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subjects; and in a President like the late Sir Gabriel Stokes, we had one, not like men who have already made up their minds beforehand, but a man who was able to discuss a subject with the keen knowledge of an expert. He would be a bold man who could come into this Society and say these difficulties had passed away, and that this twentieth century had overcome the difficulties in Holy Scripture. It was Bishop Butler, quoting Origen, who said if we believed that the creation proceeded from God in which there was so much mystery, and that the Scriptures also proceeded from God, we must expect to find difficulties in the one as in the other; and if God occupies that position that Christians hold Him to occupy, they must still have to endeavour to account for things that are unaccountable.

I often wonder if those who sought to contrast Scripture with the true teachings of science as they did in the past, ever thought of the difficulties into which they landed themselves in. Supposing the great controversy between Galileo and those who urged him to retract his true notion of the orbit of the earth had ended in their establishing that the earth did not move, and all the other phenomena could be accounted for on their hypothesis; see what it means. It shows what difficulties you get into if you do not probe things to the bottom. The earth, we now know, goes round in its orbit in 365 days, and that orbit is calculated and the time it occupies. Take the hypothesis that existed, and that Galileo should not question that the whole solar system and stars out of our sight, billions of miles away, went round the earth in 24 hours. Which is the more marvellous-which is the more extraordinary proposition to reconcile with Scripture? That is only one illustration. But as I believe and most Christians believe, the further you examine the works of the God of Nature the more clearly do you discern the God of Providence; and it is that which this Society, as I believe, is founded to investigate and determine.

There is another class of persons I may mention in passing, and those are persons (it is true they do not adopt the formulary that the apostles of error, as I venture to call them them, do) who adorn every proposition with long words; so that if you do not agree with them, you cannot say why, for you do not know exactly what they mean! The Unknowable (with a great U) is always spoken of as if you should understand it. It is only a difference of words before us; for we believe in an Almighty Creator, one who, in the language of one of our creeds, is "Incomprehensible" by human intelligence, because

He is above it; and, therefore, what you gain by going through part of a proposition and calling it by a new name I am not able to comprehend. Within the last 24 hours I found a very pretentious volume on my table which says that the old scriptural religion is gone-that science has superseded it, that the spade in Egypt and the astronomer have got rid of all the old delusions. I wait to hear the proof of all that. It is very well to say it; but I think if those words were repeated here in the Victoria Institute, in the presence of some of those I could mention, with university degrees, the cloud of long words would be soon dispersed and we should try to find out what these words meant. All I can say is the charter of this Institute is the investigation of truth to ascertain what that Truth is, and if we believe it is a God of Truth, the nearer we come to the Truth itself the closer shall we be to God.[Applause.]

The DEAN OF CANTERBURY.-My lord, ladies and gentlemen, I hoped that the Archdeacon of London would have been here to move this resolution, but I am glad to ask you to express your gratitude to the President for two things-first of all, for his kindness in consenting to be President of this Society, and secondly, for his kindness in escaping from the House of Lords in order to come and make the interesting observations to which we have just listened. We are extremely grateful to him also for the promise he has given us to the fulfilment of which we shall look forward with great interest, viz., the address which he has been prevented from preparing at this moment.

I should like to add, my lord, if I may do so without impertinence, that your lordship referred to the great advantage this Society experienced from its late President being a man of eminent scientific position. For that we are grateful; but I am sure we are not less sensible of the advantage which the Society derives from having, as our President, a person of your lordship's distinction, versed both in law and matters of the world at large. While many difficulties in connection with religion and the discoveries of science present themselves, there are many others, and those are of great importance, viz., those relating to the law of evidence, the question of what is evidence with respect to what occurred in former ages, and also, I venture to say, in connection with that good judgment, that capacity of judging human affairs in a broad light, which is acquired, in a most eminent

degree, by persons who have passed through such an experience as your lordship has. It is a comfort for us to know that men of that description—that a man of your lordship's eminence has weighed the historical evidence of the gospels and of the Christian religion, and is thoroughly satisfied with the consideration of those questions that bear upon it. For all those reasons we regard it as a great advantage to have your lordship as our President, and I am sure, in the name of all, we tender your lordship our most hearty thanks.

Sir ROBERT ANDERSON, K.C.B.-I feel sure, my lord, that no one will look on this resolution as a mere formality; but I feel that my part in seconding it partakes of that character. No words of mine are needed to commend it, and I may content myself with some very brief remarks.

The first of the primary objects for which this Society has been founded is to investigate, fully and impartially, the most important questions of philosophy and science, but more especially those which bear upon the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture. How is it that while, in these days, the very numerous discoveries are all upon the side of Holy Scripture and so tend to confirm its truth, yet that the public at large are led to believe that they discredit the Bible?

I think the answer is this-that in this sphere a practice prevails which would not be tolerated in any other sphere, viz., that the witnesses are allowed to adjudicate upon their own evidence; and it seems to me that if the rising tide of unbelief is to be checked, we are dependent upon the influence of men of admitted and unquestioned capacity for full and impartial investigation; and this being so can a Society, founded to promote these objects, possibly have at the present time a more fit President than one in whom competent scientific attainments are subordinate to the very highest capacity in the judicial sphere? (Applause.) Is not the Victoria Institute, in the strongest way, to be congratulated on having as its President the Lord Chancellor ?

I have great pleasure in seconding the resolution that our best thanks be presented to the Lord Chancellor for the address now delivered, and to those who have read papers during the session.

The resolution having been put to the meeting it was carried by acclamation.

The PRESIDENT.-Ladies and gentlemen, I am extremely indebted to you for the way in which you have been good enough

to adopt this resolution, and I am the more indebted to you for it because perhaps it was thought I was about to deliver an address, but after what you have heard perhaps I may be forgiven. I felt that an apology was due, and I am glad that you have been good enough to accept that apology and the reason I have given for it. The meeting then closed.

PROFESSOR LIONEL BEALE, F.R.C.P., F.R.S., IN THE CHAIR.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

The following elections were announced :—

LIFE MEMBER :-Professor Lionel H. Beale, F.R.S.

MEMBERS --Robert Bruce Foote, Esq., F.G.S.; Ronald MacGregor, Esq., H.M.C.S.

ASSOCIATES:-George Herbert Payne, Esq., F.G.S.; Frederick Gard

Fleay, Esq.; Rev. James Marchand; Thomas Woods, Esq., M.D.:
Henry Proctor, Esq.; Alfred Lea, Esq.; Hugh S. K. Ryan, Esq. ;
Rev. Arthur Mercer, M.A.

The CHAIRMAN.-I have now to call on the Rev. G. F. Whidborne to read a most interesting paper on the "Genesis of Nature."

The following Paper was then read by the Author, entitled :

THE GENESIS OF NATURE.

By Rev. G. F. WHIDBORNE, M.A., F.G.S.

CONTENTS.

I. The problem of the genesis of Nature.

II. The first line of inquiry, i.e., by way of natural facts.
1. Only actual facts reliable as evidence.

2. Superstitious use of scientific phrases.
3. Natural facts indicative of effects.
4. Cause must be adequate for effect.

5. The relationship of the material and the immaterial.
6. Search for the Cause in Nature.

7. Effect of the discovery of God working in Nature.

III. The second line of inquiry, i.e., by way of knowledge of the Creator. 1. Search for knowledge of the Creator from facts external to

Nature.

2. The fact of the Bible.

3. The Bible as a revelation of God.

4. The God shown in Nature and the Bible identical.

5. The Bible not a scientific text book, but authoritative about God.

6. The Biblical conception of God.

7. This conception applicable to explain Nature.

* Monday, 14th December, 1903.

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