1865.] secretary's report. 29 



peaches out of a half bushel which he had cultivated with his wonted industry 

 and watched with unusual hope. 



Ought a Society, strong as is this, to suffer a longer continuance of such 

 things, without at least attempting a remedy ? We are often, and wisely, exhorted 

 to plant for posterity : but at least let posterity and not our contemporaries 

 gather the fruit of our labors. 



IN MEMOIIIAM. 



In concluding this report, which must have exhausted your patience and time 

 in somewhat unequal proportion, the inexorable fate of antiquity, — the sub- 

 lime HOPE of Christian revelation, — compel us, not reluctant, to linger yet 

 awhile in view of the faded, but indestructible chaplets of the past. One of our 

 original members,* — a founder of this Society, — its first Pi-esident, — who watch- 

 ed over its infancy, as he had so often and so tenderly done in more private rela- 

 tions, sleeps the sleep of the just, and the falling leaves of the forest softly be- 

 strew his grave. For four (4) successive yeai-s were you indebted to his faith- 

 ful and vigilant supervision. The residence of your Secretary, in a distant 

 portion of the republic, precluded his personal observation of that couscientious 

 devotion, so characteristic of our late deceased associate in everything which he 

 undertook, to the objects of this association. His biography should, as it doubt- 

 less will, do him justice in this respect, as in all others. But your Secretary 

 can bear individual and willing testimony to the interest that he ever manifested 

 in the prosperity of this corporation, since his own accession to the office with 

 which he has for years been honored ; and to his frequent inquiries after its 

 welfare, in minute particulars that might easily be supposed to have escaped the 

 failing memory of one, whose years far exceeded the limits of the Psalmist, and 

 whose active participation in the direction of our affairs terminated almost a 

 quarter of a century ago, While our " Transactions" were in course of publi- 

 cation, he repeatedly expressed regret that the sequence was ever interrupted : 

 and also his desire to inspect the new issue, remarking that, apart from his in- 

 terest in the subject matter, he should be influenced materially, by the appear- 

 ance and style of the volume, in undertaking, what he had never left out of 

 sight, — the printing of a catalogue of that library which ewes its origin to him, 

 and by which the recollection of his name and noble benefaction will be forever 

 perpetuated. But in the language of the old French proverb — 



L' Homme propose, main Dieu dispose ;" — 

 our poor human intentions do not always accord with the will of God. 



Other and abler pens will do him completer justice. Yet a single trait has 

 been recalled, so characteristic of that modesty which was not less his personal 

 than professional illustration, that it merits to be recited in this connection ; 

 especially as it occurred during the term of his official relation to our Society. 



One of his nearest relatives states that the duties of a presiding officer were 

 so repugnant to him ; that he was so diffident of public expression, aHhough 



* The late Dr. John Green. 



