4 ANNUAL MEETING. 



during the first lialf of tlie year (Bye-law III, 3). 

 Adherence to the rule on this point wonld remove a 

 serious difficulty in the management of the Institute. 

 Forms for the payment of the subscriptions through a 

 banker are used by a large number, and may be had at 

 the office. 



MEETINGS. 



The meetings of the Institute have been specially Avell 

 attended, the lecture room being almost always fully 

 occupied by the members attending. 



HALF-PAST FOUR O'CLOCK MEETINGS. 



The subjects taken up during the session have been : — 



Monday, December 7, 1896. — " Biblical Lands, their Topography, Lan- 

 guages, Customs Ancient and Modern." By H. Rassam, Esq. 



This subject was introduced by Mr. Rassam in consequence of its 

 having been urged that the work of investigating the records on 

 the monuments and their comprehension by othei's, would be much 

 advanced by a paper describing those manners and customs, tra- 

 ditions, &c., in the east, which are fast dying out, and which he, as 

 a Chaldean, is of all others best acquainted with. 

 Monday, January 4, 1897. — "Herodotus, and the Botany of Ancient 

 Egypt." By Rev. F. A. Walker, D.D., F.L.S. 



A subject which was so treated as to be of special use to the 



student of ancient records. 



Monday, January 18. — "The proposed scheme for embanking the 



Waters of the Nile at Assouan in Upper Egyjit " (with special refei'- 



ence to the preservation of ancient monuments, inscriptions, &c.) By 



Professor Hull, LL.D., F.R.S. 



Professor Hull, F.R.S., Mr. Baldwin Latham, C.E., and others 

 considered the importance of the stejas taken in a matter involving 

 the preservation of imjJortant ancient monuments and records. 

 Monday, February 1. — "The Human Colour Sense." By J. D. Mac- 



donald, Esq., M.D., F.R.S. 

 Monday, February 1 5. — " Are acquired characters inherited ? " By 



Rev. A. K. Ciierrill, M.A. Lecture. 

 Monday, March I. — "Common Errors as regards the Relations of 

 Science and Faith," by Professor Macloskie, LL.D., D.Sc, &c. 



This important subject was biought forwaixl by the Professor of 

 Biology at Princeton Univei'sity, and its consideration by the 

 Institute is most timely, considering the present public tendency 

 to credit statements not based on fact as legards either Science or 

 Faith. 

 Monday, March 15. — "Creation and Evolution," by W. Kidd, Esq., 

 M.D. 



The various views held by men of science and the deductions, 

 therefrom were considered. The Duke of Argyll and othei^s con- 

 tributed their oijinions. 



