JOURNAL AND PROGEEDINGS. 27 
for at the best they are only hints, let us turn our attention for a few 
minutes to the study of Nature and Science, which our Association 
claims as such an especial object. On the value of such a study, I 
think I dwelt sufficiently in my address of a year ago, but while I 
have dwelt at such length on the intimate association of our literature 
and art with our inmost natures, we cannot lose sight of the fact that 
man, when he made his first hieroglyphics from objects presented 
to him in Nature, was making his first studies in natural history. So 
also the fact that man banished from Eden had to live by the sweat 
of his brow, would scon cause him to study the reason or science of 
those natural processes of growth peculiar to the animals and plants 
upon which he was dependent for food. Nor should we lose sight 
of the fact that, in the progress of Literarure and Art, one of the great 
features of the thought of this century is the attention paid to Nature 
and its various phrases. We must also bear in mind, that while there 
is such a need for Literature and Art, we are to obtain it in all direc- 
tions and should ever have our ears and eyes ready to receive the 
best from every source, so that we can say with Milton, ‘* Whichever 
thing we see or hear sitting, walking, travelling or conversing, may 
be fitly called our book.’ We should also remember when consider- 
ing the Architectural side of our history the very apt lines of 
Longfellow, which are so particularly encouraging to those who may 
fancy that their opportunities of achieving great results are so very 
limited : . 
‘*All are architects of Fate, 
Working in these walls of Time; 
Some with massive deeds and great, 
Some with ornaments of rhyme. 
Nothing useless is, or low; 
Each thing in its place is best; 
And what seems but idle show 
Strengthens and supports the rest.” 
As regards the work that we as an Association have done, our 
various sections have not been idle, and while our Geological and 
Biological workers have taught us much about the Geology, Fauna 
and Flora of this neighbourhood, equally good work has been done 
‘by the Camera section. The work of this section is particularly de- 
‘Serving of commendation, because, apart from the mere pleasure of 
