Bn BWemoriam. 
JOHN MAW KIRK, F.R.M.S., 
Born NovEMBER 7, 1850; DIED OCTOBER 31ST, 1894. 
Tue subject of the following sketch, whose death at the compa- 
ratively early age of forty-four has caused a deep and wide-spread 
feeling of regret, was the eldest son of Mr. Thos. Kirk, of Doncaster, 
who for many years carried on a successful business in the High 
_ Street. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Alderman 
John Maw, who was Mayor of Doncaster in 1852. Mr. Kirk, Sen., 
who was endowed with considerable intellectual powers, was also 
a man of somewhat original character, and in many respects his. 
son resembled him. 
At an early age Mr. J. M. Kirk evinced a decided taste for music, 
which led to his becoming connected with the choir of the Doncaster 
Parish Church, and this connection, as choir-boy, chorister, and choir- 
master, Continued without intermission until his death. Music was 
with him the chief hobby of his life, and that in which he most 
excelled. For many years no amateur musical entertainment in 
Doncaster and neighbourhood was considered complete without him. 
In addition to being leader of the Parish Church Choir, he was 
director of the Doncaster Musical Society and of the Doncaster 
Orchestral Society; and these, under his fostering care and con- 
duction, gave from time to time some very excellent concerts, which 
deservedly met with a large share of appreciation. 
Although so closely identified with music, he took a deep interest 
in various branches of natural history, and this eventually led him 
to seek the acquaintance of the writer and to become associated with 
him and a mutual friend in discussing the formation of a micros- 
copical society for Doncaster. At that time, the early part of 1880, 
there was no scientific society in the town. The Philosophical 
Society had passed out of existence some years before, and no effort 
had se psquie to resuscitate it. In response to a circular signed by 
J. M. , M. H. Stiles, Fred Milner, and Geo. Winter, a meeting 
was et and the Doncaster Microscopical Society was started 
more successfully than the promoters had expected. 
Mr. Kirk was new to microscopy, but he threw himself into the 
work with great ardour, and being possessed of natural gifts of a high 
order, soon became recognised as an earnest and careful observer. 
He was ever ready with a paper, and scarcely a session passed during 
his connection with the society in which his name did not appear in 
the programme. 
April 18¢5. 
