VICTORIA INSTITUTE. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1909. 1. Meetings. The meetings of the Institute during the present session have been well attended and the discussions keenly maintained. The subjects dealt with may be arranged under the following heads : 1. ARCHEOLOGICAL. "Assur and Nineveh." By THEOPHILUS G. PINCHES, LL.D., M.R.A.S. 2. BIBLICAL. "The Attitude of Science towards Miracles." By Professor H. LANGHORNE ORCHARD, M.A., B.Sc. [The Gunning Prize Essay.] "Light, Luminaries and Life." By Rev. A. IRVING, Ď.Sc., B.A. 66 3. CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENTS. "Determinism." By the Ven. Archdeacon BERESFORD POTTER, M.A. Heredity and Eugenics." By the Rev. Professor A. CALDECOTT, M.A., D.Litt. 4. HISTORICAL. "Arianism and Modern Thought." By Rev. Professor H. M. GWATKIN, M.A., D.D. 5. GEOGRAPHICAL. "The Ivory Islands in the Arctic Ocean." By the Rev. D. GATH WHITLEY. 6. PHILOSOPHICAL. "Plato's Theory of Public Education in Relation to the Christian Doctrine of Human Nature." By the Rev. H. J. R. MARSTON, M.A. 7. SCIENTIFIC. "Abnormal conditions of water as a proof of Design in Creation." By Professor E. HULL, LL.D., F.R.S. " "Species and their Origin.' By Rev. J. GERARD, B.A., F.L.S. "Modern Conceptions of the Universe." By G. F. C. SEARLE, Esq., It will be seen that the subjects selected are of wide interest at the present time. A very large number of the Members and Associates had suggested the subjects to be discussed, and great care was taken in their selection by the Council. 2. Grants of Literature. The usual grants of literature have been made to over thirty societies engaged in Missionary and other Christian work. Many letters of thanks have been received acknowledging the practical use of the papers published in our Transactions. Missionaries and others in distant places especially have found much profit from the reading of our papers which deal with modern investigations of Philosophy and Science, especially those which bear upon the great truths contained in Holy Scripture. The Council desire to bring this aspect of the work prominently before the Members and Associates. 3. Officers and Council. President. The Right Honourable The Earl of Halsbury, M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S. Secretary and Editor of the Journal. H. Charlewood Turner, M.A. Assistant Secretary. Albert E. Montague. 4. Election of new Members of Council. In accordance with the alterations in the rules passed on June 24th last one-third of the Council now retire and the Council have nominated the following to fill the eight vacancies thus created:— Rev. Chancellor Lias, M.A.* T. G. Pinches, Esq., LL.D., M.R.A.S.* Ven. Archdeacon W. M. Sinclair, M.A., D.D.* E. W. Maunder, Esq., F.R.A.S. Ven. Archdeacon Beresford Potter, M.A. Rev. J. H. Skrine, M.A. J. W. Thirtle, Esq., LL.D. There is a further vacancy which the Council recommend that the Annual General Meeting should fill, and they have therefore nominated for that purpose : E. J. Sewell, Esq. Due notice was sent to all Members asking them for nominations for these vacancies to be sent in before March 31st, but none were received. 5. Obituary. The Council regret to have to record the death during the past year of the following supporters of the Institute: Professor A. Agassiz, D.C.L., F.R.S. (Hon. Correspondent), John Allen, Esq. (Hon. Auditor), W. G. Black, Esq., M.D., Edward Clapton, Esq., M.D., Ralph J. Fremlin, Esq., The Very Rev. W. Lefroy, D.D., Dean of Norwich, Alexander McArthur, Esq., D.L., J.P., Vice-President and Vice-Patron, Rev. H. Ross, D.D., Rev. Alexander Stewart, M.D., LL.D., J. Townsend Trench, Esq., Rev. R. Tapson, Rev. Canon R Taylor, Rev. G. F. Whidborne, M.A., F.G.S. (Member of Council), Rev. Canon Bernard Wilson, M.A. 6. New Members and Associates. The following are the names of Members and Associates elected since the last Annual Meeting: MEMBERS.- Colin McLarty, Esq., U.S. Navy, Professor F. F. Roget, Rev. Prebendary L. E. Shelford, M.A., Rev. Cyprian L. Drawbridge, M.A., T. B. Bishop, Esq. * Retiring Member of Council. ASSOCIATES.-Rev. F. Cecil Lovely, B.A., Rev. F. W. Maunsell, M.A., Miss Margaret Spokes, Henry Wilson, Esq., Miss A. Habershon, Dr. W. A. Shann, Rev. S. H. Wilkinson, Colonel Henry Grey MacGregor, C.B. 7. Numbers of Members and Associates. The following statement will show the number of the supporters of the Institute at the present time, May 9th, 1910, including hon. corresponding members, etc. :— The long-considered changes in the constitution have at length been carried into effect at a Special General Meeting held on January 24th; they are given in detail in the appendix. The chief point is that one-third of the members of Council retire at the Annual General Meeting each year, subject to re-election; this rule to come into force at the Annual Meeting, 1910. The Council trust that by this means the bond between the Council and the Members and Associates at large will be strengthened and that fresh life and interest will be quickened in the Council itself. The rules have also been so altered that our Annual Meeting may in future be held early in the year. It is therefore proposed to have the next Annual Meeting early in February 1911, when the audited accounts for 1910 will be presented, and when another third will be elected to serve on the Council. It is intended that the commemorative address shall be given as hitherto, towards the end of the session in May or June. 9. The Gunning Prize. The Prize Essay by Professor H. Langhorne Orchard, M.A., B.Sc., was read at the Society of Arts on January 24th, 1910. It drew together a large audience, and the discussion was well maintained. The essay has met with wide approval, it is |