114 PROF. H. LANGHORNE ORCHARD, M.A., B.SC., ON 
cultured scientific school, is to be ready, if necessary, to say—‘‘ We 
don’t know.” | 
Dr. W. Woops SmytH said: I have great pleasure in seconding 
the vote of thanks to Professor Orchard for his important and 
interesting paper. He has clearly shown that science and men of 
science are not opposed to the possibility or even the probability of 
miracles. In one sense, therefore, the paper is rather misplaced, 
because while science accepts miracles it is the Church which rejects 
them. Therefore we should have had a paper on the attitude of the 
Church towards miracles. I may illustrate my meaning by pointing 
to the fact that Professor Huxley said that the Incarnation and the 
Resurrection offered no difficulty to him as a man of science, yet 
some of our leading divines are telling us of how difficult it is for 
them to accept these miraculous occurrences. Again, even in the 
case of Joshua’s miracle of the sun standing still, Huxley said it 
presented no difficulties. The moment we admit the existence of an 
Infinite Being, it was as easy for Him to alter the movements of the 
solar system, as for the Professor to alter the hands of his watch. 
I may mention here that the eminent astronomer, Mr. E. W. Maunder, 
says that the astronomical, topographical and military data given 
in regard to Joshua’s miracle all point to a truthful record. 
However, there is a point which arises here and negatives all 
attempts to explain miracles. We, as created beings, are not 
competent to explain the mode of operation of uncreated Infinite 
Being. It is out of the question to try to explain Joshua’s miracle 
by the Lord slowing the rotation of the earth, etc., because it is 
unphilosophic to imagine that the universe presents to an Infinite 
Being merely ponderous bodies governed by the law of gravitation, 
as it does to us. Neither men nor angels may ever be able to 
explain how this and other miracles have been accomplished. 
In reply to an objector who contended that the miracles of the 
New Testament were alleged to have taken place in credulous times, 
he said, the days of our Lord’s miracles were the most sceptical the 
world has yet seen. 
J. Scuwartz, Esq.—While congratulating the lecturer on his 
interesting paper, I would point out that there is a large and 
growing section of modern Christians who realise perhaps more 
intensely than was ever done before the inspired ethical beauty of 
Christ’s teaching and personality, but regard the miraculous 
