( xxxvii ) 



ANNUAL ADDEESS TO THE MEMBEES 



OF THE 



SOUTH AFEICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



On September the 17th, 1902. 



By the President, Sie DAVID GILL, K.C.B., F.E.S., LL.D., etc. 



The report of the Secretary, now in your hands, describes the work 

 of tlie Society during the past year, but it leaves the President to 

 make allusion to the fact that this annual meeting represents our 

 semi-jubilee. 



In the year 1900 we had the pleasure of congratulating our 

 member, Dr. Muir, on his election to the Eoyal Society of 

 London. To-day I feel sure you will no less cordially congratulate 

 another member, Mr. S. S. Hough, who has quite recently earned 

 the same distinction. 



The Society was declared constituted on the 22nd of June, 1877, 

 with an original roll of thirty-nine members, which by the 30th of 

 the same month had risen to seventy-eight. The rules of the Society 

 were adopted on July 16th ; the ballot for the election of the 

 President and Council followed on July 23rd, and the first ordinary 

 monthly meeting was held on September 26th of the same year. 



It will not be forgotten that the first President of the Society 

 was Sir Bartle Frere ; those who remember these early days 

 can alone estimate the impulse which his tenure of office gave to 

 the Society. This impulse was not alone due to the high position 

 of the President, it lay rather in his constant interest in and 

 sympathy with the aims and objects of the Society, and in his 

 encouragement of all who were doing, or desired to do, honest 

 scientific work. Besides this he delivered two addresses from the 

 Presidential chair which are characteristic of the broad views, 

 the foresight, the wide knowledge and high administrative capacity 

 of the man. These addresses contain matter which we can with great 

 profit study noW) — suggestions, some of which we have in whole or 



