11 
of truth. There are many other societies which do the same thing, and 
they do it most loyally and faithfully, in a truly scientific spirit ; hut they 
do not always profess to make religion the foremost in the purposes to which 
I have alluded ; and, perhaps, to a certain extent they may he to hlame ; 
hut because their revelations may not always he acceptable to or appreciated 
by every one, there is nothing to justify us in looking upon them as 
something objectionable. I should think that this Society can do no better 
service than by seeking to draw together, and by inviting such men into 
its ranks, and by listening to and treating their papers with all patience, 
and giving them an impartial hearing. (Hear, hear.) I will simply conclude 
by moving the resolution, which is : “ That the thanks of the members and 
associates of the Institute be presented to the Council, honorary officers, 
and auditors for their efficient conduct of the business of the Institute 
during the year.” 
Eev. E. P. Davies, M.A., F.E.A.S. — It is with very great pleasure that I 
second the vote of thanks which has just been proposed by Sir Joseph 
Fayrer, and I must add that I assent most heartily to the rider he has added 
to the resolution with regard to Captain F. Petrie. (Hear, hear.) 
The resolution was then put and carried nem. con. 
Eev. Prebendary Currey, D.D. (Master of the Charterhouse). — I have 
been asked to express, in the name of the Council, our thanks to this 
meeting for its vote of confidence and approval of the work that has 
been done. I most heartily and cordially agree that the name of the 
Honorary Secretary should stand foremost in this resolution — (Hear, hear,) — 
because we of the Council know better than any one else how very much is 
due to the indefatigable exertions he has put forth from the time when he 
first fostered this Society. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the Council, they 
have at heart that great object of the Institute, which has been so well 
described. They desire that the interests of science and of religion should 
go hand in hand, and are fully convinced of the importance of awaiting 
patiently the result of scientific inquiry ; and, while on the one hand, they 
do not desire' that we should hurry to conclusions which, unfortunately, it 
sometimes appears, men are hurried into, at the same time they are perfectly 
ready to listen, and to give due weight to every conclusion which seems to 
be drawn with carefulness, with conscientiousness, and with earnestness. 
Of course we know very well that in doing this errors will from time to 
time spring up. All that we feel is, that if those errors have sprung from 
an earnest search and desire after truth, they will correct themselves, or 
will bring forth other truths to correct them, and those who have been led 
into the errors will be the very first to acknowledge them. An important 
duty that the Council has to perform is, — I will not say an arduous one, but a 
responsible one, — to consider papers before they are read, and to consider 
how far those papers agree with the general purposes of the Institute, and 
at the same time not to impede the fair expression of opinion so far as is 
