From H. W. Crosskey 28 February 1880
Birmingham Philosophical Society. | 28 George Road | Birmingham.
Febry 28/1880
My dear Sir,
I have been instructed to forward to you, on behalf of the President, Council, & members of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, an Address, respectfully offering to you the first Honorary membership which the Society has conferred; & congratulating you on your 71st. Birthday.1 This address was adopted at a meeting of the members held on February 12th.; & has since been in the hands of an Engrosser. It is now reported however to be duly prepared—; & in the course of next week will I trust reach your hands.2
The formal record of the Proceedings runs as follows— At a meeting of the members of this Society, held on February 12th. 1880, the President (Dr. T. P. Heslop) in the chair It was moved by the Rev. H. W. Watson3 m.a (vicar of Berkswell) Seconded by the Rev. H. W. Crosskey V.G.S. (Minister of the Church of the Messiah Birmingham) and unanimously resolved That Dr. Charles Darwin m.a. F.R.S. &c. be elected an Honorary member of this Society.
It was further unanimously resolved, on the motion of the President (Dr. T. P. Heslop) seconded by Mr. Lawson Tait
That the address to Dr. Darwin, submitted by the Council, be adopted by the meeting.
As soon as you have received the address (—which is now daily expected from the Engrosser—) I shall hope to hear that you will comply with the request of the Society—a request made, I am bound to add, with a unanimity & heartiness which cd. not be exceeded.
Believe me | very respectfully | Henry W. Crosskey | Sec.
To | Charles Darwin Esq | m.a. L.L.D. F.R.S. | &c.
[Enclosure]
Birmingham Philosophical Society.
Address to Dr. Darwin; submitted by the | Council for the consideration of the | Meeting, Feb. 12th, 1880
to charles darwin, m.a., ll.d., f.r.s., &c.
The President, Council, and Members 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 the 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
President.
Vice-Presidents.
Treasurer.
Secretaries.
Other Members of Council:
This address is being engrossed & will be duly forwarded with the signatures attached
CD annotations
Footnotes
Summary
Forwards, on behalf of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, an address offering CD the first honorary membership of the Society. Encloses formal record of this meeting.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12502
- From
- Henry William Crosskey
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Birmingham
- Source of text
- DAR 160: 187
- Physical description
- ALS 6pp † encl
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12502,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12502.xml
