62 ANNIVEESART ADDKESS BY THE PRESIDENT. 



only that a lower form ascends to a higher, but when the highest 

 form of an animal is reached to which its anatomical structure 

 is capable, that after a time it descends to a lower type, again 

 to ascend so as to make the circle complete. As I cannot think 

 that matter can travel through infinite space — through eternity — 

 in a straight line, so I cannot think animals can continue to be 

 evolved or developed for ever — they must at some time attain per- 

 fection, and then retrograde. Evolution is not necessarily exalta- 

 tion. Human affairs seem to travel in a circle, for nations, like 

 men, have their infancy, childhood, manhood, and old age. 



I must now bring my remarks to a conclusion. In a few words I 

 believe that " In the beginning God created the heavens and the 

 earth;" that is, that He created force and matter, and endowed 

 force with many wonderful properties, one of the most important 

 of which properties is that it is the cause of perpetual circular 

 motion in all matter, and that this law extends through the 

 animal, the vegetable, and the , mineral kingdoms. Time has 

 not allowed me to bring forward many instances or arguments in 

 favour of this theory, and my remarks must appear to you incom- 

 plete. Most likely I have not told you anything new ; but if I 

 have put old facts in a new form ; if I have thrown out suggestions 

 for thought or for investigation ; if I have induced you to con- 

 template and to study the marvellous works of the great Architect 

 of the Universe ; and above all, if I have induced you to exclaim, 

 ''How manifold are Thy works, in wisdom hast Thou made them 

 all ; the earth is full of Thy riches," I shall be satisfied. 



