ANNUAL MEETING. 



9 



have now arrived at our thirty-fifth — it reflects very great credit 

 oil the management that such an annual volume should be brought 

 out. It is most excellent in type and thoroughly well edited, and 

 would do honour to any public institution whatever, I speak feel- 

 ingly, having recently contributed a somewhat lengthy paper to the 

 Proceedings, and I can only say that I was surprised at the rapidity 

 with which that paper was brought out in type, and placed in the 

 hands of the members, to enable them to understand what I was 

 talking about, and to join in the discussion. Those matters are 

 certainly highly creditable to the management. Of course this vote 

 of thanks includes all the officers ; but I more especially include the 

 name of the Secretary. (Applause.) 



The Secretary of a society is like the mainspring of a watch, 

 and on him and his vigilance almost everything connected with 

 that society is dependent. I am happy to say that my friend, 

 Professor Hull, has had long and varied experience and that his 

 ability is very well known. The work he has done in the past is of 

 the highest importance, and the work he is doing now is of the 

 greatest utility. I beg, therefore, to move the vote of thanks. 



The Eev. Dr. Irving. — I have much pleasure in seconding this 

 resolution proposed by my old friend Mr. Hudleston, and especially I 

 feel bound to endorse M^hat he has said about the energy and 

 efficiency with which the Secretary has discharged the Inisiness of 

 the Institute. Professor Hull, like ^Ir. Hudleston, is an old 

 geological confrhe of mine, of many years' standing, and I feel verv 

 happy to-day in finding my name associated with theirs. 



As regards the work of the Institute, since I came into the room, I 

 heard a remark made in proposing the first resolution, which reminded 

 me of some worda of the great Lord Bacon, and which seem to me 

 to hit off exactly what should be kept before this Institute as to 

 its objects. He says, speaking of the work of the Creator, that 

 His first work was the creation of light, and his last was the 

 creation of light by man's intellect ; and his Sabbath work, ever 

 since, has been the illumination of the Spirit. 



It appears to me that the author of that statement gathered up 

 in it a Made range of thought and research which an Institute as 

 this ought to keep befoi'e itself, remem1)ering always that the 

 illumination of the Spirit is not confined to theologians or even the 

 inspired record ; that God's Spirit works and has been working 



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