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Mr. C. Brooke, F.R.S.— I am requested to address you a second time in 
consequence of the unavoidable absence at the House of Commons, of Mr. 
John Walter, who had charge of the following resolution : — “ That our best 
thanks be given to our esteemed President, Lord Shaftesbury, not only for 
his kindness in presiding on this occasion, but for the inestimable manner in 
which he has devoted his whole life and energies to the maintenance of all 
those principles which it is the main object of this Society to support.” 
(Cheers.) 
Mr. A. W. Crickmay.— I have the honour and pleasure of seconding the 
resolution. The resolution was carried with applause. 
The Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G. — My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, — I 
am sure you will readily believe that I accept with much gratitude the vote 
you have been pleased to pass ; but I should feel a still deeper sense of grati- 
tude if you would excuse a speech from me, for I really shrink from all the 
great subjects which have been brought before us. I believe I was present 
at the very birth of this Society, when an address was delivered by my friend 
Mr. Walter Mitchell, in a small dark room. I had no conception at that 
time of the work which the Society would do, and of the position which it 
would hold, and I assure you I feel now very much like an astonished duck 
that finds it has hatched an ostrich’s egg. (Laughter.) I had no expecta- 
tion whatever of seeing the Society assume such magnificent proportions, and 
from the bottom of my heart I thank Almighty God that He has so prospered 
our efforts. (Cheers.) I did at one period give up some time to the study of 
science, but it is so many years since, that I have lost the little scientific know- 
ledge Ioncehad, Forty-four years ago Iwas much engaged in Sir James South’s 
place at Kensington, and many hours and days have I spent there, but I am 
astonished now at the ignorance in which I was, at a time when I thought I 
had attained to the very heights of science. We are greatly indebted to our 
learned lecturer to-night for conveying to us so much important knowledge, 
and for conveying it in so masterly and literary a style. (Cheers.) And im- 
buing it also with such a noble spirit of piety, religion, and truth. (Loud 
cheers.) Again I say, I give God thanks that we are brought together to 
have it manifested before us that there are men of science who can combine 
the two, and see in science and religion the one God, the Creator of the 
world. I remember that the object with which this Society was formed was, 
not merely to beat down the views of others, not to be antagonistic to the 
progress of science, but to do all that we could do for the development of 
Truth ; and if I may use the phrase, to give religion “ fair play ” : for our 
opponents came down with so much heat, and such a weight of authority, and 
told us that no man who was not a simpleton could ever believe in science 
and religion together, that we said, “ We will see what we can do — we will 
bring masterly minds and pious hearts together, and see if we cannot give a 
great manifestation in favour of revealed truth.” What has been the result ? 
Has there not been a great reaction in the public mind ? (Cheers.) Ib> not 
people now, to a much larger extent, profess to believe in Revelation I And 
