1903-1904.] 191 



modestly hope that we and our works may be regarded as 

 worthy of a passing thought in forty years to come. 



For this purpose I have spent many a pleasant hour going 

 through the minute books of the Club, which record so much 

 and mention so many names ; and the fascination is not lessened 

 when I consider how well known they are, and how long 

 remembered many of them will be. Some have passed away 

 to the dream-like regions of the Hereafter, some still remain 

 with us, veterans in years and labours, and how solid and 

 permanent are the works that remain behind. And the life 

 is not misspent that leaves a valued work, even if only a small 

 one, behind it. All names are not written on the high places 

 of the earth where the world at large can see them; but great 

 workers are ever remembered with pride and affection by great 

 workers, and this is often their sole reward. We often hear 

 the pioneer scoffed at, but we estimate such scoffing as the 

 product of a little mind, paying unconscious homage to a 

 greater. 



I do not desire to record a long series of scientific investi- 

 gations, but to tell in a simple conversational manner the 

 story of the Club from its cradle to its manhood — to recall 

 the names of some of those whose labours built up the Club 

 and created its sphere of influence, and to condense the 

 history of its forty years into the limits of one poor hour. 



On the 6th March, 1863, some gentlemen met together to 

 found a Natural History Association, and it was resolved: — 



1. That it be called " The Field Naturalists' Club." 



2. That the objects of the Society be the practical study of 



Natural Science and Archaeology. 

 and then follow guiding rules much the same as those we have 

 now. 



That night saw the following names on the first Com- 

 mittee : — 



John Browne, W. Campbell, John Forrester, John 

 Grainger, M.A., John S. Holden, W. McMillan, W. H. 

 Patterson, S. A. Stewart, Samuel Symington, Robeit 



