270 



the fallible and finite human mind seeks to fathom the deep 

 mysteries of its own past history, of Nature, and of the ways of 

 God, the Supreme and Infinite Intelligence, with man, whom 

 He has made in "His own image, and after His likeness." 

 After all, we must confess, as the wisest have ever done, 



"Thy powerful lawes, Thy wonders of Creation, 

 « •& •& # * « 



Lye shadow'd under man's degeneration." 



In conclusion, I have again to express my grateful sense of the 

 high honour which you conferred at our last anniversary meeting, 

 in electing me your President, and my regret that I have not 

 been able to fulfil my responsible duties more worthily. I would 

 also return my warm thanks for the great courtesy and kindness 

 which I have experienced from all connected with our Club 

 during my term of office. As in the past, so in the future, I 

 trust that it will go on prospering more and more. During the 

 last year a large number of new members have been added, and 

 several valuable papers read. For myself, I have felt, as no 

 doubt many of my predecessors have done, the benefit which 

 accrues in being incited to take a more personal interest in the 

 widely different fields of scientific observation and study which 

 several of our members have so successfully cultivated. This 

 variety of tastes and subjects of study seems to be reflected in the 

 election to this chair of men of different idiosyncrasies, and their 

 special turn of thought will impart a certain measure of variety to 

 their yearly retrospect and address. It is well for the minister of 

 God's word to have his sympathies enlarged towards all who are 

 helping in the pursuit of truth ; for fellow-observers in the wide 

 fields of Nature's domains to gain a knowledge of each other's 

 difficulties on the one hand, and proofs for religious conviction 

 on the other; and, by such means, to be assured "that science, 

 rightly interpreted, can never be discordant with God's Eevela- 

 tion, when that revelation is correctly understood."*' For " the 

 works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have 

 pleasure therein." 



* "The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man Reconsidered,"' by T. K. Callard, 

 F.G.S., p. 38. 



