﻿Outline of the President's Retiring Address. 313 



were accomplished, would justify the existence of the 

 Natural History Society. To place within reach of the 

 workers in Natural History a vehicle for communicating 

 to the world the results reached was a very great service 

 rendered to science. Such service the journal of this 

 Society had long rendered, and no sacrifice the Society 

 could make would be too great in continuing the publica- 

 tion, by which it extended its influence even far beyond 

 the confines of the Dominion. 



5. During the past two seasons the Society made a new 

 departure which gives promise of the best results in 

 instituting half hour Saturday afternoon lectures on 

 Natural History, specially for the instruction of children. 

 In this way good seed had been sown, and it was not too 

 much to expect that the Society would in due time reap 

 an abundant harvest from it, in finding added to its active 

 membership not a few of those in whom a taste for the 

 study of nature was first awakened at these Saturday 

 lecturettes. For the initiation of this popular movement 

 the credit was largely due to the Museum Committee, 

 with the Honorary Curator at its head. 



In leaving the chair, the President regretted one thing 

 — that he had not been able, during his term of office, to 

 endeavour raising a fund for enabling the Somerville 

 foundation to pay the lecturers who honoured the Society 

 by appearing on its platform. Many years ago he had 

 been named convener of a committee having this aim in 

 view. The subject had been talked of during the past 

 year, but in view of the depressed financial situation it 

 was deemed best not to make the attempt. It would be 

 a great advantage to the Society to have a fund by which 

 the services of distinguished lecturers could be secured. 

 As Mr. Somerville's ecclesiastical successor, he naturally 

 wished to see this important result reached ; and if at 

 any future time an effort in that direction were made, the 

 Society might command any assistance he could render. 



