57 
the race for popularity has been between William and the Hebrew 
John. Names of deities and animals, the mythology, romance, 
and poetry of the Teutons furnished the elements of names. 
The sacred language —the Hebrew — supplies by far the 
first names known to us. Detailed notices of the most 
prevalent of these were given. Certain phases of the remarkable 
revolution during Puritan times were explained. Names appear- 
ing in the calendar of saints, or savouring of Pagan 
ideas were discarded, and the genealogical chapters of Holy 
Scripture were drawn upon; so that names hitherto seldom or 
never heard of, became extremely popular. The baptismal names 
of to-day bear vividly the impress of what has been styled the 
Hebrew invasion. Allusion was also made to the Puritan custom 
of giving grace names, and names embodying pious ejaculations, 
&e. The reader then glanced at a number of other aspects of the 
subject, such as, the rise and progress of the double Christian 
name. The adoption of the patronymic as a Christian name: 
names indicating private predilections: curious combinations of 
Christian and Surname. The paper spoke of the suggestiveness 
of the names we possess: and what expressive symbols many of. 
them are. Our stock of baptismal names was ever receiving 
additions. National dislikes and prejudices can often be guaged 
by an examination of the registers of the time, and popular sym- 
pathies seek for an outlet in baptism. The paper concluded by 
observing that Christian names were not mere records of dry and 
unmeaning facts: they were priceless treasure-houses of things 
new and old. 
It may be added that the derivation and meaning of the 
Christian name of every member of the Club were stated in the 
course of the paper. 
LOCAL GLIMPSES. 
NATURE AND THE IDEAL. 
By the President, HENRY HOULDING. September 29th, 1885. 
Nature we know—and the Ideal we know, for every man has 
his ideal, such as it is. But what do we mean by this word— 
nature? Man is a part of nature, but the word is commonly 
used as a name for the home, the environment of man. I use it 
in this sense, but not in this sense alone: I mean by nature 
what the poet means. We know what nature is to the geologist, 
to the botanist, to the astronomer, to the man of science—it is 
the universe. But when we speak of a lover of nature we mean 
