250 DR. E. W. G. MASTERMAN^ ON RECENT DISCOVERIES 



Discussion. 



Professor H. Langhorxe Orchard. — This Society is to be 

 congratulated on the contributions to archaeological science brought 

 before us by papers, in immediate succession, from such high 

 authorities as Professor Sir William Ramsay and Dr. Masterman. 

 It will be the hope of us all that the Palestine Exploration Society 

 will obtain the firman* for which they have applied to enable them 

 to continue their important work on Tell el Jezer. 



We find that the more the statements of Holy Writ are honestly 

 and carefully examined the greater is the illustration afforded of 

 their reliability. To no thoughtful mind can it seem mere coinci- 

 dence that whatever be the matter inquired into, whether place- 

 situations and names, or the beliefs, works, and customs of peoples, 

 the ascertained and final results of investigation are, always and 

 invariably, attestations to the truth of the Bible ; attestations that 

 it is indeed the Word of God. As Professor Sir William Ramsay 

 has pointed out, "in one detail after another the evidence of truth 

 and minute accuracy accumulates." 



J. D. Grace, Esq. — As representing the Honorary Secretary to 

 the Palestine Exploration Fund I am glad of the opportunity of 

 expressing my thanks to Dr. Masterman for writing such an admir- 

 able summary of the results of the more recent explorations in 

 Palestine, not only our own but those undertaken by other countries. 

 These all are helpful to one another and afford valuable means of 

 comparison. It is a pleasure to point out that the writer is a 

 member of our own General Committee, and a frequent and valued 

 contributor to the pages of our quarterly pul)lication. Dr. INIaster- 

 man's long residence in Palestine gives so acute an observer, who is also 

 deeply interested in the subject, great opportunities of studying such 

 local discoveries or accidents as serve to illustrate Bible history. 

 His local observations have among other things extended to the meteo- 

 rology of Palestine, and I observe that he remarks that the climate 



* An aniiounceinent was afterwards made, by a representative of the 

 Palestine Exploration Society, tliat the firman has now been obtained. 



