52 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



racnts have been preserved and published in the Society's trans- 

 actions, forming an instructive and material contribution on its 

 part to horticultural literature. 



But after all has been said of the work accomplished and the 

 agencies employed, it is to the men this Society has been for- 

 tunate enough to have upon its rolls of membership that it owes 

 its splendid success. 



Governors of the Commonwealth, Judges of the Courts, men 

 eminent in public and professional life, have been active mem- 

 bers. The elite of the City and County as well as its brawn and 

 muscle, have lent it their friendly aid, and have not scorned to sit 

 in its councils. 



But especially is it beholden to that devoted band of early 

 members who supported the tottering steps of its infancy and 

 stood by it through good and through evil report, until it reached 

 maturer years : Earle, Colton, Jaques, that most noble triumvi- 

 rate, high priests of that aesthetic shrine at which we worship ; 

 Paine, Haven, Harris, the Lincolns, Salisbury, Butman, Ripley — 

 how the list might be swelled of the honored dead, long gone 

 before, whose names within these walls are household words — 

 who with an enthusiasm never dimmed, with a courage that never 

 faltered, by word and deed, by financial aid, by wise counsel, by 

 arduous and unrequited service have helped forward this great 

 enterprise. 



"They rest from their labors but their works do follow them." 



We the living, who now fill their places reap what they have 

 sown. 



With tliese elegant Halls, with yonder choice library, with an 

 assured and ample income upon a permanent foundation, with 

 a membership united and fraternal, what forbids our saying 

 with the Psalmist — " The lines have fallen to us in pleasant 

 places ; yea we have a goodly heritage." 



But fellow-members let us not forget, that with this inherit- 

 ance come added duties and an increased responsibility, " To 

 whom much is given of them will mucli be required." Time 

 has brought us changed conditions. Our work must run in 

 different channels than of yore, but for the same ardor, the same 



