PUBLIC WINTER MEETING OF THE BOARD, 



AT NORTHAMPTON. 



The annual public winter meeting of the Board for lectures 

 and discussions was held in Northampton, on Tuesday, 

 Wednesday and Thursday, December 3, 4 and 5. The 

 meetings the lirst two days were held in Masonic Hall, and 

 on Wednesday evening and on Thursday in City Hall. Not- 

 withstanding a somewhat severe snow storm on Tuesday, 

 causing great inconvenience in travel, the attendance was 

 very gratifying, and the meeting on Thursday was one of 

 the largest in the recent history of the Board. 



Secretary Stockwell called the gathering to order at 10.30 

 o'clock a.m., and said : I have the very pleasant duty of 

 calling upon the past secretary, the first vice-president of 

 the Board, Hon. Wm. R. Sessions, to preside at these meet- 



ings. 



The Chair. As is customary in these meetings, I will 

 call upon the Rev. Mr. McMillan, pastor of the Edwards 

 Church, to invoke the Divine blessing. 



Prayer bv Dr. McMillan. 



The Chair. The Board has come to this beautiful city in 

 this productive valley for its winter meeting, and our pro- 

 gramme tells us that the mayor of the city is ready to wel- 

 come us here. I therefore call upon His Honor Mayor 

 Watson. 



Mayor Watson. It gives me great pleasure, in behalf of 

 the citizens of Northampton, to give to you a cordial wel- 

 come to the Meadow City, the Pearl of the Connecticut 

 valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. It 

 always gives me pleasure to dwell upon and enlarge upon 

 the beauties of this valley. I have seen grander, more mag- 

 nificent, more picturesque, more awe-inspiring valleys, but 

 the Connecticut, for quiet beauty, excels them all. Its 



