233 
of Edinburgh, Session 1876 - 77 . 
her shades, her selected company of votaries” (Channing) ; and 
that many who are engaged in other occupations are at the same 
time diligent cultivators of science, and often come forward to add 
contributions to its stores. Still, it is to those who set themselves 
apart as men of science or as literary men that the world looks for 
the steady pursuit of knowledge, and for the guidance of others to 
the solution of those questions which from time to time press upon 
the interest or affect the welfare of the community. And where 
Societies of such are formed men look to them to intermeddle with 
all wisdom, and leave no part of the wide field of knowledge un- 
explored.* 
On the value and utility of such Societies it would be idle in me 
to expatiate in such an assembly as this. Who knows not that by 
intercourse with others men have their faculties sharpened, are 
helped better to understand themselves, and to bring to precision 
and definiteness their own cogitations, as well as stimulated to 
explore new fields of inquiry and guided to make new discoveries? 
It is long ago since Homer said — 
“ By mutual confidence and mutual aid 
Great deeds are done and great discov’ries made. 
The wise new wisdom from the wise acquire, 
And one brave hero fans another’s fire” — + 
and ample experience has showed that this holds true no less of 
those who go in quest of truth than of those who engage in mili- 
tary adventure ; for as Plato, after referring to this passage in 
Homer, says, “ in society we all are somehow more alert in deed 
and word and thought ;”J and Aristotle, also referring to this pas- 
sage, says that by society “ those engaged in great undertakings 
are rendered more potent to think and to act.”§ I content myself 
with congratulating the Society on its past achievements and its 
present flourishing condition; and expressing my confidence that 
the energy which has characterised the members in the past will 
be no less displayed, and with equally satisfactory results, during 
the session on which we now enter. 
* Naturae rerum vis atque majestas in omnibus momentis fide caret si quis 
modo partes ejus ac non totam complectitur animo.— Plin. Hist. Nat. vii. 1. 
t Iliad, x. 265, in Pope’s version. 
X Protag., p. 348, D. 
\ Nicom. Eth., viii. 1. 
