92 
The Presidential Address. 
with keen enjoyment he once related to me some of his early 
experiences among the pigeon-fanciers, into which select 
circle he desired to gain admission when studying the varia¬ 
tion of our domesticated productions. The motion having 
been put to the meeting and carried, “ Squire Darwin ” was 
elected, hut could not be admitted before payment of the 
subscription. The money was handed in, and the chairman 
of the club, even then apparently doubtful of the trust¬ 
worthiness of the candidate, proceeded to test the coin by 
the usual methods before formally announcing his election. 
Among the many noble qualities which endeared Darwin 
to his friends was his ever ready sympathy for the younger 
men that looked up to him as their master. There are many 
at the present time rising into prominence who will carry 
with them to the grave the memory of the impetus given to 
their career by the kindly encouragement, the assistance and 
advice, so freely given by Darwin. How many will echo the 
sentiment expressed by an eminent Gferman naturalist who, 
writing to me soon after Darwin’s death, said :—“ The loss 
of Darwin is certainly for nobody more irreparable than for 
me, for I have lived so completely isolated, and for long 
years have been accustomed to communicate to him all my 
little scientific results, always certain-of his full participation 
and sympathy.” 
Such was the life which, terminating last April, has 
left a void in the ranks of science that we can never hope 
to see filled up. The great doctrine of evolution founded by 
Darwin in our time has not only remodelled the science of 
Biology, but its influence extends through every department 
of human knowledge. The spirit of Darwinism pervades 
and animates the whole of modern science. Wherever 
Nature presents gradation , we now suspect derivation. 
Branches and sub-branches of science, which, like Psychology, 
Anthropology, and Sociology, were formerly ill-defined and 
vague in scope, under the ruling idea of evolution have now 
acquired defined forms based on secure foundations. On the 
burning question of the assumed or actual theological bearing 
