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, but 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 German 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 modem 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