ORDINARY MEETING.* 

 Held in the Theatre of Kixg's College. 



The Presidext, Sir G. G. Stokes, LL.D., F.R.S., ix 

 THE Chair. 



THE NATURE OF LIFE. Bv Professor Lioxel S. 

 Beale, F.R.S. 



Part I. 



Mr. Presidext, Ladies and Gextlemex: — Before I pass 

 to that very difficult problem, a part of which I hope to bring 

 before you this evening-, perhaps you will allow me to explain, 

 in a few words, why we are assembled here this afternoon 

 rather than meeting in our usual room. 



It is because the Council thought that perhaps the room 

 where we usually have our meetings would not be quite 

 large enough to accommodate all who are here without 

 inconvenience, so we applied to the authorities of King's 

 College and they very kindly placed the large theatre at onr 

 disposal. 



There must, naturally, be some sympathy between King's 

 College and the Victoria Institute. Both Institutions have 

 been founded upon somewhat similar principles — both are 

 situated in a central part of London. Their portals are 

 always open to everyone who desires to study and who 



* February 20tli, 1899. 



