History of the Society. 33 



October 12th, 1906. The fee for Life Membership was in- 

 creased from £,2 2s to p£'5, but these fees do not seem to have 

 been regarded as capital. Indeed, from an examination of the 

 accounts, they appear until 1907 to have been gaily regarded 

 as income; surely an improper procedure. In September, 

 1906, the Society received a bequest of certain books and 

 portraits, as well as ;^i5o, from J. G. Hamilton Starke. " to 

 be invested, and the free interest derived therefrom to be 

 applied in promoting the objects and general welfare of the 

 Society." Some of you will remember that it has recently 

 been decided that many of our rules require some slight modi- 

 fications, and it is hoped that these will be shortly considered. 

 It may be remarked that the Transactions for the session, 

 occupying two hundred and fifty-four pages, were published 

 in 1907. Notable papers were contributed by James Barbour, 

 Robert Service, and T. R. Henderson. 



Session 1906-1907. (Vol. XIX.) [Vol. XXVIII.] 



The Transactions for this period appeared in 1908, 

 forming a volume of two hundred and fifteen pages, and con- 

 taining valuable papers, quite up to the usual standard of 

 excellence, of which perhaps I may specially mention those of 

 Messrs J. W. Whitelaw and William Dickie. 



Session 1907-1908. (N.S. Vol. XX.) [Vol. XXIX.] 



A very similar volume appeared in 1909 as the chronicle 

 of the Society's doings for this period. Particularly valuable 

 contributions were those of Dr J. King Hewison, Rev. S. 

 Dunlop, and James Barbour. 



Session 1908-1909. (N.S. Vol. XXI.) [Vol. XXX.] 



The value of the Transactions of this session is enhanced 

 by an alphabetical subject-index. This is an improvement 

 which it is to be hoped will always be maintained. It is only 

 fair to state that its compilation was the idea, as well as the 

 work, of our present Honorary Secretary, Mr George W. 

 Shirley, who succeeded Mr Arnott in that capacity on October 

 2 1 St, 1910. Valuable papers by Mr Douglas Crichton, Rev. 

 W. M'Millan, Rev, W. M'Dowall, and James Barbour are to 



