53 
ORDINARY MEETING, May 19, 1884. 
H. Capman Jones, Hsq., M.A., In THE CuHair. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, and the fol- 
lowing Elections were announced :— 
Member :—J. Ruscoe, Esq., F.G.8., &c., England. 
Associates :—The Ven. Archdeacon Carey, M.A. Camb., Chelmsford ; 
Rey. Professor J. M. Davis, United States; J. Elmer, Esq., England ; 
W. F. Fremersdorf, F.G.S., Wales; E. W. Harcourt, Esq., M.P., England ; 
A. Main, Esq., Canada ; J. Rogers, Esq., London; Rev. W. J.Smith, B.A. 
Oxon., England ; Captain R. C. Temple, R.E., F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., India. 
Hon. Locat Secrerary—Rey. W. David, M.A. Oxon., Cardiff. 
Also the presentation of the following works for the Library :— 
“Proceedings of the Royal Society ” From the Same. 
‘Proceedings of the Royal United Service Institution” 7 
“* Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society ” ” 
“Legal Ethics, or the Unity of Law.” By Professor J. W. Platt, 
D.D., LL.D. From the Author. 
“Virgil,” 3 vols. By Major Burt, F.R.S. » 
“The Unreasonableness of Atheism.” By J. Hassell, Esq. 3 
The following paper was then read by the Author :— 
EVOLUTION BY NATURAL SELECTION, TESTED BY 
ITS OWN CANON, AND SHOWN TO BE UN- 
THNABLE. By Josnrn Hassett, A.K.C., London. 
“Tf it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, 
which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive 
slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”— 
Origin of Species, p. 146, sixth edition. 
I.—Inrropuction. 
AN is everywhere surrounded by Life, Organisation, 
Intelligence, and Will. Such being the case, it is 
but reasonable that he should desire to know the origin of 
these phenomena. Hence the inquiry, Has life existed from 
all Eternity, or had it its origin in time? ‘Were the compli- 
cated organisms of the animal and vegetable kingdoms evolved 
from less complicated forms, or were they brought forth in 
their completeness from an egg or germ in which was involved 
