1901 - 2 .] 
Chairman's Opening Address. 
3 
large number of papers — all of them original and interesting — 
some of them of the very highest importance — with a place assured 
for ever in the development of science. 
“His loss will be felt in the Society, not only as a contributor, 
but perhaps even more as a wise councillor and guide. 
“ The Council always felt that in his hands the affairs of the 
Society were safe — nothing would be forgotten — everything that 
ought to be done would be brought before them at the right time 
and in the right way. 
“ This is not the occasion for an analysis of Professor Tait’s work 
and influence. That will no doubt be given in due time by those 
specially qualified. What the Council now feel is that a great 
man has been removed — a man great in intellect and in the power 
of using it, in clearness of vision and purity of purpose, and there- 
fore great in his influence, always for good, on his fellowmen. 
They feel that they and many in the Society, and far beyond it, 
have lost a strong and true friend.” 
To this tribute I shall only make one addition, because I under- 
stand a biographical notice is in preparation, which will be read to 
the Society at a future meeting. But I may remind the Society 
that the value of Professor Tait’s scientific work is not to be 
measured solely by his original papers, most of which were 
communicated to this Society. 
He shares with Lord Kelvin the honours of the authorship of 
the Treatise on Natural Philosophy , which has been recognised 
throughout the world of science as the standard and classic work 
of the nineteenth century on the subject, — a work which, if I 
may say so, combines the most lucid and convincing exposition of 
principles with masterly analytic investigation of the more difficult 
parts of the subject. Professor Tait is more widely known to the 
general reader through his smaller text-books, of which I need 
only mention those relating to Light and the Properties of Matter. 
Through these books the results of scientific research have been 
made known to a large circle of readers who do not make science 
their vocation, but who desire to know what can be understood 
without the use of the higher mathematics. 
I believe that a considerable number of the younger physicists 
-of our time were aided in their studies by Professor Tait, through 
