I would not avoid expressing the anxiety which I feel on this occasion. I have too high a sense of the importance of the many problems which confront us to feel easy in my mind as I set myself to the task of suggesting ways of meeting them, and I am conscious of a certain timidity in venturing to set forth my opinions before the many eminent men of mature mind whom this Society boasts of as members. But even in spite of this timidity I call still feel my zeal stirred by recollection of those great men who conceived this organization, and my desire quickened to emulate them. Some of them are still in our midst; of many we have but the memory and the example they set.

It is the duty of each of us to devote coherent and constructive thought toward the advancement of our efforts in behalf of the sick. For this purpose we must give expression in each other's presence to constructive sentiment which obviously cannot he horn spontaneously, but must be the child of our daily activities. It behooves us, therefore, to give attention to the problems of our Society, which are of national scope, at other times than during the few hours of these pleasant associations at our annual meetings. And further, it ill befits any of us to become offended when others of our body, with sincerity of purpose, may appear to assail certain principals which we may sponsor. It is by such wit-matching that the truth is often best revealed and it not infrequently happens, just at the time when we may feel comfortably ensconced and secure in some apparently well-established belief or method, that the clarity and precision of thought which discussion fosters will cause us to revise our former practices.