24 
ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
of things, not of gods ; man is the one creature that is 
made in the image of God, that has communion with Him on 
the one hand, and can examine into and appreciate the glories 
of the visible creation on the other. 
Here we are dealing with the basis of all religion, with truth 
which is eternal, with a relation which does not change, and the 
progress of science cannot modify in its essence. 
If the progress of science could alter this relation, 
could alter the fundamental basis of religion, what would 
follow ? Necessarily that religion must be closed to all 
but the few. The poor, the ignorant, would have no part in it. 
It would be the monopoly of the few giant intellects which were 
at the head of the science of the day. 
Of the science of the day, which the science of the morrow 
would make obsolete. For science deals with things that change 
and of their changes, and is the changing thought of man con- 
cerning these. But religion deals with that which is eternal 
and reaches all, even the poor, the ignorant and the young. 
Nay it is especially for these, for it is eternally true that unless 
we be converted and become as little children, we cannot enter 
the kingdom of heaven. The little child can apprehend as well 
as the wisest sage, the first article of religion : — 
“ I believe in God the Father Who made me and all the world.” 
That truth, whether so expressed, or expressed as in the first 
words of Genesis : — 
“ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” 
is the foundation of all science as well as of all religion. It cuts 
at the root of all animism, nature worship, and polytheism and 
of all the endless and degrading myths which have sprung there- 
from, and have debased the spirit of man, and enslaved his 
intellect. That truth has set man free, free to examine into the 
whole wide creation without restriction and without fear ; free 
also to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever. 
The Address was listened to with great interest, and the thanks 
of the Meeting for it were moved by the Very Rev. Dr. Wace, 
Dean of Canterbury, seconded by Rev. Chancellor Lias, and being 
put from the Chair by the President, were carried unanimously. 
At the conclusion of the proceedings a cordial vote of thanks to 
the President for his conduct in the Chair was carried unanimously. 
