Rev. George Matheson, D.D., LL.D., F.R.S.E. 
By Rev. James Lindsay, D.D. 
(Read November 5, 1906.) 
It is to me a real, though melancholy, satisfaction to utter 
what Ijischylus calls a few “ posthumous words in praise of 
a divinely good man” — hriTVjxfiiov a Ivor h r dvSpl Oeiip* 
Dr George Matheson became a Fellow of this Society in 1890. 
One of the most valuable features of the Royal Society of 
Edinburgh is its recognition of literary distinction as well as of 
Scientific eminence, even though nothing has yet been done to 
differentiate and develop its literary resources after the manner 
of the Royal Society of Canada. To this literary side of the 
Society Dr Matheson belonged. Yet he was not without a keen 
interest in scientific theories such as those of Tyndall, Spencer, 
Darwin, and Comte. Indeed, such hooks as Can the Old Faith 
live ivith the New ? and The Psalmist and the Scientist were, at 
the time of publication, highty useful attempts at some reconcile- 
ment of science with religion. 
Born at Glasgow in 1842, he became M.A., with philosophical 
honours, at the University there in 1862, and B.D. in 1866. He 
held ministerial charges at Innellan and St Bernard’s, Edinburgh, 
in both cases with distinguished success. In 1879 the degree of 
D.D. was conferred upon him by Edinburgh University, that of 
Aberdeen bestowing upon him LL.D. at a later period. In 1881 
he held the Baird Lectureship; and in 1899 he was appointed to 
the Gifford Lectureship in Aberdeen, which, however, he declined. 
Blind from his youth, Dr Matheson’s intellectual interest and 
Miltonic courage won a supreme conquest. His literary industry 
was astonishing, his mental energy great and unceasing. He 
thought rapidly : truth came to him in intuitive flashes. Of 
volumes he published almost a score, and, in addition, many 
magazine articles. His work was varied in character and contents 
— historical, doctrinal, apologetical, exegetical, devotional, and 
* Agamemnon, 1547. 
