The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-25
PORTLAND SOCIETY OF NATURAL
HISTORY.

HISTORY.
A meeting Of the Society was held yes
terday afternoon at Its lecture room on
Elm street.
In calling the meeting to order, the
ics.president. Mr.. Thompson, said:
But q very few weeks since, this society
held its annual meeting In this place.
and ss the head Of the list OF officers pre-
scribed by Its constitution, did itself the
honor 10 re-elect as its president, DR.. VIII
liam Wood to his forty seventh conseeu-
tive term. o record unparalleled In any
scientific association Ia this country
While the state OF his health at that tiiue,
and his great age, made 10 unlikely tnat
he would be able to render any active
service or perhaps even to visit the rooms
where 80 much OF his interest and his
thought hal conferred, We always shared
with him the hope that some fins spring
day might bring him once more 70 tne
place which in the past was his daily
resort, and concerning which he WAS 50
fond Of talking and planning and look.
ing forward with the hopefulness OF youth
70 Q new era Of material prosperity.
But these hopes, with all other worldly
interests, have lean brought to an end
BY his densh, which sad event occurred
on the afternoon Of Sunday last, after
painful sickness. borne with characterfs'
ito caImness and fortitude.
To the members OF this snciety this
passing away Of Its chief officer, full OF
years and with interest In It's affairs
unabated, Is n happening fraught with
the saddest and tendorest thoughts. HIS
life was the sole connection between
our time and the founding and ear ly
struggles OF the Institution. He was the
only survivor OF the first members OF the
Maine Institute Of Science In 1885, and
the last to pass away from earth OF the
organizers Of our society under Its pres
ent name In is43. Loyal and hopeful, he
twice, In 1854 and 1896, stood by what
seemed Its death bed. and nursed IL back
to life The debt II owes to him can nev-
ar be forgotten and &c can never be re-
paid, but 1t 10 due his memory to make
the institution he loved all that he strug-
Q'ed :or and hoped IL might become.
Those of US who have known him well
and have been to some extent his associ-
ates acre, will always carry IN our ,r
minds an unfading picture OF his
simple, gentle and dignified presence, and
II will be difficult for us to think OF him
and this society ~ separate and apart
This Is not the occasion for entering
upon an extended biographical sketch
Of our beloved and reyered friend, nor TO
fully review his career ms scientist,
scholar, physician and citizen, though
this society will doubtless make an early
opportunity Of doing SO.
The society is hastily convened today
TO receive q formal notification OF It's
great loss snd to place upon Its recurcs
some last tribute OF its love and respect
for him whom 1t has always delighted
TO honor. and whose lofty character aud
accomplishments conferred honor upon
1t. We shall not look upon his like
again.
A committee consisting of Messrs. p.
g. Manning. Charles II. Boyd and John
NJ. Gould, was then appointed. who pre-
scented the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
The Portland Society of Natural His
tory having received with profound sor-
honored and beloved president, In the
midst of his forty seventh consecutive
year of faithful service as its official
| h aad, takes this early opportunity OF
placing on record some tribute Of respect
| to his memory yet with full conscious
| ness of the inudequacy of lapgu 90 10
give fit expression OF its Indebtedness
| for his lifelong and unselnsh work in
| its behalf, it Is
| Resolved, That in the passing away of
| DIR. William Wood Ne feel that the last
vital link connecting us with the origin
and early life Of the society has been
| broken, and marks the limits CT an era
/ run III Scll-saCEluCci tnucufuE anu III
accomplishment, that must stTnd AS n
noble monument to him So long as our
memories or our records endure, and be
n stimulus to his successors TO continue
| iaboring along the paths where SO much
effort Is still needed.
Resolved, Tint his personal qualities
of patient and thorough scholarship, OF
| unobtrnsive, genuine. culture, of deiioacy.
and of simple and native gentlensss Of
| manner, combined with an atmirabfs
and unassumed dignity OF presence. en-
| deared him to US all; they adorned hut
could not hide heart as tender as a
child's. and with child's delight and
revereut wonder in the simplest of
natures wondrous works, whose observa-
ton and study were the joys Of his life
Resolved, That delegation OF the So
ciety shall pay its tribute of respect by
attendance upon the last ceremonies
connected with the death Of our lamented
friend. And .Sthst these assurances of
respectful sympathy be conveyed to his
afflicted family.