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meetings throughout the academic year. "You know, Dodge," 

 he said, "we have been holding these monthly meetings now for 

 over forty years." The way he used the personal pronouns "we" 

 and "our" impressed me very much, as though he had a great per- 

 sonal interest in the club and was probably one of the leaders. In 

 any event, he must have had some influence because a few weeks 

 later I was proud to learn that I had been elected a member of this 

 noted club. Anyone should be proud to belong to a Society with 

 such a wide international reputation because of the contributions 

 made by its members to our knowledge of plant life. 



It would be interesting if Dr. Moldenke who is such an en- 

 thusiast for details, or Dr. Barnhart, who loves to deal with things 

 bibliographic, would prepare a bibliography of all the publications 

 put out by all of the members of the Torrey Botanical Club for the 

 past seventy years. By comparing this bibliography with a similar 

 one covering the great Botanical Societies of Europe, we might 

 discover a new superlative which we could use in telling our young 

 people about the Torrey Club. 



Since first becoming a member of this Organization, thirty 

 years ago, I have joined quite a number of botanical societies and 

 scientific organizations of one kind or another as many of you here 

 have also done. I am sure, though, that we all feel that the Torrey 

 Club is our owm Club, our own organization, a sort of family affair, 

 and as such, we owe it a certain special loyalty. For example, loyalty 

 to support its publications not only financially but also scientifically, 

 which is perhaps more important. It might be well if members of 

 the Club after they have finished a piece of research and have 

 written up a manuscript for publication, if it is one about which 

 the author could say to himself, "This is one of my most important 

 contributions to botany," it might be the loyal thing to send the 

 manuscript to the editor of the Torrey Club. 



It is unnecessary to say that I appreciate very much your elect- 

 ing me to be your presiding officer for the coming year. In accepting 

 the honor of the office I also accept the obligations and duties of 

 the office especially to work with the Council and other officers and 

 members to the end that the affairs of the Club shall be administered 

 in such a way that its high standard and prestige shall at least not 

 be lowered. Thank you again. 



