1903-1904.] 207 



Wright. The next is that " It was moved that steps be taken 

 to invite the British Association to hold one of their meetings 

 in Belfast, suggesting 1901." This shows that the active spirit 

 of the Club is always to the front and generally the first to 

 move in public matters of this kind. 



In 1899 were instituted half -hour '' Science Gossips" before 

 the ordinary meetings tor the purpose of creating more 

 friendly relations amongst the members, and the plan has 

 worked well ever since. In this year the Geological Section 

 opened their Winter Session with an inaugural lecture by Pro- 

 fessor Cole, in the Grosvenor Hall, which was well filled at 

 popular prices. 



This brings us down to 1900, under the Presidency of 



the Rev. C. H. Waddell. 



During the following three years the chair was occupied 



by Mr. F. J. Bigger, to whom the Archaeological Section in its 

 later years owes so much, and during whose Presidency the 

 British Association again visited Belfast, in 1902, for which 

 visit the Club claims the initial movement. What the Club 

 did for this visit of the British Association, in the persons of 

 Mr. Robert Patterson, Mr. R. Welch, Mr. Wm. Gray, and 

 several others will be long remembered, and the Guide Book 

 of that year will at least hold its own till the next visit of the 

 British Association, as the first one did. 



It is hardly necessary to comment on its latter years, it 

 is sufficient to say that we one and all hope the future life of 

 the Club will be based on its past work, and that as Nature 

 seems inexhaustible in her store of riches, and wide and 

 boundless in her fields of research, so we trust that there will 

 be no lack of workers, no standing still, but a united body, 

 ever working, ever advancing, and always with the bright, 

 breezy spirit, and the cheery mutual help that kept together 

 the old Builders of the Club. 



At the conclusion of the address Mr. William Gray, 

 M.R.I. A., referred to many past interesting occurrences of 

 which he had personal knowledge, and Mr. William Swanston, 

 F.G.S., also spoke. 



