The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-06-02
Annual Address Of the President 0
The Snyder County Medical
Society.

Med. Society" beg Of you to con-
slider my appearance in this place as
mn expression Of my interest in this
Society. I welcome you all as signs
of the times, as promises and means
of increased intellectual activity.
shall be glad II good word, or
d friendly effort on my part can
serve you. know that an address
delivered before such society Of
intelligence is called superficial, but
this does not discourage me. All
human productions, even those OF
genius. are very superficial, compar-
cd with the unfatho mabIe depths Of
truth. Will you allow me to OBJ
serve that, to render an address use
ful, IT MUST BE FRANK, honest aud
free. He who speaks must speak
what he thinks, speak courteously,
but uncompromisingly, what makes
our communications Improbable in
this country, is the dread Of giving
offence, now to the majority, aud
now TO the fashionable or refined,
We speak without force, because
not true to our convictions. A lec-
turer will, OF course. desiro to wound
no mans prejudices or feelings but
his first duty is to truth, having con-
fidence in his hearers that the tone
Of manly sincerity will be candor,
and good ,oM.
The subject which I have chosen
Tor my annual address, is the word
"Society,"' leading to talent, and in-
telligence. Iprofess I no great un-
derstanding Of the subject, though
! have given it much thought. To
interpret it thoroughly We must un-
derstand and unfold all the past.
This work I shall not undertake.
am not now to be historian. Do
not fear that shall compel you to
journey back to the Deluge, or to
Paradise Lost. My bounds are eas-
lily lyueasured my thoughts already
known, only they may be made
more impressive by repetition.
Society-That this subjsc de-
serves attention, no man who OBJ
serves the signs Of the times can
doubt. It's importance forces itself
on the rejecting mind. In truth,
one Of the most remarkable circum-
stance or feature of our age is the
energy with which combination, or
action by joint forces, by associated
numbers 10 manifesting itself. II
may be said without much exsgera-
tion, that every thing is done now
by Societies. Men have learned
what wonders can be accomplished
in certain cases by union. aud seem
to think that nnisn is competent to
everything. You can scarcely name
an object for which some institution
has not been formed. Would men
spread ono set of opinions or crush
another I They make Society.
Would they improve the penal
code, or relieve poor debtors 7
They form Societies. Would they
encourage agriculture or manufac.
lures. or science They form So.
cieties. Would one class encourage
horse-racing, and another discour.
age travelling on Sundayi They
form Societies. Would they pro.
mulgatc the healing art for the ben,
cit of their fellow men 7 They
form Socities.
We have immense institutions,
speading over the country, COM
Dining hosts for particular objects.
We have minute rami6cations of
these Societies, penetrating every
where, and conveying resources from
the domestic, the lsborer and even
tho child, to tho central treasury.
This principle OF association is
worthy the attention Of the Ply.
losopher, who simply aims to under
stand Society and it's most power
ul springs. To the philanthropist
end the christian it is exceedingly
Interesting, for II is a mighty en-
zine, and must act either for good
Dr Tor evil. TO an exteLt which no
nan can zee or comprehend.
II is very easy, We conceive, to OK.
plain this great development of the
principle Of cooperation. The
main cause iA the immense facility
kiyen 70 Intercourse by modern i'm
Provemsnts, by increased 60 mmerce,
Nd traveling, by the Post -ofics, by
hs steamboat, by the Steel. rail
'hish hes now encirclsd our globe
y re prsss, BY newspapers, period.
A.