THE PEECEPTION OP LIGHT. 23 



before the British Association, and I gathered from it, as I think 

 all must have gathered to-day from our President, that the ablest 

 and mostjpi'ofonnd disciples of modern science have come to the 

 conclusions or principles which this Institute has endeavoured to 

 maintain. 



In the beginning of the present century scientific discovery, 

 more especially in its practical application to life, made its 

 followers believe that it was able to grasp all knowledge — that 

 nothing was impossible for it — that it was destined to solve the 

 problems not only of the Material, but also of the Spiritual 

 world. With the close of the century have come wiser ideas. 

 We have begun to realise and leai'n that after all Science can- 

 not go beyond that middle region, — which the President has told 

 us of, which lies between the known and the unknown. Beyond 

 that there is still, and must always be, impenetrable darkness — 

 darkness like that beyond the furthest point of space to which we 

 can trace light. 



The resolution was passed nem. con. 



The President. — My lords, ladies and gentlemen, I feel grateful 

 to you for the kind way in which you have expressed your appre- 

 ciation of my humble services to the Institute. I regret that 

 during the last year my attendances were not so numerous as I 

 should have wished, but you must please remember that I live — 

 not so very far, but still some way — from London, and I have also 

 duties in the place where I live, connected with my Professorship. 



I have to apologise to you for this Address, and I confess I feel 

 that I ought to have written it beforehand. However, yoii will, I 

 hope, kindly excuse the imperfections in it. I believe our short- 

 hand writer is present, and has taken it down, so that it will be in 

 the hands of all of the members, even though I did not write out 

 beyond the first few pages. (Cheers.) 



