152 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



he was prominent in the advocacy of the best education, 

 the freest education based upon public duty and the pub- 

 lic good. 



He was also enrolled as a member of the Essex Institute, 

 and from that time to the close of his life he manifested a 

 deep interest in its prosperity ; he believed in its objects, 

 he recognized the good it had done and its powers for ac- 

 complishing greater good in the!future, and to this end he 

 gave freely of his time and versatile talents. The records 

 of the Institute bear abundant testimony to the value of his 

 membership. From time to time he favored the Institute 

 with addresses and lectures. Among the interesting contri- 

 butions on these occasions was a learned paper "On the be- 

 ginnings and growth of language." It is noteworthy that 

 his first address was upon the Bible. He profoundly be- 

 lieved in the Bible, had no fear of true science, believing 

 that all truth was of God. He recognized no antagonism 

 between true science and true religion. This was at a field 

 meeting held in Essex on Wednesday, July 1, 1868, an old 

 Genevan Bible having been exhibited at the afternoon ses- 

 sion, by Hon. David Choate. When called upon by the 

 chair, he took for his theme this old volume,* giving some 

 interesting facts respecting the history of the different edi- 

 tions and spoke of the clear and exquisite printing which 

 these books reveal, many of them not being surpassed by the 

 best printing of the present day. This edition was printed 

 at Geneva for the use of the English exiles who took refuge 

 there. 



Soon after the death of Prof. Louis Agassiz, Dr. At- 

 wood paid a beautiful tribute to the character and achiev- 

 ments of that distinguished scientist at a meeting held on 

 Monday, Dec. 15, 1873. He was a member of the com- 



*Sce Proceed. Essex Institute, VOL. vi, p. 31. 



