lx PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May I904, 



at the College de la Paix, Namur. In 1870, however, his scientific 

 career was begun by his being sent to the Jesuit Training College 

 at the old abbey of Maria Laach, by the side of the Laacher See in 

 the Eifel, for the purpose of studying philosophy and the sciences. 

 Up to that time he had paid no attention to geology. Placed in 

 the midst of one of the old craters of that interesting volcanic- 

 region, this seminary was well fitted to kindle in any receptive 

 youth a desire to know something of the history of the earth. 

 When I visited it a few years before Eenard came thither, I was 

 astonished to find the equipment for teaching mineralogy, petro- 

 graphy, and geology so efficient. Herr Theodor Wolf, who has since 

 become widely known from his researches in Ecuador, was one of 

 the inspiring staff of teachers at the Abbey, until its suppression by 

 the Prussian Government, and it was doubtless largely by his 

 example and influence that Ilenard was drawn into geological 

 investigation. The young student of philosophy became an active 

 and eager member of the excursion-parties which were organized 

 at the Abbey for the exploration of the volcanoes of the surrounding 

 country. And there can be no doubt that it was these years at 

 Maria Laach which finally determined his bent into the domain of 

 petrography. 



A brief interruption of his studies was caused by the Franco- 

 German war, during which he retired to Belgium and became 

 superintendent in the College at Tournai. But returning to the 

 Laacher See, he continued his pursuits there, until in 1873 he took 

 a third year of philosophy and science at Louvain. The following 

 year, at the age of 30, he received the professorship of Chemistry and 

 Geology in the College of the Belgian Jesuits at Louvain. Mean- 

 Avhile his clerical training still continued. He studied theology as 

 as well as lectured on science, and in September 1877 was ordained 

 a priest. About the same time, his scientific abilities were recog- 

 nized by his being appointed one of the Curators of the Royal 

 Natural History Museum. Brussels: but though he came to reside 

 in the capital, he continued to give his lectures at Louvain until 

 1882, when he relinquished them and devoted himself to his official 

 work in the Museum. There he remained until, when the Chair of 

 Geology at the University of Ghent became vacant in 1888, he 

 received that appointment, and held it up to the time of his death. 



It is now nearly thirty years since Benard began to publish the 

 results of his scientific investigations. His first essay dealt with the 

 plutonic rocks of his own Ardennes. In association with the late 



