THE ANNUAL MEETING 
105 
given a large sum of money for a public library. It was pro- 
posed to pull down some old cottages in order to erect a 
building for the library. He was not acquainted with the 
exact particulars, but he heard there were a great many com- 
plaints as to the proposed demolition. Miss Marie Corelli had 
promised to speak to the meeting on the question and he hoped 
to have the pleasure of hearing her. He was sure they would 
sympathise with her desire to preserve the town of Stratford- 
on-Avon as far as possible in its old condition, but he did not 
feel himself competent to express any opinion on the subject. 
He then drew attention to the last number of Nature 
Notes in which there was an interesting article by a country 
clergyman — the Rev. J. E. Kelsall — as to how much a clergyman 
might do in any country parish to promote the interests of the 
Society, and how much such a Society might do to render life 
in a country parish more interesting and more agreeable. He 
wrote as a Selbornian Clergyman, but he could not help think- 
ing that every clergyman ought to be Selbornian. The love 
of animals and plants and of the country was a great charac- 
teristic of the Society, and afforded intense pleasure to those 
capable of enjoying it, and what was more, it was an innocent 
pleasure, and it was a pleasure that tended to raise and refine 
life. It drove away feelings of envy, hatred and uncharitable- 
ness and other feelings to which all were too prone, and filled 
one’s mind with sympathy, kindness, pride and happy thoughts. 
Lord Avebury then formally moved that the Report and 
Balance Sheet be adopted. 
In seconding the motion Sir John Cockburn expressed pleasure 
at the privilege of being allowed to perform that duty, more 
especially as he had not anticipated being asked to address 
a few words to the meeting. In his childish memory, he 
remarked, the word “ Selborne ” was a holy recollection. He 
could recall two books that were always on the drawing room 
table when he was a boy, and he would remember them all 
his life. One was the Bible, and the other was, White’s 
“ Natural History of Selborne.” Lord Avebury had touched on 
the work of the Society in promoting Nature-study, and it 
must be gratifying to all members to know how much it had 
been taken up all over the United Kingdom. As one who 
assisted with the late Exhibition in the Botanic Gardens, he had 
to recognise the fact that their President was one of those to 
whom they appealed first, knowing they would receive a ready 
and hearty response. He had come forward at once and lent 
his cordial assistance, and all hoped that the Exhibition in 
connection with the Home Counties would be as successful 
as the last was, more particularly as it was distinguished as 
being under the -Presidency of Lord Avebury, and many officers 
of the Society were assisting. He had always considered the 
A 
