1884:.] TRANSACTIONS. 5 



Yet the fact cannot be disguised that many faces have grown 

 nnfamiliar which used to brighten our Exhibitions. Anything 

 that tends to lessen zeal or alienate co-operation, in a Society 

 like this, is not alone to be regretted : it should be frowned 

 ■down ! That discord has crawled in among us ; for she only 

 crawls, never walking erect ; is too painfully obvious to need 

 mention. Whether those who have been successful in projecting 

 and carrying out a certain definite line of policy ; essential in 

 their judgment to the continued vigor and vitality of the Society ; 

 have shown themselves intolerant and proscriptive, is not for 

 jour Secretary to determine. Any such error, — of sentiment or 

 action, — is capable of amendment, and sliould be summarily 

 redressed. Nor is it for him to denounce a spirit of chronic 

 carping and cavil, which relucts at every decision bj' competent 

 judges and revolts at the ver}'^ deliberate and settled policy of the 

 Society itself . For tliat has become its policy, for a year at 

 least, after it is once discussed and adopted. If a majority can- 

 not rule, no option is left but anarchy. Cabal nor clique should 

 have place in our councils, nor influence upon our action. Res 

 ■adjudicata est ! for the twelve months ensuing. 



Your Secretary will not presume that lie has himself escaped 

 the suspicion of partiality, from some who, knowing him imper- 

 fectly, can form but an inadequate judgment of his motives. He 

 has striven honestly to avoid a blind partisanship. If, when 

 *' the heathen were raging furiously ", — it was found necessary 

 by the Apostle to the Gentiles to be " made all things to all 

 men, that he might by all means save some " ; how indispensable 

 has it been that some one should endeavor to preserve a clear 

 head and an unruffled demeanor, in this latter clash of opinion 

 and assumed variance of interest. It can matter but little to 

 him, during the brief period that he may continue in your service, 

 into what course your action may be directed or perverted. But 

 he has seen this Society in its infancy ; he has watched its steps 

 grow stronger and more self-reliant until now when, in the full 

 maturity of its powers and resources it should aim at nor content 

 itself with nothing less than a perfect development, that is 

 clearly within its reach : to find it riven into sections ! divided 

 into jealous coteries which, if not at the sword's point, at least 



