I9i3-iai4.] „ ~ 



representative sent to greet you, it is a pleasure and a duty to 

 recall the fact that on our active roll for many years the name we 

 of the Philosophical Society are proudest of in Glasgow is that of 

 a Belfast man — I need hardly mention the name — Lord Kelvin. 

 To-day I have listened to not a few very interesting, some very 

 clever, and many entirely gratifying things, but to none more 

 interesting than those which have indicated the keen democratic 

 spirit which has animated your Club from the beginning, and 

 which, I trust, will long be maintained. There is no question 

 that societies like this are a force to be reckoned with — they have 

 to consider themselves more or less fighting bodies, and they keep 

 the professionally educational bodies up to the mark by their 

 influence on the standard of the Universities themselves. I have 

 not the slightest doubt that a body like this in Belfast, and many 

 societies which I could name in Glasgow, are of the utmost 

 moment in heightening the standard attained by public study. 

 That brings me to remark on the principal functions of such 

 societies. A city no doubt flourishes by its keen study of the 

 various professional and scientific objects connected with the 

 industries which it pursues. That is one way, but there is also 

 another way of regarding the element of culture. There can be 

 no doubt of the usefulness of the prosecution of general studies 

 which, although not directly required for the technical equipment 

 of men for their calling, yet enhance the view which men take of 

 life and of their duties as citizens. It is to such things as these 

 there is owing the advance in the city's mind and the raising of 

 the cultural standard which that city attains. I have not the 

 least doubt from all I have heard to-day that you have in your 

 Club a most valuable public asset, which makes more attainable 

 the objects which your city aims to serve. One word in 

 conclusion only, touching the question raised by the Chairman 

 and discussed by one or two of the speakers, i.e., as to the steps 

 necessary to maintain and enhance the services and the member- 

 ship of your Club. There are only two methods, I believe. 



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