reminded that the Council will gladly receive names for the elections to the Council to be added to the names of those retiring members who wish to stand for re-election.

The Council believe that such a rule as is now contemplated would be beneficial in introducing new blood into the Council, and giving to individual members a greater interest in the affairs of the Institute.

The changes in the constitution (§ II) necessary for carrying out this resolution will be brought before Members and Associates by a special notice to be issued at such time as may be found convenient for the calling of a special general meeting.

7. The change of Offices from 8, Adelphi Terrace, to 1, Adelphi Terrace House, was successfully accomplished at the close of the Session 1907-8. The new rooms have been suitable to the needs of the Institute: although for the purpose of one or two meetings it has been deemed advisable to engage the Hall of the Royal Society of Arts which is near at hand in John Street, and on each occasion the attendance has justified this step.

8. Financial.

The Council are glad to report that the financial position of the Institute, though not yet all that could be desired, shows some improvement.

The economies effected by the change of offices and the internal reorganisation had not time to take full effect in the year under review, 1908: but the monthly balances of the current year (1909) bear gratifying testimony to their beneficial operation. The Council trust that the depletion of the reserve fund which has been continuous since 1905, has now reached its limit.

They have, however, to point out that although there is every probability of a satisfactory balance being established for the year 1909, the situation is still critical. On its financial position depends the capacity of the Institute for useful work. Much has been done in the past, and the review of the Session (1908-9) bears witness to the efforts that are being made at the present. Further advance, however, is necessary, and a great increase in the number of supporters, if the Institute is to take the place to which its objects entitle it. There has never been a time at which such a Society was more needed.

But the Victoria Institute cannot command the confidence of

the leaders of Christian and scientific thought if it moves in a groove, or declines into a party position. To do the work that is needed to-day it is necessary to be in touch with the thought of to-day. No society attempting to meet the attacks of the twentieth century with the defences of the middle of the nineteenth century can command the support necessary to the successful conduct of the campaign.

The present is the moment for advance, and the Council appeal with confidence for further support in carrying on the work of the Victoria Institute on the broad Christian lines contemplated by the Founders, who laid it down as their first purpose, "To investigate fully and impartially the most important questions of Philosophy and Science, but more especially those that bear upon the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture; with the view of reconciling any apparent discrepancies between Christianity and Science."

The following statement will show the number of the supporters of the Institute, including hon. corresponding members, at the end of May, 1909

The Balance Sheet to 31st December, 1908, has been duly audited, the Hon. Auditors being Colonel Mackinlay and Mr. John Allen, to whom the Council tender their thanks.

SPECIAL FUND.

In addition to the subscriptions to the Financial Appeal received last year, the following have since come in and are now acknowledged with thanks:

Conclusion.

Such is a summary of the work and position of the Institute during the past year, and the Council hope that, with the blessing of God, a prosperous future awaits the Institute in the year to come.

Signed on behalf of the Council,

HALSBURY,

President.

The above Report of the Council was read at the Annual Meeting of the Institute held on June 21st in the House of the Royal Society of Arts. Its adoption was moved by Sir Robert Anderson, K.C.B., seconded by Sydney Lupton, Esq., M.A., F.C.S., and on being put to the meeting by the President carried unanimously.

1, Adelphi Terrace House, Strand, W.C.

B

Insurance

£931 17 3

£931 17 3

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE INSTITUTE

WAS HELD (BY KIND PERMISSION) IN THE ROOMS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS ON MONDAY, JUNE 21ST, 1909,

I

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HALSBURY, D.C.L., F.R.S.,

PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR,

When the following Address was delivered by the PRESIDENT :—

BELIEVE on a former occasion I called attention to the

regular succession of the waves of unbelief and superstition; their forms vary infinitely, but their succession in regular periods is certain. Psychological study has become popular, and disputes now more than 2,000 years old have been revived sometimes in the very terms (allowing for the difference of language) that were urged in the times gone by, and metaphysical inquiry has been aroused in no common degree in our time.

Mr. Buckle in his History of Civilization said that it may be fairly supposed that the advance of European civilisation is characterised by a diminishing influence of physical laws and an increasing influence of mental laws.

Such phrases are perhaps only intended to express epigrammatically what are the prevailing views upon such subjects, and when we talk of physical laws we mean the facts ascertained by experiment or trial, and by mental laws the results of what many men have told us of the operations of their own individual minds; and the same authority tells us that the mental laws for which he claims such successful influence have only so far been ascertained by proceeding in one of two ways. He says that if two men of equal ability and equal honesty employ different methods in the study of the mind, the conclusions they obtain will invariably be different, and accordingly, the metaphysicians are divided into two schools of thought between which there is no possibility of concurrence. Now I have no intention of entering into the conflict, fascinating as it