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gentlemen who write on scientific subjects are themselves very icrnorant of 

 our side ; in fact, that they know nothing about it. (Hear, hear.) What, I 

 ask, would be said of any one who should attempt to give a lecture on a 

 language he had never studied ? I once knew, as a matter of fact, of a 

 gentleman who, in mere exuberance of spirits, and, I suppose, because he 

 was in reality very clever, and had a good deal of address, attended a meeting, 

 and passed a whole evening among its friends, to whom he was given out 

 as Professor of Arabic in a celebrated university, without his knowing a 

 word of the lang'iage. (Laughter.) He made a few unintelligible remarks, and, 

 although he was among university men and others, he passed off as an Arabic 

 professor. How easy it is for people to acquire character without knowledge. 

 He was that sort of man who could handle a few facts in a most adroit way, 

 and produce an effect upon those who knew nothing, because he knew a little, 

 or pretended to it. It is just in the same way that people of little know- 

 ledge talk against the Bible, and we take up their views and objections, 

 and find many of them are of the most childish kind. "When we treat them 

 with respect, and place them in antagonism with some solemn scientific 

 theories, we are doing deep injustice to the Bible, and we are also doing an 

 unfair thing to the poor fellows who know nothing about the matter, and 

 whom we treat as if they did. We should try to make them understand 

 that theology is not only a science, but, as we believe it to be, the queen 

 of sciences ; that we are anxious to teach them what is true on our side, and 

 are willing to be taught ourselves what is true on their side, if they will only 

 teach us. Do not, however, let us mix up crudities with the science of 

 theology. There seems to me a little of this in the paper to-night, and with- 

 out the slightest wish to offend the learned writer, I would so far object to 

 it on the ground I have stated, much as I admire the paper on other 

 grounds. (Hear, hear.) 



Admiral Halstead.— I have been much pained by Dr. Irons' remarks, 

 and wish to ask what is to be the effect of infidel teaching — not upon those 

 who are grown up, but on the thinking youth of the country — if those whose 

 duty it is to do so do not endeavour to counteract it in every possible way ? 

 (Hear.) I maintain that the danger lies with our youth, and therefore 

 I say it is necessary for us to distinguish between truth and imposture. 

 (Hear.) 



Rev. J. H. TiTCOME. — Although I concur with the meeting in thank- 

 ing the author for having given us much that is very interesting and 

 valuable, and in perfect harmony with our own thoughts as religious 

 men, yet I think that some of the points he has set himself to prove have 

 not been proven ; and that the points which have been proved in the 

 paper lead us to an issue on which there is an inconclusive sequence 

 raised. First of all, in section 12, the author says : " I undertake to 

 prove that a belief in Darwinism and Revelation is incompatible and irre- 

 concilable." Now, I wish it to be understood that I do not in the slightest 

 degree believe in Darwinism, nor do I think it has been at all proved, 

 and many scientific men of the day concur in tjiis judgment. We are not 



