■VETE it in ary benevolent- and defence society. 523 
back upon'when we are in sorrow, need, or in want, though I do 
sincerely hope and pray that none of us may require their succour 
and aid. But still I conceive it is our bounden duty, when we are 
in vigour and in good health, to use our talents so as to lay down a 
substantial and solid foundation, whereby we can, by slow and sure 
degrees, erect a superstructure that shall redound to our honour 
and be a glorious monument of our labours and wisdom in this our 
time, and probably may be, to some of us, a support and comfort if 
we should unfortunately become disabled, or when we become old. 
Gentlemen, we cannot erect a greater monument for honour and 
usefulness than a “Benevolent Fund” for the refuge of our well- 
deserving but unsuccessful professional brethren, and which shall 
shield and protect our orphan children, and be a guardian angel 
to our sorrowing widows. Gentlemen, in our quiet and collected 
moments, it is our duty to look around us, and behold and see the 
wisdom and foresight of other scientific societies, and other large 
bodies of men, combining together to create a benevolent fund. 
Have not we, even though so young, the right materials of liberality, 
industry, and indomitable energy to do likewise for ourselves and 
our noble profession ? For the past twelve, months our offices have 
been an honour and, I may say, a sinecure ; though I believe each 
of us would have been animated with the same desire faithfully and 
honestly to do our duty for the honour, progress, and welfare of our 
great national society. I am also pleased to say, and having the 
power of doing so only shows how healthy throughout its various 
ramifying branches our profession at large has been for the past 
twelve months, and is at the present time, that we have not had one 
single case of application to defend any one of our members. Long 
may this condition of things continue, because, gentlemen, speaking 
professionally, it not only illustrates our healthy organism, but that 
this healthy organism will be a means of assisting in reproducing a 
good and great benevolent fund ; therefore, gentlemen, I consider it 
is the proudest congratulation that I have in my power to make, on 
resigning my trust to-day, that we, the office-bearers of this great 
Society, have only been guarding, protecting, and increasing your 
position financially, and that our labours for the past twelve months 
have been to us a labour of love, having a noble and grand object 
in view. We have now come amongst you, on this side of the 
Tweed, to gather additional power, knowledge, and aid, feeling, as 
we do, that our noble work is worthy of your kind approbation. 
Gentlemen, be it our desire to stretch forth the helping hand to the 
needy in mind and in body ; to those who are near and those who 
are far distant ; not grudgingly or of necessity, but cheerfully and 
zealously. Many, it may be, travel over a rougher road than our- 
selves ; some among ourselves have a more toilsome journey than 
others ; offer your sympathy and render your valuable aid as you 
may be able, whether by the sustaining hand of benevolence, or the 
guiding mind of progress; for, gentlemen, depend upon it we shall 
have our reward by feeling that our labours have been attended 
with some degree of success in conveying substantial aid to the 
