14 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1891. 



when Baldwin* and Lincoln, Washburn and Earle, Conant 

 and Thomas, arose from their seats at the feet of Gamalielf to 

 develop the eyes and minds of a still younger generation. 

 For at that period of infantile weakness as it were, there was 

 no money in it ! None even of that despised silver, the ready 

 target for sneers fi'om Reckless who has wasted it ; or Witless, 

 who cannot get it ; but which so many of us, regardless of 

 political cant, would be very ready to accept as a precious 

 metal still. The founders of this Society cherished but one 

 aim and purpose, — Horticulture ! in its true meaning and 

 scope, — pure and simple. They earned, were frugal, saving, 

 and self-denying ; invested their savings wisely, and transmitted 

 to us this valuable estate into the enjoyment of which you now 

 again enter, after a season of prolonged expectancy, during 

 which renovation has been complete and thorough. From 

 foundation to coping ; from sill to rafter ; all has been tested. 

 Old things have passed away, pretty much everything becoQi- 

 ing new. If Faith is but the " substance of things hoped for, 

 the evidence of things not seen," what limit shall be put to our 

 belief in possible achievement who have all these things in 

 actual possession ; to whom so much of beauty and convenience 

 is fully disclosed? 



At your Annual Meeting, two years ago, as appears by the 

 record, it was Voted: on motion of Edward W. Lincoln, that 

 "the Finance Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized 

 in their discretion to cause the rear wall to the first story of 

 Florticultural Hall to be carried out so as to leave it flush with 

 the northerly line of the adjoining building." Also " Voted: 

 that the Finance Committee be further authorized to procure 

 plans and estimates for such alterations of the upper stories of 

 Horticultural Hall as shall provide for a banquet or supper 

 room, adequate to entertain a large company, without impair- 

 ing the beauty, symmetry, or light, of the Hall of Pomona." 



* Dii majores canamus. Christopher Columbus Baldwin, William Lincoln, 

 Emory Washburn, John Milton Earlo, Edwin Conant, and Benjamin Franklin 

 'Phonias; always students themselves, and tireless in the instruction of 

 others. 



t Dr. Oliver Fiske. 



