Ix PROCEEDIXGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, [vol. Ixxvii, 



of the Permian breccias, and of the Carboniferous. Permian, and 

 Triassic conglomerates might have been derived from ancient 

 rocks partly concealed beneath them. Finally, he made numerous 

 contributions to the studv of local o-laciation, and to the "'eneral 

 physiography and river-history of the Midlands. 



Naturally, his wide knowledge and his power of grappling with 

 questions in which a correct estimation of cumulative evidence was 

 of value were called for in industrial questions, and there were few 

 of the more ditticult mining enterprises in the Central Coalfields 

 in which his advice was not sought and followed with success. 

 The develojDment of these coalfields owes much to his genius and 

 hard work. He was also consulted as to the future prospects 

 and work of the Greological Svirvey, and gave considerable assistance 

 to the De])artmental C*omniittee of enquiry on this subject. 



Lapworth joined the Greological Society in 1872, received the 

 award of the Murchison Fund in 1S78, the Lyell Fund in 1882 

 and 1SS4, the Bigsby Medal in 1887, and the Wollaston Medal in 

 1899. He served on the Council three times between the years 

 1894 and 1908. was Vice-President in 190-5-1906, and President 

 in 1902-1904. He was elected a Fellow of the Koyal Society in 

 1888, and a Koyal Medal was awarded to him in 1891. The Uni- 

 versities of Aberdeen and Glasgow conferred on him the degree of 

 LL.D., and the University of Bu-mingham on its constitution in 

 1900 appointed him Mason Professor of Physiography & Geology, 

 and conferi-ed on him the official degree of M.Sc. On his retire- 

 ment in 1914 he was luade Professor Em.eritus. 



When we take into consideration the amount of scientific work 

 which he personally accomj^lished, the number of students who j^assed 

 through his hands, his influence on those beginning or actively 

 engaged in the prosecution of research, and the good seed sown 

 broadcast, with unmeasured generosity, in the fertile soil of con- 

 temporary intellect, Ave may say that the solid contribution made 

 by Lapworth to the service of his science was not less than that of 

 his greatest predecessors. 



The guiding star of his life was a passion for truth. The 

 discipline of his imagination, the tireless energy of mind and bod}^ 

 and his skill of hand and eye, were all employed in the best service 

 that he knew, the search for scientific truth and the discovery of the 

 laws of Xature. In the course of his research it was more than 

 once necessary that he should strike hard for the right, to remove 

 impediments in the way of truth, and to advance scientific know- 



