Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/115

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THE HARVEIAN ORATION.
111

THIRD INJUNCTION—MUTUAL LOVE AND AFFECTION.

The last and a most agreeable duty laid upon me by Harvey's direction is to "exhort the Fellows and Members, for the honour of the profession, to continue in mutual love and affection among themselves, without which neither the dignity of the College can be maintained nor yet particular men receive that benefit by their admission into the College which they might expect, ever remembering that concordia res parvæ crescunt, discordia magnæ dilabuntur." Who so fitted as Harvey to give us this exhortation at the close of his noble career! Though he could be justly indignant on occasion, his whole life was a manifestation and example of simple and unassuming dignity, true courtesy and politeness, unselfishness, geniality and kindness of heart, and Christian grace and charity. Whatever may have been the state of things in days gone by, and they do not appear to have been invariably characterised by smoothness or harmony, it is a satisfaction to think that we may now congratulate ourselves on fulfilling Harvey's exhortation in a fairly adequate degree. A spirit of good fellowship prevails amongst us; and I firmly believe that we are all cordially united by the bonds of mutual respect and esteem. Moreover, our relations with our working ally, the College of Surgeons, are thoroughly amicable and sympathetic. Thus the