THE COMPOSITE OF RACES AND RELIGIONS IN AMERICA. THE SUPREMACY OF CHRISTIANITY. BY THE RIGHT REV. J. E. C. VICTORIA INSTITUTE. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1913. READ AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 2ND, 1914. 1. Progress of the Institute. During the year just past, the Institute has sustained a most serious loss in the death of its Secretary, Mr. F. S. Bishop. To his energy and devotion much of the recent improvement in the position of the Institute has been due; and his removal from us has affected adversely the Report which the Council have to present as to the numbers upon the roll of the Institute, and its financial position. But for this untoward event, the past Session would probably have shown a continued improvement in both respects; and the falling off, though slight, which has to be reported, is chiefly to be ascribed to this cause. In other respects the work of the past Session has been most successful; the papers contributed to the Transactions have been of great interest and value, and the crowded attendances that they have attracted have rendered the question of securing for the Meetings ampler accommodation than that which our own rooms can afford one of pressing importance. 2. Appointment of a New Secretary. The Institute has been fortunate in securing the services as Secretary of Mr. E. Walter Maunder, F.R.A.S., late Superintendent of the Solar Department, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and author of several standard works on astronomy. Mr. Maunder is not only widely known as an astronomer, but he has also had experience in organization and in the conduct of a learned society, having founded in 1890 the British Astronomical Association, which he has since served as President, Editor, and in other capacities. He was also for five years one of the Secretaries of the Royal Astronomical Society. He is well known to the supporters of the Institute, as he delivered the Annual Address in 1908, and for the last four years has served on the Council. B 3. Meetings. During the year 1913 twelve meeting were held. The papers read were the following: 66 Present Day Factors in New Testament Study." By the Rev. "The Fact of Prediction." By the Rev. JOHN URQUHART. "Vision, in Sacred and other History." By the Rev. JOHN HUNTLEY SKRINE, D.D. "Methods of Biblical Criticism." By the Ven. Archdeacon WILLIAM SINCLAIR, M.A., D.D. "Pompeii: Life in the First Century A.D." By E. J. SEWELL, Esq. "The Bearing of Archaeological and Historical Research upon the New Testament." By the Rev. PARKE P. FLOURNOY, D.D. [The Gunning Prize Essay.] "The Samaritan Pentateuch, and Philological Questions connected therewith." By the Rev. J. IVERACH MUNRO, M.A. "The Origin of Life-What do we know of it?" By Professor G. "The Position and Principles of the Criticism of the Old Testament." J.P., F.L.S., who gave an account of his journey "From Suez to A Meeting was also devoted to the discussion of the Gunning Prize 4. The Journal of Transactions. Volume XLV of the Transactions of the Institute was issued in December last and contained the papers, discussions and communications of the Session, December, 1912, to June, 1913. The Council desire to express their great indebtedness to Dr. J. W. Thirtle, who passed the Volume through the press, and to Mr. Arthur W. Sutton for the beautiful plates which he supplied in illustration of the Annual Address, "From Suez to Sinai." The papers contained in the Volume are almost wholly devoted to subjects bearing upon the Inspiration of Scripture, upon the present aspects of Biblical Criticism, and upon the light which recent archæological and historical research have thrown upon these. The Council trust that the effect of the Volume will be to render clearer our apprehension of the nature and of the truth of Inspiration, and to strengthen our faith when we encounter difficulties, as yet unsolved, by the sight of difficulties, which in the past seemed insoluble, but have been made plain by fuller knowledge and research. |