5. Election of Council and Officers.

In accordance with the rules the following members of Council retire, but offer themselves for re-election :

Wm. J. Horner, Esq.

Dr. A. T. Schofield.
Dr. Heywood Smith.

The Rev. H. J. R. Marston.

E. W. Maunder, Esq.

Archdeacon Beresford Potter.

The Rev. J. H. Skrine.

Dr. J. W. Thirtle.

The Council nominate also Mr. Chancellor P. V. Smith and Mr. Joshua Cooper for election on the Council.

The Council greatly regret that Mr. E. S. M. Perowne has had to retire from the duties and office of Treasurer, and they record here their hearty thanks to him for his many kind services on behalf of the Institute.

The Council have the greatest pleasure in nominating their valued colleague on the Council, Mr. A. W. Sutton, as Honorary Treasurer of the Institute.

6. Obituary.

The Council regret to announce the deaths of the following Members and Associates during the year:

The Rev. W. H. Painter, Rev. S. Treanor, Bishop Ridley, G. A. Manwaring, Esq., Rev. Prof. Mead, Mrs. Percy Smith, The Archbishop of Armagh, Surgeon-General Partridge, R. Thomson, Esq., Dr. Veasey, Dr. Harper and Sir F. S. Powell.

7. New Members and Associates.

The following are the names of new Members and Associates elected up to the end of the year 1911 :—

MEMBERS.-G. A. King, Esq., M.A., Rev. D. M. Panton, B.A., The Right Hon. the Rev. Lord Blythswood, John B. Braddon, Esq., Rev. Cyril C. B. Bardsley, M.A., R. D. Richardson, Esq., The Venerable Archdeacon Jefferis, D.D., Rev. W. C. Minifie, D.D., Charles Phillips, Esq., Rev. A. M. Niblock, The Right Rev. The Bishop of Llandaff, Mrs. Agnes S. Lewis, LL.D.

ASSOCIATES.-G. H. Wedekind, Esq., Robert Heath, Esq., Miss Pickersgill-Cunliffe, F. D. Outram, Esq., W. H. Poate, Esq., Rev. Principal J. A. Lightfoot, M.A., T. F. Victor Buxton, Esq., M.A., Rev. P. Rose, Miss Louisa Churchill, Miss Dreaper, Major H. Pelham Burn, W. E. Leslie, Esq., Rev. Chancellor S. B. McCormick, D.D., W. H. Seagram, Esq., W. Weller, Esq., Right Rev. Bishop Hassé, Dr. H. M. Bishop, Rev. Claude C. Thornton, M.A., Mrs. Stuart Trotter, Mrs. Edward Trotter, Dowager Lady Pearce, Rev. W. Banham, B.A., Rev. E. Blackburn, M.A., Rev. H. Howson, Peter Whitfield, Esq., Rev. Gifford H. Johnson, M.A., Dr. Philip Rice, Rev. J. C. Fussell, Ph.D., Miss Amy Manson, Rev. J. C. M. Mansel-Pleydell, M.A., Miss E. M. Baumer, C. H. Wingfield, Esq., Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Miss M. R. Strange, J. Graham, Esq., Rev. W. B. Norris, M.A., Rev. J. W. ff. Sheppard, M.A., Rev. A. Cochrane, M.A., W. C. C. Hawtayne, Esq., M.I.E.E., Sir Charles Bruce, G.C.M.G., Mrs. Mabel Holmes, T. G. Hughes, Esq., Mrs. Margaret D. Gibson, LL.D.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATES.-Yale University Library, Chicago Public Library, Wellington General Assembly Rooms Library.

8. Numbers of Members and Associates.

The following statement shows the number of supporters of the Institute at the end of December, 1911:

showing the satisfactory net increase, after allowing for deaths and retirements, of 50 on last year's return.

9. Finance.

The Statement of Receipts and Expenditure attached hereto reflects the increased interest shown in the Institute. The Council are thankful that though there is a deficit on the year's working of £18 6s. 10d. it has not been found necessary to make any call upon the Reserve Fund this year, and they confidently hope to entirely clear this deficit next year.

10. Auditors.

The thanks of the Council are again most cordially given to Messrs. Sewell and Lance Gray for their kind services as Auditors.

11. Country Meetings.

In March last, the Rev. John Tuckwell addressed a meeting for the Institute at Woolwich, and Mr. Maunder one in October at Tunbridge Wells, the latter kindly arranged by the Rev. J. H. R. Marston. General Sir Henry Geary was good enough to arrange a course of three meetings at Camberley, at which lectures were given by Mr. Maunder, the Rev. John Tuckwell, and Professor H. Langhorne Orchard. To all these gentlemen the Council tender grateful thanks for their kindness in giving their time and able services on behalf of the Institute.

12. The Gunning Prize.

The triennial competition for this prize falls in this year, 1912. The Council have selected as the subject of the essay:

"The Bearing of Archæological and Historical Research upon the New Testament."

The competing essays must be in the Secretary's hands on or before the 31st March next.

13. The Coronation of King George and Queen Mary.

At the Annual Meeting in June, 1911, the Members and Associates of the Institute approved of an address of loyalty and congratulation to their Majesties upon their Coronation. This was graciously acknowledged in due course.

14. Conclusion.

The Council, feeling the great importance and the value of the Institute, warmly recommend its work to Members and Associates, and invite them to induce their friends to join, in order that the Institute may be strengthened, both by sympathy and contribution, and enabled to increase its efficiency as an invaluable means of upholding the Great Truths of Holy Scripture.

Signed on behalf of the Council,

26th January, 1912.

HALSBURY,

President.