THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 



FOR THE SESSION 1882-3. 



BY J. M. BUCHAN, M. A. 



[Read at the Opening Meeting, November 2nd, 1882.] 

 Ladies and Gentlemen : 



In appearing before you at this, the first meeting of the Canadian 

 Institute during the present season, in order to assist in inaugurating 

 what I trust may be an important and interesting winter's work, I 

 desire in the first place to acknowledge the high honor which my 

 fellow-members have conferred upon me in electing me to the presi- 

 dency. I regret, indeed, that the duties which that honor imposes 

 have not fallen into abler hands ; but in undertaking to attempt to 

 perform them I rely upon the kind forbearance and active cooperation 

 of all who have at heart the welfare of this old, important and 

 useful institution. 



The value of associations of the kind of the Canadian Institute is 

 very often not recognized by the general public. Nor is this to be 

 wondered at. Our work is from its very nature not likely to make 

 much noise or attract much attention. Nevertheless we discharge a 

 function, the importance of which will at once be conceded when it 

 is stated. The Canadian Institute serves as a rallying point for culti- 

 vators of all branches of knowledge, for original investigators, and 

 for all who without themselves performing original work, or in any 

 special sense cultivating knowledge, desire to afford every aid and 

 encouragement possible to those that do. Here any one who has in 

 any way enlarged the sphere of our knowledge will find some to 

 appreciate and applaud his efforts. We do not, however, confine 

 ourselves to mere appreciation and applause ; as well as we can, we 

 discuss and criticise ; and every year a certain number of papers are 

 selected for publication in our transactions. These transactions are 

 sent to other similar societies in exchange for their published pro- 

 ceedings, and in this way our and their knowledge of what work is 

 being done is kept up. We correspond in this way with 114 bodies 

 in various parts of the civilized world. You will find on our tables 

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