32 



Heport of tin S naugural MtdhtQ oi tht ^sston 1914-15, 



AND THE 



Delivered November 14th, 1915, by 



Sir Daniel Morris, k.c.m.g., j.p., m.a., d.sc, d.c.l., f.l.s. 



rpHIS meeting was held at Holy Trinity Hall. Sir Daniel Morris 

 was accorded a reception, the warmth of which showed that 

 his acceptance of the Presidency for a second year was much 

 appreciated by the members of the Society. The address began 

 with a review of the activities of the Society during the past year. 

 Sir Daniel reported that there had been an increase of ninety in 

 the membership, viz., from 426 to 516, and a cash balance of 

 ^52 17s. 2d. brought over to the current year. The outstanding 

 feature of the year was the Congress of the South-Eastern Union 

 of Scientific Societies, which met in Bournemouth from June 10th 

 to 13th. The meeting was described in the " South-Eastern 

 Naturalist " as " one of the most successful and enjoyable of the 

 series of congressional meetings to which scientific societies in 

 this part of England look forward. Regret was expressed on all 

 sides that the proceedings could not have been prolonged, so that 

 the appetite for the beauties of Bournemouth and for scientific 

 lore which had been aroused by the lavish presentation of 

 intellectual and aesthetic fare might have been appeased." As it 

 was, visitors left in a hungry condition, but full of intention to 

 re -visit at the first opportunity this exceptionally situated and most 

 beautiful of seaside resorts. 



As the war is practically the all absorbing topic of our daily 

 life just now, it may not be inappropriate (added Sir Daniel) if I 

 devote the concluding portion of my address to some features of 

 it regarded from the scientific or quasi-scientific point of view. 



First, then, what are the aims and ambitions of our chief 

 enemy, Germany, and what are the essential differences between 

 the German and the Anglo-Saxon ways of regarding the world? 



Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., the eminent chemist 

 and discoverer of Argon and Helium, has dealt very ably with 

 these questions in "Nature " of October 8th last. Sir William 

 considers that the most conspicuous features in the Anglo-Saxon 

 character are respect for the rights of others and a spirit of 

 fair-dealing. Oppression is alien to the genius of the race, its 

 watch-words are equity, truth and justice, and, on the whole, the 

 nation has acted up to its convictions. 



We are taking part in the present war rather than see 

 treaties broken and a small nation coerced into immoral acts bv a 



