Proc. B.N.F.C, 



-?-;^l 



WINTER SESSION. 



Note. — The authors of the various papers, of which abstracts are here 

 appended, are alone responsible for the views expressed in them. 



The first meeting of the Session was held on 17th November, 

 when the President, Rev. William MacIlwaine, delivered an 

 opening address. 



After some introductory remarks with reference to the nature of 

 their organisation, and the advantages offered by a " Club" such as 

 theirs for the study of Natural History and connected subjects, he 

 proceeded to give an outline of the proceedings of similar societies, 

 and of the progress of scientific pursuits in general, throughout the 

 past twelve months, commencing with a reference to the visit to 

 Belfast, last year, by the British Association. In so doing, Dr. 

 MacIlwaine drew attention to the inaugural address of the Presi- 

 dent of that society, during the present year, at the meeting held 

 in Bristol, commenting on that of Sir John Hawkshaw as strongly 

 contrasted with the now celebrated one of Professor Tyndall at 

 Belfast. The former was eminently practical, and far from anything 

 that could give offence, or even wound the prejudices of anyone 

 who professed Christianity; while the latter was the tocsin of a re- 

 ligious and scientific warfare, which spread from Belfast as a centre 

 to all parts of the civilised world. Sir J. Hawkshaw appeared to 

 have these facts in view, in the opening sentence of his address, 

 and all through it, when he referred to certain speculations bearing 

 " on the mind, and perhaps even beyond the reach of mind." 

 That the address of Dr. Tyndall was nothing less or more than a 

 bold assertion of not only materialistic, but even of atheistic*- 



