COMMEMORATION MEETING. 



L57 



They named it after the great Queen who for nearly a third 

 of a century had reigned over us and ever since has been known 

 in our hearts as Victoria the Good. 



In looking back at the past fifty years one realizes what a 

 wonderful success has crowned the fearless endeavours of the 

 Institution, often under great difficult)', to bring Religion and 

 Science together. No Society has ever done a better work for 

 the peace of mind and general mental welfare of the human race. 

 Under its influence both sides have not only given up aggres- 

 sive action but have arranged their houses in the guise of 

 homes for hospitality rather than as strong castles for offence 

 and defence. 



It is fifty-one years ago to-day that the circular which suggested 

 the founding of the Victoria Institute was issued, and fifty years 

 ago to-day the first general meeting of the Institute was held. The 

 Institute was exactly a year in its inception. The following are the 

 minutes of that first general meeting, and, curiously enough, when 

 looking through the register I found that those minutes had never 

 been signed, and I thought it would be an appropriate thing if our 

 Chairman to-day were to sign them as proof that the Institute has 

 been working for fifty years and is still in full activity. 



The Minutes of the First General Meeting held on May 24th, 1866, 

 at 32, Sackville Street, London, W., the Right Honourable the Earl 

 of Shaftesbury, K.G., President, in the chair, were then read. 



The Chairman : Is it your pleasure that I sign these minutes as 

 correct ? (Laughter.) I will now ask the Secretary to read the 

 objects of the Institute. 



The Secretary : It has been suggested that possibly there are 

 some persons here who were at that first meeting fifty years ago. If 

 so, would they put up their hands. I am afraid there do not seem 

 to be any. I will now, with the permission of the meeting, read the 

 Objects of the Institute as they were adopted at the first annual 

 general meeting of members and associates on May 27th, 1867, that 

 is to say, when the Institute had been a year in existence. 



The Secretary then read the original statements of the 

 "Objects " of the Institute as adopted at the First Annual General 

 Meeting, held on Monday, May 27th, 1867. 



