ANNUAL WEKTING. 



7 



The Chairman. — Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the 

 Report for the year read, and it calls for few comments on my part 

 in addition. I should like more particularly to draw attention to 

 what we may call the event of the year, the competition for the 

 first prize, called the Gunning Prize. This essay, as well as that 

 which received a second prize, met with considerable attention in 

 many quarters from people well ahle to judge their merit, and they 

 have been republished in America ; several incjuiries for the essays 

 have been made in various directions and permission has been given 

 l)y the Council to have them read where requested in different 

 parts of the country. As members of the Institute we bear in mind 

 that its work is not for the honour and glory of the Institute so 

 much as for the great Cause we have in hand; and those present 

 will doubtless agree with me that in the present day there is great 

 room and necessity for the discussion of subjects bearing on the 

 interpretation of the Old and New Testaments, and that there should 

 be an Institution like this where subjects — whether Biblical or 

 Scientific — should find a home, as they have in the Victoria Institute. 

 I think we all of us could extend the usefulness of the papers which 

 are read, printed and issued to the members, by circulating them as 

 much as we can amongst our friends, and so using them as seed to 

 spread broadcast throughout the country. 



As regards the membership, one is sorry to observe that the 

 number has fallen a little short of what it was last year. We 

 very much desire to raise our numbers, because in proportion to the 

 numbers who join the Institute our funds are benefited, and we are 

 consequently able to do more work. It is, however, encouraging 

 w^ith the existing membership that we have so wide a circulation, 

 and that we have members not only in England but in America, 

 and in our Colonies ; showing that there is a considerable number 

 of people scattered in many directions by whom our M'ork is 

 thoroughly ap])reciated. The balance sheet shows the fact of our 

 deficiency of members ; but I think if everyone would try in 

 the course of the year to get at least one more recruit it would 

 not only be a great benefit to the individual but to the Society at 

 large. 



I will now ask Dr. Irving to be kind enough to move the first 

 resolution. 



Eev. Dr. Irving. — I am getting rather accustomed to this 



