PREFACE 



THE papers read before the Victoria Institute in the 

 Session 1913-1914, and appearing in the present VoUime, 

 No. XLYJ, of the Journal of the Transactions, have been 

 concerned to a larger extent than usual with religious life in 

 action, rather than with abstract philosophical discussions. 

 The Eight Keverend Bishop Welldon has set forth the supreme, 

 indeed the unique, character of Christianity amongst religions ; 

 and the Eev. H. J. E. Marston has insisted upon its supreme 

 and unique doctrine, the doctrine of Atonement. The Eev. 

 Chancellor S. B. McCormick, D.D., has drawn our attention to 

 the influence of Christianity in that welding of many races into 

 one great nation that is now proceeding in the United States ; 

 and the Eev. Prebendary H. E. Fox has shown the need for the 

 influence of Christianity in the development of new Japan, 

 while Professor F. F. Roget, in his memoir of Godet, has 

 presented us with a vivid sketch of a leading Christian pastor 

 and theologian. 



Biblical criticism, in its various departments, has not occupied 

 so much space as in the programmes of the preceding two 

 years, but has not been neglected. The Eev. Chancellor 

 J. J. Lias has presented with admirable clearness the strong 

 linguistic evidence for the early date of the Priestly Code ; and 

 the incident of the taking of Babylon by Cyrus has been 

 discussed by the Eev. A. Craig Eobinson, and the accuracy of 

 the references to it in the Book of Daniel completely manifested. 

 The Eev. T. H. Darlow, in his paper on Versions of the Bible, 

 has pointed out how essentially the Scriptures remain the 

 Word of God in inspiration and power, no matter what the 

 language into which they may be translated ; and similarly 

 Mr. Maunder has endeavoured to bring out from the First 



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