240 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



Species by natural selection from the survival of the 

 fittest, which took so firm, if hasty a hold, that it was 

 treason even to doubt it, seems to have had its day. 

 At ail events it is being seriously and influentially 

 attacked. One fact, however, is indisputable — that all 

 the wonders great and small which we see around us 

 on earth, in sky, or in sea, owe their being to and are 

 sustained by a great originating and sustaining Power, 

 whether by direct creation, evolution, or by the exercise 

 of occult or secondary laws or forces which we do not 

 understand, because such things are beyond mortal ken. 

 Even the meanest weed or the lowliest insect veils a 

 secret — that of its own life — which no man has yet 

 penetrated. The mystery of external nature, especially 

 to those who are accustomed to any sort of microscopic 

 work, cannot fail to impress with the conviction of a 

 Living Power and Presence behind it. All that being 

 so, it is evident that the motto of our Club was well 

 and wisely chosen, and should continually remind us 

 when we "enjoy the scene," not to "slip the lesson by." 

 And now, gentlemen, my last word to you, as is 

 usual on these occasions, must be the exercise of my 

 privilege, which is a lex non scripta of our Club, in 

 appointing my successor. I have much pleasure in naming 

 Dr Robert Shirra Gibb, of Boon, Lauder, a member of 

 a quarter of a century's standing, one of considerable 

 attainments, and a frequent attender at our meetings, 

 as President for the ensuing year. 



