140 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



leading pomologists of Europe, to whom his labors in that science 

 in this country had made his name familiar. 



In January, 1868, Mr. Wilder succeeded the late Hon. John A. 

 Andrew as President of the Massachusetts Historic Genealogical 

 Society. His election was unanimous, and he has been re-elected 

 every year since. The funds for the purchase of the premises on 

 Somerset Street were secured by his personal effort. At each annual 

 meeting he had delivered an interesting address, and in view of his 

 death so soon after the last was delivered, we cannot refrain from 

 quoting the following signiflcant paragraph therefrom : 



"Human life is changing and transitory' ! A few more days, a few 

 more months, and this tired brain and this languid tongue will have 

 cast otf their threadbare, worn-out covering ; but the spirit shall con- 

 tinue to praise God for His wonderful works in this AVestern World, 

 and the blessings which have (lowed from the influence of New Eng- 

 land character. We shall pass away, and the dust of past and future 

 generations shall be commingled with ours in one common grave. 

 But more and more appreciated for the work it has done and is do- 

 ing, so that the record of our own New England and its families may 

 be perpetuated with historic continuity while the Anglo-Saxon race 

 shall have a place in the annals of time." 



INTERESTING EVENTS. 



On September 22d, 1877, Col. Wilder comi)leted the 80th year of 

 his life, and the event was made one of very pleasant moment by his 

 many friends. A banquet was given at the Parker House, ex- Alder- 

 man Chas. H. Breck presiding, and many prominent gentlemen hon- 

 oring the guest by their presence Col. Wilder made a speech full 

 of reminiscence, and was followed by Hon. Charles L. Flint, Charles 

 M. Hover, P^s(i., Rev. J. H. Means, and a number of others. In 

 1883 a banquet was given in honor of his eighty- fifth birthday, at 

 which a number of ex-Governors of New P^ngland States were pres- 

 ent, and in 188G his eighty-eighth birthday was celebrated by a 

 dinner. 



WRITINGS. 



We have already stated that Col. Wilder has been an industrious 

 writer. From 1835 to the time of his death he published more than 

 sixty pamphlets, mostlj' addresses which he had delivered on agri- 

 cultural, horticultural, pomological or historical subjects. 



