ANNUAL MBETINQ, 87 



Sir Joseph Fayrer, K.C.S.I., F.E.S.— I beg to move "That the 

 Report be received, and the thanks of the Members and Associates 

 presented to the Conncil, Honorary Officers and Auditors, for their 

 efficient conduct of the business of the Victoria Institute during 

 the year." I am sm'e the Report must be very gratifying" to all, 

 presuming, as I do, that you take an interest in the welfare of 

 the "Victoria Institute. It gives a most satisfactory account of the 

 progress made, and shows that the Members are increasing in 

 number, that the financial aspects are assuring, and that the 

 papers have been of such a character as to elicit the approbation of 

 those who are best qualified to form a true estimate of their value 

 The work of this Institute seems to be gradually spreading and 

 diffusing itself over the whole world. The papers read are widely 

 circulated and translated by various foreign members, and appar- 

 ently they are much appreciated. Scarcely any part of the 

 civilised world seems to be deprived of them. The purposes 

 and objects of this Institute, as I think all of you know, are 

 such as ought to commend themselves to all reasonable people. 

 The object is the investigation and the pursuit of truth. The 

 Members of this Institute while having a firm conviction of the 

 great truths contained in Holy Writ, have at the same time an 

 equally firm conviction that scientific investigation is not, and 

 cannot, in any sense, be antagonistic to that which is the real 

 Truth. It gives us great satisfaction to know that the President 

 of this Institute is one of the foremost men of science at the 

 present time; and also to know that the President of the Geological 

 Society is a Member and a Vice-President of the Council of this 

 Institute. (Applause.) The object of the Institute is simply the 

 investigation of truth, and it is almost needless to repeat to you 

 that there is but one truth. I should like to dwell for some time 

 upon a subject of this kind because it is one that interests me 

 much, but there is not time for me to do so. With reference to 

 the second part of the resolution returning the thanks of the 

 Members and Associates to the Council, Honorary Officers and 

 Auditors for their efficient conduct of the business of the Victoria 

 Institute during the year, I should like to be permitted, in 

 connection with the naraes of all these gentlemen, to specially 

 mention one name which I am sure will be an acceptable one. 

 Captain Petrie, our Honorary Secretary. (Applause.) In all the 

 many matters coming before the Council for their consideration 



