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20 First Annual Report 



,"There should also be a treatise 'How the farmer can conform his work 

 so as to- utilize his lands to the very best advantage and at the same time 

 yield large amounts of honey.' " 



Following the paper were continued discussions on the subject covered 

 by the paper, till all the members present had given and received ideas in- 

 numerable, as bee-keepers always do when they convene. 



On motion adjourned sine~di^. 



}as. a. Stone, P. J. England, 



Secretary. President. 



Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association met in the Senate judiciary room 

 of the State House at 10 o'clock a.m., December 16, 1891, for a two days' 

 session. ' 



Called to order by the President, P. J. England. 



The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Johnson, of the 

 Second Presbyterian church, city. He thanked the Lord for His goodness 

 in the past, invoked the Divine blessing upon the association and its mem- 

 bers in their pursuit of honey production ; thanked Him for His goodness in 

 giving us the little bee, and prayed that we might all learn lessons and habits 

 of industry from it. 



Following the prayer was the welcome address by Geo. F. Robbins, of 

 Mechanicsburg, as follows : 



"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' 

 Association — I hoped to derive inspiration from a larger audience. I am 

 like Melancthon, pots or empty chairs are not heads. When I do address 

 an audience at all I like to talk to a full house. I especially miss quite a 

 number from other parts of the State whom I hoped to welcome. 



"I am here in behalf of the Capitol Bee-Keepers' Association to bid you 

 an earnest, cordial welcome to Springfield. And it is not with us a mere 

 matter of form or courtesy. We welcome you because we are glad to have 

 you. We are a specially favored class just now. Ever since last February 

 we have been looking forward with constantly heightening anticipation to 

 this day when we should meet with so many of the lights ot bee culture, and, 

 although some of them are missing, yet still we have Mrs. Harrison, our big 

 member of the Legislature, and others whom we are glad to have with us. 



"If we were to analyze our feelingg on this occasion we might have to 

 confess that our pleasure is largely the outgrowth of a very human frailly we 

 sometimes call toadyism — a sort of pride and vanity in being able to asso- 

 ciate with those whom we fancy to be a little bigger or higher up in the 

 world than ourselves — to meet them on a level, so to speak . 



"In 1S60 my father had business in this city one day and chanced to meet 

 Abraham Lincoln, walked a few blocks with him and engaged him in con- 



