16 ANNIVEESARY ADDRESS 



locality, of those widely-scattered materials, lying in many 

 an obscure nook and out-of-the-way corner, out of common 

 view, which go to make up History. And, however much 

 little minis, engrossed in the trivial occupations of their 

 empty day, may scoff at our pursuits, and even great minds 

 — like Thomas Carlyle, who ought to have known better — 

 may sneer at the dry-as-dust antiquary poring over his 

 musty records, we may be content to know that without 

 such humble labours as ours, neither History, nor any 

 Philosophy of History could possibly be constructed. We 

 cannot scan too carefully or minutely for ourselves the 

 wonderful web of human experience, or strive too earnestly 

 to read the design, at once the prophecy and unfolding of 

 human destiny, which is woven therein; and each of us 

 may do his part, by catching up threads here and there as 

 he may, and by seizing such stray hints and glimpses of the 

 Divine Plan as are ever and anon revealing themselves, to 

 anticipate and hasten on the day of complete and final and 

 glorious disclosure. 



