ADDRESS 
AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION 1876-7. 
BY THE REV. S. BEAL, 
President. 
Mb. Yice-Presibent, Labies anb Gentlemen, 
In welcoming you to your places in this Hall at the 
beginning of another session, my first and pleasing duty is to 
congratulate you on the improved appearance of the building 
itself, both internally and externally. Notwithstanding all we 
hear about "dusty tomes" and " venerable ruins," it is not at all 
fitting that we should allow either our books to moulder or our 
buildings to decay in this practical and life-stirring age. It is 
reassuring, therefore, to have evidence in the renovation of this 
Hall and the complete embellishment and restoration of the exterior 
walls that we are alive, not only to our duty as a Society, but to 
our work as professed representatives of literature and art in the 
midst of this busy and thriving population. Nor can I omit to 
remind you that what has been done has been done under the able 
direction of one of ourselves. One of our own office-holders has 
given us the benefit of his ripe judgment and professional skill in 
making this building worthy of its object, and of the town in 
which it stands. We have a rule, as is well known, that every 
member of this Institute should be prepared, when called upon, 
to contribute a Paper on some topic germane to its object, with- 
out looking for thanks or expecting reward ; but I hope I am not 
stepping beyond the limits of this Spartan regulation, when I say 
that we all owe thanks to the Curator of the building for the care 
he has bestowed in carrying out so ably and so well the duties of 
the office he holds, and in expressing a hope that he may long con- 
VOL. VI. B 
