PREFACE. HE after-pressure of the War has by no means ceased, and in several cases has acted prejudicially in depriving us of some of our supporters, who have found themselves unable to pay the subscription, which is still on a pre-war footing. One cannot, however, review the year 1920 without feeling very thankful for what our Society has accomplished. While deeply conscious that the Victoria Institute is too little known and does not fully occupy the position it should hold among the learned Societies of this Country, we feel it is steadily doing a work that no other Body attempts. The general upheaval in Europe has resulted in a tidal-wave of deep unrest flooding all the country, and many things that we thought impregnable are being seriously shaken-among which the foundations of our religious faith have not escaped. Here then is the moment when this Philosophic Institute can prove its value in a special way, by standing as a well-reasoned and firm bulwark against the present chaos of unbelief. Philosophy, and above all Christian philosophy, can do much that is beyond the province of mere Science; and we warmly welcome the help of all Christian Philosophers in the cause we have so much at heart-the re-settlement of the great truths of our Christian faith, on an intelligent basis in the hearts of our countrymen. Nothing less than this lofty purpose animates the actions of our Council; and when this work can be associated with true scientific knowledge, the combination is invaluable. We feel that the aim of the Institute only requires to be better known to command the support of all Christian men of Science, and we look forward hopefully to adding many such to our ranks in the coming year. Turning to what has been done during the past session, we see that our main object has been kept steadily in view, in such Papers as 373125 the "Silences of Scripture," by the Rev. A. H. Finn, the “ Meaning of the Esthetic Impulse," by the Rev. Stewart A. McDowall, and "Freedom and Discipline," by the Very Rev. Dean Inge. Archæology in its various branches has been well represented by Dr. Masterman's paper on the "Walls of Jerusalem," the Rev. J. E. H. Thomson on the "Samaritan Pentateuch," "Babylon in the Days of Nebuchadrezzar," by Theophilus G. Pinches, of the British Museum, "Monumental Art in Early England, Caledonia and Ireland," by the Rt. Rev. Bishop G. Forrest Browne, and by the beautifully illustrated lecture by Mr. Arthur Sutton on the "Ruined Cities of Palestine." With regard to the future we look forward to Papers of special value at the present moment; such as "The Psychology of Man," by Dr. Anderson-Berry, "Prophecy," by Lieut.-Col. Molony, "Public School Education," by the Head Master of Westminster School, and the "Tri-partite Nature of Man," by the Rev. GossetTanner. 66 Other papers on Empire," by Bishop Ingham, "Motherhood," by Dr. Amand Routh, "Fetichism," by W. Hoste, and Canon Parfit's lecture on Mesopotamia all promise to be of great interest. The large average audiences of last year are a distinct encouragement, and also the considerable accession of new Members and Associates. The Institute is greatly indebted to the distinguished readers of the Papers of the past and coming years, who have and will give the results of their original research and scientific and religious studies at a time when sound teaching is so much required. This brief review would be quite incomplete if no mention were. made of the fresh effort the Institute has put forth to meet the needs of the times in a series of "Tracts for New Times," selected and arranged for Papers, read before the Institute by writers of authority. They are as follows:-(1) "The Problem of Nature," the Rev. G. F. Whidborne, M.A., F.G.S.; (2) "Modern Conceptions of the Universe," G. F. C. Searle, M.A., F.R.S.; (3) "The First Chapter of Genesis," E. W. Maunder, F.R.A.S.; (4) "Creation or Evolution," Walter Kidd, M.D., F.Z.S.; (5) "The Bearing of Archæological and Historical Research upon the New Testament," the Rev. Parke P. Flournoy, D.D.; (6) "Indications of a Scheme in the Universe," Canon Girdlestone, M.A., and "Luminaries and |