53 
any of those men whose opinions on religious subjects differ so widely from 
their own. And although I confess some of the papers have been too deep for 
me entirely to comprehend, and although I may take different views from the 
authors of those papers, I think the result has been that the public now see 
that there need be no real opposition between science and religion, because 
they find men who are deeply imbued with scientific knowledge, who are con- 
versant with all the data on which it is necessary to build up the fabric of 
scientific truth, avowing themselves at the same time firm believers in the 
doctrines of religion — in short, that men can be, as is shown by those who 
have read and discussed the papers in the Victoria Institute — not only 
profound philosophers, but devout and sincere Christians. Now, I think that 
that has been very mainly due to the care which has been taken by those who 
have the government of this Society in the selection of the subjects and the 
choice of the men to handle these subjects, because there is little doubt that 
from the difficulty and delicacy of many of the topics, if they had been put 
into the hands of incompetent men the result would have been disastrous, 
instead of beneficial. I believe the result has been beneficial, and that much 
good has been done to the cause of religious truth by the discussions that 
have taken place in this Society ; and for those results I believe you are 
mainly indebted to the superintending care of the officers of this Society, 
and I have therefore great pleasure in moving this resolution of thanks to 
them. 
Rev. R. Thornton, D.D. — My Lord, Ladies, and Gentlemen; the mover of 
this resolution has very fairly argued from results. This is an age in which 
we are told we must always be paid according to the results; I therefore think 
it just, that, seeing the result of the labours of the Council, we should pay to 
them the reward which they so well deserve; and I accordingly, with great 
pleasure, second the vote of thanks. I notice that in trials in Courts of Justice, 
it sometimes happens that there is no doubt about the phenomenon ; as, for 
instance, from the appearance of a black eye it is clear that an assault has been 
committed, and there i3 a very considerable probability that the prisoner at 
the bar has had something to do with the production of the phenomenon; at 
the same time it is not so clearly shown by the evidence by what hand it was 
done so as to bring it home to him. I am very happy to stand before you 
and say that we are able to bring home to the Council the charge that is 
made in our resolution. I am one of the Vice-Presidents, and have the 
honour of presiding very frequently at the deliberations of the Council, and I 
assure you that it is a great gratification to me to do so, because I find an amount 
of intelligence, ability, and business knowledge brought to bear on the affairs 
of the Institute which is a very great credit to the Council, and advantage 
to the Institute. Therefore, in the capacity of evidence for the prosecution, 
I beg you to find the Council guilty of thorough capacity and careful attention 
to business ; and I ask you to condemn them to accept your warmest and 
most cordial thanks for the labours which they have so efficiently performed. 
(Cheers and laughter.) 
The resolution was carried unanimously. 
