52 
Captain F. Petrie (Hon. Secretary). — Before the meeting adjourns, I am 
anxious to say a few words. The remark has sometimes been made to 
me in connection with our meetings, “ Why do we hear any one speak in 
favour of Darwinism here ? Are we not a society to oppose, and not to sup- 
port, such views?” I look at our objects, and find that this Institute was 
founded to “ investigate fully and impartially the most important questions 
of philosophy and science.” That sentence may be called the basis of 
the Society. Hence it is needful, if we want to carry out our objects, and 
arrive at any real conclusions upon philosophical or scientific questions, 
that we should investigate them without partiality. Now, we cannot do 
that without hearing both sides. This evening we have not Mr. Bradlaugh 
here, but we have one whom we all recognize as being quite as good a 
Christian as any one in this room, and he has brought forward the theory 
of evolution, or, as some call it, the theory of variation. I will not give my 
own opinion thereon, but must say that it is a very happy thing that 
Ave can have so valuable a paper laid before us. There may be, and, of 
course are, many persons who differ from Mr. Henslow. I am now finishing 
the editing of the fifth volume of our Transactions ; and among the best 
papers in that volume are those by Dr. Robinson Thornton, Mr. Gosse, and 
the Rev. H. Moule, each taking different and even opposite views as regards 
the subject upon which they are written, but with this result, that the truth 
of Revelation has been made plainer than ever, to the discomfiture of those 
who are really outside this Institute altogether — the school of Dr. Colenso. 
Probably before we finish the next session, we shall have other papers on 
evolution, taking different views from those expressed by Mr. Henslow, but 
all assisting us in elucidating the truth as to this very important subject. 
(Cheers.) 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
