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en " a S ed our factories, who are most eager and anxious to grasp the 
difficulties that beset them on scientific and Biblical subjects— persons whom 
you would have supposed to have been the very last to read such treatises 
as those of the late Mr. John Stuart Mill ; but these are the very persons 
who are found bringing their acumen to bear on those abstruse questions 
which the more generally educated classes pass over, and it is to such minds 
as these that we are also directing our efforts, in the endeavour to show them 
the truth and the purity of the Scriptures and revealed religion. (Hear 
hear.) And not only is such the case in this country, but only a very short 
time ago I heard discussed at a very large meeting, the question, how came 
it that, at this moment, in India, people not only ranking among the native 
princes and others who have recently been entertaining the Prince of Wales 
so magnificently, but persons holding a much lower position in the social 
scale, are striving to work out those difficulties and problems. Now a 
society such as this, which has already commenced operations in India, may 
be extended so as to do great and lasting good there. (Applause.) I do 
not propose to trespass longer on the time of the meeting, and I will only 
add that I have come hastily, like the right hon. gentleman near me 
(Mr. S. Cave, M.P.) from the House of Commons, in order to show my 
sympathy with the work in which the society is engaged, rather than to 
add anything new in the way of information to the knowledge you already 
possess. I thank you for having so kindly listened to me, and beg to second 
the resolution. (Applause.) 
The Light Hon. S. Cave, M.P. — I have to apologise for having been de- 
tained in the House of Commons rather longer than I expected. I ought to 
have seconded the first resolution ; perhaps, however, I may be allowed to 
speak to the one just moved and seconded (cheers), though probably very little 
remains for me to say after what has been already stated. Unfortunately, 
I have only heard my honourable friend who spoke last, and I am sure 
I most cordially agree with every word he has said. Our best thanks, no 
doubt, are due to all who have taken part in the operations of this society, not 
only for the energy and zeal they have displayed, but also for the tact and 
discretion with which they have acted ; because, if ever there was a work 
which more than another required not only energy and zeal, but also the 
soundest judgment and discretion, it is such a work as that in which we 
are engaged. We must remember that our motto is “ Defence, not de- 
fiance, ’ and we must recollect that we are dealing with difficult problems 
which are exercising intellects of very different kinds. There are those 
sceptics, whom I may call political sceptics, such as those who arose 
during the first French Revolution ; who hated religion, as the badges 
of the party they opposed, and who sought to upset old forms of faith as well 
as the existing political and social status. There are also sceptics who are 
so from mere pride of intellect, men who fancy that there can be nothing 
■which they do not understand, and exalt the goddess of reason above 
all other powers. And there are sceptics of another kind, those who are 
