68 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MONTREAL. 



the presence of mysteries of life and structure which he cannot 

 fathom, and which, therefore, teach him humility. He is only 

 the interpreter of that which he cannot imitate ; and he is willing, 

 in collecting his facts, to sit at the feet of any one who can inform 

 him in respect to the thousands of ordinary phenomena open to 

 the investigation of every person who observes. Lastly, the reve- 

 lation of God in nature, like that in his word, is thrown around 

 us in such a way that while a little child may learn much of it, 

 the powers of the highest intellect are tasked in reaching its higher 

 truths, and in correcting the errors in which carelessness and igno- 

 rance envelop it. These two great revelations are twin products 

 of the Divine mind : the one the study of man in innocence ; the 

 other the safety of man fallen : — and it is true that he who loves 

 God most, will appreciate nature most ; he who knows nature best, 

 must best understand its Author. To disparage the study of nature 

 as inferior to any other means of culture, is to evince the littleness 

 of a mind dwarfedby the study of man's doings and blind to those 

 of God, or the impiety of a sou! that has no wish to magnify the 

 works which men behold, as the external manifestation of the spi- 

 ritual Creator. 



But I must not follow such thoughts further, and now close 

 by earnestly inviting all who are present this evening, to unite 

 with us in exploring the wonders that are spread everywhere 

 around us in nature, and assuring them that in this matter 

 a little knowledge is not a dangerous, but on the contrary, a plea- 

 sant and profitable thing ; and that while in Canada, there is scope 

 for many more workers than we now have, there is still more 

 ample scope for all who may desire to understand and enjoy the 

 results of their labors. 



Eev. A. F. Kemp next addressed the audience. He said it af- 

 forded him great pleasure to be there. Yet he had come there un- 

 expectedly to himself, after rather severe labours during the pre- 

 ceding week ; but being a great lover of natural science, he could 

 not shrink from the invitation, and from saying such words as he 

 might be enabled to offer on a subject so deeply interesting to 

 him. Natural science was a most interesting part of human learn- 

 ing : most people liked it : it had a greater charm than most 

 other departments. Amongst children there was a great taste 

 for natural objects. They liked to touch things, and were curious 

 in their inquiries about them. Curiosity was the faculty which 

 in natural science was brought to bear upon nature. Some people,, 



