OEDINAEY MEETING* 



Lieut.-Gexeral Sin H. L. Geary, K.C.B., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the ]3revious Meetuig were read and coiifirmed. 



The following candidates were elected : — 



Associates : — Harry Collison, Esq., Carrister-at-law, 1, Tem])le Gardens ; 

 Eev. W. H. Griffith Thomas, B.D., Principal of W3 clitt'e Hall, Oxford ; 

 Miss Grace Blandy, Bircham 1 Louse, Coleford. 



The following paper was read by Eev. Canon Girdlestone, in 

 the absence of the Author : — 



THE BEABING OE BECENT OBIENTAL DIS- 

 CO V EE I ES OX OLD TESTAMENT HISTOBY. ]3y 

 the Eev. John UiiQUiiAirr. Being the essay for which 

 " The Gunning Prize " was awarded by the Council. 



HISTOEY has again and again furnished striking coinci- 

 dences ; but few of these have l)een more remarkable 

 than one which has characterised our own times. We have 

 witnessed, on one liand, the outburst of a stdiolarly, persistent, 

 and professedly Christian attack upon the historical character 

 of the Old Testament ; and, on the other hand, the s[)lendidly 

 equipped, and marvellously successful, activity (lis|)layed in the 

 exploration of Eastern hinds. Their ancient cities have been 

 i'xcavated ; their monuments have been deciphered ; their histoi y 

 lias lieen resuscitated; and pidmeval civilisation has l)een 

 unveiled. These two movements, in so far at least as tlie Bible 

 is concerned, liave been the outstanding features of the latter 

 lialf of the past century and of the beginning of the present. 

 They liave arisen, and they have progressed, in entire 

 independence of ea(di other; l)ut no two movements have ever 

 liad a closer connection. 



* ]Mon(lay, Docend)er 11th, IDO."). 



