10 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



bat it is the aim and object of this Society to endeavour to do 

 away with these defects. This Institute is not antagonistic to 

 science — if it were T should not remain in it for an hour — and the 

 very fact that so many of its members are men of science, and 

 that our President is a leading man of science, is sufficient to prove 

 this. It has no prejudices, but it seeks to know the truth, the 

 real truth ; and it has no desire to place itself in conflict with 

 religious thought. Its aim is to remove those difficulties which 

 still exist among so many, for Science and Religion cannot 

 really be in conflict if they be studied in a proper spirit; but if 

 there be dogmatic assertions on the one side and self-sufficiency 

 and obstinacy on the other, it is quite impossible that they can 

 ever be held in accord. To bring about a right understanding is 

 one of the aims of this Society, and I am vei'y glad to find that its 

 work has been so satisfactory, and that many Papers in the Trans- 

 actions that have gone abroad have been translated into foreign 

 languages. Our work has done much good, and I think every one 

 must wish well to the Victoria Institute, and desire that its 

 progress may continue to be as gratifying as in the past, I will 

 now call on Sir Henry Barkly to move the adoption of the Report. 



Sir H. Barkly, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., F.R.S.— Sir Joseph Fayrer, 

 my lord, ladies and gentlemen : I rise to move the adoption of the 

 Report, but as you have heard its contents already sufficiently in 

 detail, I will not detain you by making further allusion to it, as 

 I am sure you will agree with me that all concerned in the pro- 

 duction of so satisfactory a Report, are entitled to your thanks. 

 I will therefore move, without further preface, — " That the 

 Report be received, and the thanks of the Members and Associates 

 presented to the Council, Honorary Officers, and Auditors for their 

 efficient conduct of the business of the Victoria Institute during 

 the year." 



Professor Hull, LL.D., F.R.S. — I have great satisfaction in 

 being permitted to second the adoption of the resolution which has 

 been moved by Sir Henry Barkly. I think, however, we should 

 be wanting in our duty if we did not say a little more in reference 

 to the services of the Honorary Officers of this Institute. I will 

 therefore say, in the first place, how greatly the Institute is indebted 

 for its present position and usefulness to our President, Sir George 

 Gabriel Stokes, because I know he takes a very great interest in 

 its progress and work, and that he has been here to take part in 



