312 
ORDINARY MEETING-, Feb. 4, 1878. 
C. Brooke, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, and the 
following elections were announced : — 
Honorary Foreign Corresponding Member : — H. M. Stanley, Esq. 
Members : — The Right Rev. Bishop Staley, D.D., Lichfield ; Rev. Pro- 
fessor Dabney, D.D., United States ; Rev. R. W. Kennion, M.A., 
Norwich ; W. H. Porter, Esq., Letterkenny. 
Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library : — 
“ Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society,” 1st yearly Part. 
From the Society. 
“ Proceedings of the Royal United Service Institution,” Part 93. 
From the Institution. 
“ Comparative Psychology.” By Professor Bascom. The Author. 
“ The Charing Cross Magazine.” From T. W. Greenwell, Fsq. 
The Chairman. — We are all well aware that in the present day, un- 
fortunately, scientific thought is, by some scientists, made to interfere with 
what properly belongs to the scope of religious belief. I have therefore 
much pleasure, on the present occasion, in inviting your attention to the 
paper now to be read*, in which we shall find that the important principles 
we proclaim are placed in a highly satisfactory light. I have now to call 
upon Bishop Cotterill to read his paper. (Cheers.) 
The following Paper was then read by the Author : — 
ON THE TRUE RELATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT 
AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF. By the Right Reverend 
the Bishop oe Edinburgh. 
I T is probable that by this timo most persons are tired of 
hearing that “the problem of the age is the reconciliation 
of science and religion.” Such language is certainly exag- 
gerated, and implies, I think, some misconception of the 
question at issue. Many of us, doubtless, are of opinion that 
if only scientific men and theologians would bo content to 
work in their several spheres, with sincere, patient, and 
reverent love for truth, religion and science would in duo 
course reconcile themselves, without any interference of ours ; 
and we ourselves may not only find no obstacle to our religious 
belief in any of tho legitimate results of scientific research, 
but even in regard to speculations which may seem to us to 
transgress the true limits of scientific thought, wo may cheer- 
