47 



490th ORDINAKY MEETING 

 MONDAY, JANUARY 18th, 1909. 



David Howard, Esq., D.L., F.C.S., F.I.C. (Vice-Peesident), 

 IN THE Chair. 



The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read and confirmed, 

 the following gentlemen were then elected as Associates of the Victoria 

 Institute : — 



The Rev. Hamilton Ashwin, LL.D. (T.C.D.), the Lecture House, 

 Dedham, Colchester. 



The Rev. Edward Godfrey Ashwin, M.A. (Camb.), Rector of 

 Earl Stonliam, Stovvmarket, Suffolk. 



The following paper was then read by the Author : — 



SCIENCE AND THE UNSEEN WOULD. By A. T. 

 Schofield, M.D. 



UNDER this title I propose very briefly first of all to 

 consider the relative spheres of Science and Revelation, 

 and secondly to pass in review various phenomena dependent 

 on the forces of the unseen world with which we are as yet but 

 little acquainted. 



In the first place then. I would say that the very existence 

 and possibility oF science, equally with that of the scientific man, 

 postulates God. 



The whole of science and its researches in every branch are 

 based upon the hypothesis that nature is intelligible, i.e., has 

 been constructed by mind. If nature were the result of the 

 caprice of an irrational being, such as that of claw marks on a 

 tree, or the scratchings of a cat on a wall, no science would be 

 possible. 



All science,, truly so called, is a sincere attempt to decipher 

 the handwriting of the Almighty on the Universe, and. to discern 

 the design and purpose that may underlie it all ; but it proceeds 

 OD the belief that the writing is there, and that purpose and design 

 are facts. Design may equally be shown in constructing the 



