251 
ORDINARY MEETING, February 7, 1876. 
The Rev. Prebendary Currey, D.D., in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the last meeting, were read and confirmed, and the fol- 
lowing elections were announced : — 
Members : — 
Rev. R. W, Forrest, M.A., St. Jude’s Vicarage, Kensington. 
Rev. J. G. Hawes, M.A., R.D., late Fellow of St. Peter’s Coll. Camb., 
Minehead. 
Associates : — 
J. Bush, Esq., Chatham. 
D. A. T. Christie, Esq., London. 
C. E. B. Young, Esq., London. 
Rev. H. Ryder Ware, M.A., C.C. Coll. Camb., London. 
Also, the presentation of the following Works to the Library 
“ Proceedings of the Royal Society.” Part 165. From the Society. 
Pioceedings of the Royal Institution.” Part 63. From the Institute. 
“ Light as a Motive Power.” Lieut. Armit, R.N. From the Author. 
“ Everlasting Punishment,” Rev. F. N. Oxenham, M.A. Ditto. 
The following Paper was then read by the Author 
HEATHEN COSMOGONIES COMPARED WITH THE 
HEBREW. By the Rev. Bourchier Wrey Savile, 
Shillingford Rectory, Exeter. 
attempting to compare the various theories entertained 
JL by ancient writers respecting the origin of men and 
things, with the Hebrew cosmogony, as set forth in Scripture, 
it may be best to allow the several authorities, from which I 
shall have occasion to quote, to state, as far as possible in their 
own words, the belief entertained by their fellow-countrymen 
on this important subject. But it will be impossible to con- 
sider some of the very curious and extravagant theories thus 
stated without observing, as the late Sir Charles Lyell truly 
remarked, that they do “'not seem to differ essentially in prin- 
ciple from some cosmological notions of men of great genius 
and science in modern Europe.” * 
2. Referring to the “ cosmological notions ” entertained by 
the ancient Egyptians, as set forth in that wonderful book, The 
Ritual of the Dead, portions of which are undoubtedly as old 
as the time of Abraham, and therefore some centuries older 
than the Books of Moses, we find that they believed in the 
Ly ell’s Principles of Geology, vol. i. p. 11. 
T 2 
