365 
THE “ GUNNING NATURAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND 
FELLOWSHIP FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS.”* 
1. Dr. Gunning proposes to assign two hundred pounds annually for 
encouragement of the study of the Natural Sciences amongst students of 
Theology. 
2. The competition to be open to students of the Established Church and 
the Free Church of Scotland. 
3. The scholarships to be three in number, of the respective annual values 
of twenty, thirty, and fifty pounds. 
4. Each scholarship to be held for three years. 
5. The three scholarships shall be decided for the first time in May, 1880. 
6. The candidates to be examined in natural history, botany, and geology 
* This statement is inserted, as it will be read with interest by many 
Members and friends. The Founder has acted upon his own responsibility, 
and quite independently of the Institute. The scheme is for the purpose of 
promoting an object in the same direction as that which the Institute was 
founded to carry out (it is not often that the value of a society’s main object 
is so emphatically recognised). 
The fellowship and scholarships can now be competed for by theological 
students of the Scottish universities “ holding to our National Confession 
of Faith.” The Founder writes as follows in regard to the scheme : — “ It 
“ is now launched. If the idea is good, would not some with more 
“ money than this life needs establish similar prizes in connection with the 
“ Church of England, the Wesleyan and other IS on conformist denominations 
u in England ? With different platforms, but only one Faith, we could 
“ then combine to qualify the rising race of religious teachers with enough 
“ of scientific knowledge duly to appreciate and rebut the pretentious 
“ sophisms of those to whom the gospel of wisdom, peace, and salvation 
“ is hated foolishness. 
“ My scheme is tentative at present, but after experience of its working 
“ will be made permanent. I now see that the scholarships should be 
“ competed for annually (and not held for three years), so as to prevent the 
“ gainer resting on his oars during the two succeeding years, and also to 
“ give unsuccessful men hopes of gaining at the second or third trials. In 
“ other words, scholarships should be annual trials as certamina for the 
“ fellowship, the final prize which implies six years’ study of geology, botany, 
“ and natural history. By having these degrees of scholarships, more 
“ students will be induced to compete, as some despairing of being first 
“ may hope to be second or third. Of course, with sufficient means more 
“ of each could be established. 
“ By this means students for the university who have a knowledge of the 
“ three sciences named will be centres of influence against false science in 
“ the districts in which they may labour.” The Founder (now resident in 
South America) concludes by referring to the value of the Institute’s 
“ Transactions ” to ministers of the Gospel in their respective districts. 
YOL. XY. 2 E 
