26 FIELD MEETINGS. 



solar system must have been infinitely more repugnant to the 

 views of the zealous divines of his day, must have appeared infi- 

 nitely more heterodox and unscriptural than those now broached 

 either in Biology or Geology by any but extremest advocates. 

 Let us not throw aside the theory that explains the largest num- 

 ber of ascertained facts, whatever it be, because we fancy that it 

 must interfere with other views on subjects which we hold to be 

 of more importance. Man's theory may or may not represent a 

 final law, but held in a right spirit, even when most imperfect 

 and faulty, may be a stepping-stone to truth. 



I cannot do better than conclude with a passage bearing on 

 such matters from the letter of one whose reverential humility 

 was scarcely less remarkable than his rare scientific abilities, the 

 late Professor Earaday. He says, "But though the natural 

 works of God can never by any possibility come in contradiction 

 with the higher things that belong to our future existence, and 

 must with everything concerning Him ever glorify Him, still I 

 do not think it at all necessary to tie the study of the natural 

 sciences and religion together ; and in my intercourse with my 

 fellow-creatures, that which is religious and that which is philo- 

 sophical have ever been two distinct things." 



The Field Meetings for 1873 were arranged to be held as 

 follows : — 



May Holywell Dene. 



June Hexham and Dipton. 



July (two days) .... Whitby. 



August *. . . . The Tees, near Barnard Castle 



September Crag Lough. 



October Marsden. 



TnE Treasurer's report (see p. 29) was read and adopted. 



