REV. PREBENDARY WACE, D.D., ON ETHICS AND RELIGION. 143 
in any way incurred dishonour, to commit the ‘‘ happy despatch,” 
as it was called, and it never occurred to their mind that it was 
wrong. I know Socrates speaks against it, for one of his pupils 
said, “If the after life is so happy why not commit suicide ?” 
and Socrates said it was the greatest sin; because God, having 
placed us in this life, knows best what is for our good, and it 
would be the most daring presumption for us to presume to know 
better and to toss ourselves out of this life. 
The Rev. Prebendary Wacre.—I have only to thank the audience 
for the kind way in which they have received my paper, and those 
gentlemen who have spoken on it. 
The Presipent.—I think I need hardly propose a vote of 
thanks to Dr. Wace after the way in which his paper has been 
spoken of. I am sure we are all deeply indebted to him for 
bringing this paper before us. [Applause. ] 
The meeting then closed. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED. 
Lieut.-Colonel M. A. Atves, R.H., writes :— 
In offering a few observations on the subject introduced by 
Dr. Wace, I should like, first, to join in the vote of thanks which 
will, I feel sure, be unanimously voted to him for his paper. 
In dealing with those who repudiate the Bible as the revelation, 
both of God’s Ethical Standard, and of Christ as the Power of 
God to approach that standard in its completeness—I do noi say 
to attain to its perfection during this lifetime—it is not of much 
use to quote Scripture to them. We must show to them some 
evidence that they cannot deny, in proof of ethics combined with, 
and as the result of, the Christian religion as revealed in the 
Word of God; and challenge them in their turn to show to us that 
complete ethics can be practised apart from that or any other 
religion. The proof must not be sought for amongst those who, 
by reason of gifts, possessions, surroundings, or well-balanced 
heads, etc., are raised above many of the common temptations 
of life, but amongst the unveneered mass of struggling humanity 
living amongst evil surroundings and temptations, morally weak 
