34 SIR MONIER MONIER-WILLIAMS. 
that he should also have visited India, so as to become acquainted 
with what Pundits have said and done, and with what the Oriental 
system of religion is in practice. 
The motion was unanimously agreed to. 
' Sir Monter Monter-Witiiams, K.C.I.E.—I will first thank you, on 
behalf of those who have read papers during this session, for your kind 
vote. As regards myself, J will only say that lam much obliged to my 
friend, Mr. Seton-Karr, for what he has just said, and also to all 
who are here for the very kind way in which they have received 
me, and the attention with which they have listened to what I have 
had to say upon this subject. My best thanks are due to all. 
Sir H. Barxkty, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., F.R.S.—It affords me the 
greatest pleasure to move, “That the thanks of the meeting be pre- 
sented to the President.” All who are acquainted with the multi- 
tudinous engagements that have to be fulfilled by Professor Stokes* 
will feel deeply grateful to him for the interest he has taken in the 
work devolving upon him as President of this Institute during the 
last two years, and more especially for the able and profound 
Address which he delivered to us at the last annual meeting,—an 
Address which, apart from its great interest, coming from one in 
his distinguished position as a scientific man holding the office of 
President of the Royal Society of Great Britain, cannot fail to have 
had the greatest influence in conducing to the successful progress of 
the Institute referred to in the report to-night. It seems to me 
that it would be impossible to appreciate too highly the independence 
of spirit and the moral courage that have been displayed by Pro- 
fessor Stokes in placing himself, in these days of aggressive agnosti- 
cism, at the head of an institute whose avowed object it is to in- 
vestigate those questions of philosophy and science which bear upon 
the great truths revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. I say 
“ageressive agnosticism,” because, as we all know, there is a great 
deal of aggression in the agnosticism of the present day. The 
agnosticism springing from honest doubt and genuine difficulty in 
reconciling the natural phenomena with Divine Revelation we are 
all bound to speak of with the utmost respect and the deepest 
sympathy ; but we know, on the other hand, that there are a great 
many agnostics who not only profess not to know, but who really do 
not wish to know, anything about the Christian religion. Still, we 
must rejoice that there are men of eminence in the scientific world 
* Now Sir G. G. Stokes, Bart. 
