An oration delivered before the Medical Society of London, on May 2nd, 1870 / by Francis Mason.

  • Mason, Francis
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An oration delivered before the Medical Society of London, on May 2nd, 1870 / by Francis Mason. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    &>c. “I have gathered a posie of other men’s flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own.”—Montaigne. Mr. President and Gentlemen, It has been the annual custom since this Society was instituted, in 1773, to elect one of its Fellows as Oratoi*, whose function (to quote the words of the old law) shall be “ to deliver a discourse on the best means of promoting the intentions of the Society and the general improvement of Medical knowledge.” The early records imply that the post of Orator was one not always readily accepted. Year after year we find that the honour, when conferred, has been duly appreciated and acknowledged, but subsequently it has been, for some reason^ respectfully declined—on one notable occasion, in 1791, when no less than five gentlemen refused to under¬ take the responsibilities involved in the office. In more recent times, however, this unwillingness has not prevailed to the same extent, although there have been good reasons for its continuance. It has been evident for some years that the hour usually fixed for the oration (5 p.m.) has been inconvenient to the majority of the Fellows, whose scant attendance—arising from no dis¬ regard for the Society, but due solely to the natural A 2
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