ADDRESS 
AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION 1888-9. 
BY GEORGE JACKSON, F.R.C.S.Eng., 
President. 
Ladies and Gentlemen, — 
Having been chosen as President of this Institution, it 
is my duty to deliver an introductory address ; and in doing so, I 
shall endeavour to bear in mind the twofold character of this 
Society. It is a Literary Institution, and it is also a Natural 
History Society. It has been established now for some seventy- 
six years, and has assembled in this building since 1819. 
I fear that in some respects the present age is not so favourable 
to institutions such as this as those which have passed away. 
Persons are very apt to say, " What is the use of attending this or 
that lecture ? I can read it all in the papers to-morrow ; " or, "I 
know all about it." And again, others, who may have had 
superior advantages to us poor provincials, think no good thing 
can come out of Nazareth, and that only at Jerusalem (London) 
can any good thing be found. I maintain, however, that societies 
such as this have their use in eliciting the various opinions which 
may be held on the subject under discussion. It is well known 
that by striking even flint stones together some scintillations 
of light may be made to appear. 
Another charge I have to bring against the present age is the 
exceeding hurry and bustle of life, which leaves but little time 
for calm reflection. This appears to be especially true in the case 
of men who have embarked in the stormy sea of politics. No 
sooner is the Parliamentary session at an end than political speeches 
have to be made in the country. In fact, to use the language of 
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