1913-1914.) 3 1 



attended a great many of its meetings. They always made me 

 think how useful the Club was in the city. Nothing else takes its 

 place in giving people of all classes an opportunity of studying 

 nature and the records of man. I have no doubt the work done 

 has been extremely well done. A great deal of it is perhaps not 

 peculiar to the North of Ireland, but a great deal of it is. I think 

 such a Club as this is most useful in gathering together different 

 members who get materials, which men of larger leisure, more 

 time, and more general knowledge can study, and thereby 

 become able to add to the great scheme of Science. I hope the 

 Club may prosper long after I am gone. 



Mr. J. R. B. Masefield. Delegate from the North Staffordshire 

 Naturalists' Field Club, said : — Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen 

 — I need scarcely say, though at the cost of starting very early 

 yesterday and crossing the little pond that separates us, what great 

 pleasure it has given me and my co-delegates to come to-day and 

 congratulate you on the jubilee of the Club, and the splendid 

 work accomplished during the last fifty years. I have a very 

 pleasant recollection of your Field Club, because it has on two 

 occasions in years gone by welcomed us to Ireland, and showed 

 us some of the great treasures which you possess. On these 

 occasions we made a number of friends. You know, whenever 

 naturalists meet they are brothers at once. Those friendships 

 then made will, I am sure, be life-long friendships with us. Your 

 President asked for suggestions as to increased membership, and 

 I can only suggest this — Hold out the hand of friendship to the 

 scientific working-man and encourage him in his studies. I am 

 sure you will never regret having him as a member of your Club. 

 I could give you many instances of working-men who are members 

 of our own Club. In one case I found that five or six postmen 

 and railway workers who had a scientific turn used to meet in a 

 little room because they were afraid of letting their hobbies be 

 known. I encouraged them in every possible way, and two of 



