RECORD: Watson, H. W. et al. 1880. [Address from the Birmingham Philosophical Society to Darwin in commemoration of his 71st birthday]. Midland Naturalist, vol. 3: 71.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2021. RN1

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[page] 71

BIRMINGHAM PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. – At a general meeting of the members of this Society, on February 12th, (Dr. Darwins 71st birthday,) on the motion of the Rev. H. W. Watson, M. A., (Vicar of Berkswell,) seconded by the Rev. H. W. Crosskey, Dr. Darwin was elected an honorary member; and, on the motion of the President (Dr. Heslop,) seconded by Mr. Lawson Tait, the following address was unanimously adopted:

"To Charles Darwin, M. A., LL.D., F.R.S., etc. The President, Council, and Member of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, assembled on this, the 12th day of February, 1880, your 71st birthday, respectfully and unanimously offer to you the first Honorary Membership which the Society has conferred. They desire also to present their hearty congratulations, and to express their earnest hope that you may long be spared to continue those researches which have so widely extended the boundaries of human knowledge, and so profoundly influenced modern scientific thought. Few men are permitted to form by their works Epochs in the history of the world; but the appearance of the "Origin of Species," followed as it has been by numerous other publications illustrating its doctrines and extending their application, has constituted an Epoch as important as any that has yet marked the intellectual development of our race. Those who may refuse their assent to the philosophical principles enunciated in your works must admit, equally with those who accept them, that there are few realms of thought into which their influence has not travelled; while there is no branch of natural history, and hardly a problem connected with the position of man himself upon the earth, which has not had new light cast upon it, by the investigations called forth by your genius. The members of this Society are conscious that, in offering you this Honorary Membership, they are asking you to confer a distinction upon them; but they feel that such a tribute of respect as they now desire to pay may not inappropriately come from the town which is the centre of that district with which your family have so long, and with so much honour, been associated.

Signed on behalf of the Philosophical Society of Birmingham."


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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