Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/357

Rh Besant and Mr. Armstrong, by also giving them a vote of thanks. (Applause.) Then we have the Editor of the Quarterly Statement. I can only say that each number seems to be more interesting than its predecessor, and that is saying a great deal. I feel sure there is not a gentleman here but who, when he receives it, sits down and reads it through. And so, to our Editor, also, I should like our warm thanks to be given for his labours. (Applause.) Then, there are two whose labours we must recognise in Palestine. Mr. Bliss has twenty persons now under him, and there is a great deal of work to be done in removing earth, and so on. He is working with great energy, and I am sure you will accord to him your encouragement, by giving to him our very hearty thanks for doing his best—and "He who does his best does nobly." (Applause.) Then there is Mr. Schick. He has had a busy life, and is now something more than 70 years of age, but he will not let age check him. As long as he can work he will work, and, as is stated in the Report, he has sent some interesting information to us. I am sure you will also thank him. (Applause.) There now only remains the election of the Executive Committee.

—I have much pleasure in moving the election of the Executive Committee.

—I beg to second that.

—The Committee recommended that Canon Dalton should also be elected on the Executive Committee. He has been on the General Committee for a long time, and I suppose I may consider, in the vote I am now putting, that he is included in the Executive Committee.

The resolution was then Passed.

—I think that concludes our business to-day. A suggestion has been made about calling us together more frequently, and no doubt the more frequently we meet the better. The remarks which have been made will be reported to the Executive Committee, but they are all busy men, and I fear if we were to give them very much more work they might break away. However, I will report what has been said to the Executive Committee and see if something cannot be done in respect to that.

—Gentlemen, it is our duty and pleasure to vote our sincere thanks to our Chairman. Old age, when it is honourably carried, as our distinguished Chairman bears it, is called the green old age, but I think the white old age is just as beautiful. So far as his merits are concerned it would be great presumption on my part to speak of them, and to try to become eloquent in order to praise a name, the very mention of which in connection with our Society is the best commendation the Society can have. We are always delighted to hear the excellent and apposite remarks which fall from our Chairman, and everyone who comes here, and all those who cannot come here, look with the utmost admiration upon the man who fulfils the saying which appears in the 30th chapter of the Book