reasons which induced us to ask our 

 distinguished guest to accept the Presidency of the 

 New England Historic Genealogical Society; and 

 now I venture to predict that he will continue to be 

 the President of that institution by the unanimous 

 suffrage of its members, so long as Providence 

 lengthens out his days, and so long as he is willing 

 to hold the important trust. 



