248 ANNUAL MEETING. 



ancestors of those nations lived together, and so derived the custom 

 from a common source. 

 Monday, January 3, 1898. — A Lecture, on "Past Civilizations," by 

 the Eev. J. Tuckwell. 



In which he reviewed the life and customs of early nations 

 so far as research has as yet made them known. 

 Monday, January 1 7. — " Another possible cause of the Glacial Epoch." 

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



The author described new researches as to the origin of 

 the Glacial Epoch, referred to the successive elevations and 

 depressions of the ocean bed and the American Continent, and the 

 influence of the Gulf Stream, on the north-west coasts of Europe. 

 Professor Rupert Jones, F.R.S., Professors Gresley, Warren 

 Upham, of the United States, and Cavaliere W. P. Jervis, head of 

 the Royal Italian Museum of Turin, and others, contributed to the 

 discussion. 

 Monday, February 7. — " Literature in Egypt in the time of Moses." 

 By Professor Fradenburgh, D.D., Ph.D., LL.D. 



The author gave a full description of the results of recent re- 

 searches in showing the high state of the Arts and Sciences in 

 ancient Egypt at that time, and how that country was a recognized 

 centre of learning to surrounding nations ; [thus seeming specially 

 to justify the expression in holy writ, "learned in all the wisdom 

 of the Egyptians."] Colonel Conder, D.C.L., Mr. T. G. Pinches, of 

 the British Museum, and others, took pai't in the discussion that 

 ensued. 

 Monday, February 21. — "Plan and Purpose in Nature." By W. Kidd, 

 Esq., M.D, With additional arguments by Professors Lionel S. 

 Beale, M.D., F.R.S., J. H. Gladstone, Ph.D., F.R.S., and others. 



A paper criticising the various current objections to the 

 argument from Design, and illustrating the force of that 

 argument from some of the more recent scientific researches. 

 Many took part in considering this subject. 

 Monday, March 7. — "The Sphinx : Its Purpose." By General A. B. 

 TuLLOCH, C.B., C.M.G. 

 I. General Tulloch, in a brief lecture, described the results of some 

 interesting explorations carried out in the neighbourhood of the 

 Sphinx, which throw light upon its pnrj^ose, 

 II. Some remarks on "The Harmony of Science and Faith," by the 

 President, were read as a lecture. 



Sir Charles Gordon, K.C.B., Dr. Walker, Professor Hull, 

 F.R.S., and others took part in the discussion that ensued. 

 Monday, March 21. — A Lecture on " The Two Babylonian Versions of 

 the Story of the Flood." By Theo. G. Pinches, Esq., M.R.A.S. 



The author gave the results of his critical examination of the 



text on the fragment of the tablet lately discovered by Dr. Scheil, 



showed the imi^ortance of the indications it gave as lo its date, 



and the references given by the two versions in our jjossession to 



the well known story of "the Flood. He held that there was a 



common origin for these versions. 



Monday, April 4. —"The Star Woi-shippers of Mesopotamia." By the 



Rev. S. M. Zwemer, M.A. Notes by Colonel Conder, R.E., D.C.L., 



and others. 



The author described this tribe, in whose neighbourhood he had 



