186 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



members of the Club — ^for which I am truly grateful — 

 and in particular for the invaluable assistance and guidance 

 that I have received from its officers, both past and 

 present. Our Organizing Secretary has, as you well 

 know, performed his part to the admiration of all ; and 

 I am sure that I speak in the name of the whole Club 

 in thanking him for what he has done, and in sincerely 

 hoping that he may be induced to continue in office, 

 not only for the coming year, but for many years 

 subsequently. And if I mention our Organizing Secretary 

 first, it is only because his name has priority in the 

 list of permanent officials. Our Editing Secretary has 

 been untiring in his endeavours to farther our interests, 

 and, even when gathering information ibr us outside of 

 the kingdom, has done us the honour of leaving a most 

 admirable substitute behind. Nor must the Treasurer 

 be omitted, to whom perhaps the most serious of all the 

 duties pertains : to the excellence of his management, 

 willingly or unwillingly we must certainly " subscribe." 

 Finally my thanks are due to our late President, who 

 so ably filled my place when I was unavoidably absent 

 at the first meeting of the season. 



During the past year we have experienced the greatest 

 of losses in the death of our friend and Secretary, the 

 Rev. George Gunn, the knowledge of whose admirable 

 work is not confined to us alone; for his conscientious 

 and painstaking labours have been highly appreciated 

 by a wide circle both of friends and parishioners, in 

 Edinburgh and in the country. His tactful management 

 of the Club affairs, his unselfish discharge of parochial 

 and scholastic duties, his kindness and his charity, mark 

 the man as well as the minister; while his literary and 

 scientific attainments were such as to justify the very 

 high oj>inion that had been formed of them in his earlier 

 life. As a fellow-member of this and of other learned 

 Societies, I am glad to have the opportunity of adding 

 my slight tribute to Mr Gunn's memory. 



