42 Address of the President. 



fill, or, in other words, that there was a. fore-design. It was of 

 no consequence whether the structure of man's brain was most 

 nearly allied to the gorilla or any other animal, and systema- 

 tists might place him with the monkeys and bats or elsewhere, 

 as their scientific crotchets might lead. But, as far as man's 

 animal place is concerned, there is no great difficulty, not of 

 a higher organization in one sense (although the volume of 

 his brain is always larger comparatively), but constructed on 

 the same plan, he stands typical of the position he holds, and 

 while he cannot swing like the American monkey, or climb 

 like the gorilla, they cannot walk erect like cosmopolite man. 

 His other characteristics come under another class. Man 

 ANIMAL is one thing : far different is man, into whose nostrils 

 God breathed the breath of life ; man speaking, intellectual, 

 sinning, and redeemed. This is a question we must look into 

 fearlessly, but with the greatest study and care. • 



It gives me satisfaction to see clergymen becoming mem- 

 bers of our Society. Many recreations are considered un- 

 suitable for the minister. He as well as others requires 

 recreation ; and none can be more suitable for him, or indeed 

 for any one, than the study of the works of God. When 

 scepticism comes through science, how much is it needed that 

 every clergymen should cultivate the branches of science, and 

 especially natural history and geology. The cheap publica- 

 tions of the day give to the multitude a diluted essence, 

 sometimes adulterating the views of its author, or " speciously," 

 a smattering of subjects which suggest questions, not always 

 prompted by the best motives, and which the minister must 

 either answer or say he cannot. 



I have thus endeavoured to place before you a few of the 

 objects that I think should engage your attention. There are 

 many more that would occupy more time than we now have 

 at disposal, and I may leave some for another anniversary. 

 We have set out upon a cruise of mutual improvement and 

 instruction. The interchange of thought and opinion among 



