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Rear-Admiral H. D. Grant, C.B. — I will not at this hour occupy 
your time by doing more than briefly seconding the resolution that has just 
been moved. It affords me peculiar pleasure to speak here for the first time, 
although I have been a member of the Institute since its foundation 
by my dear friend, Mr. Reddie, who has gone to his rest. I remember 
that when he proposed its formation his first idea was the motto under 
which we are acting, — “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” — and I think that 
such a paper as we have heard to-night, as well as the remarks we have had 
from those who have already spoken, cannot but help to advance the glory 
of God through the medium of this great Institute. (Hear, hear.) 
The resolution was put and carried. 
The Rt. Hon. A. S. Ayrton, P.C. — I have very great pleasure in asking 
you to bring our proceedings to a close by moving a resolution in which I 
have no doubt every one present will readily concur ; not because our pro- 
ceedings will thus be terminated, but because the noble lord who is the 
object of the resolution is one whom we all most highly value. (Hear, hear.) 
Every one who has observed the course of public affairs for many years past 
must have been struck by the fact that, wherever there was a movement of 
great social importance for the moral welfare of the country, my noble friend 
in the chair has been found ready to lend his assistance in the promotion of 
that object, actuated always by the most disinterested feelings, and constantly 
achieving the most beneficent results. Although we might differ as to the 
cause of some of those things that we so often see and deplore, yet, I think, 
every one will agree in this, that in regard to the culture of the educated 
classes of this country there has been, and there still is, a wide and palpable 
gulf. (Hear, hear.) How this has been occasioned it might take some time 
to explain, and even then we might not all be of one mind ; but, with a know- 
ledge of the fact, this Society undertook what I regard as a great and most 
laudable duty when it endeavoured to fill that gulf, and set itself to the task 
of reconciling those divergencies which had arisen as the consequence of ages 
of indifference and neglect. (Hear, hear.) I think, therefore, that no work 
of greater importance could have been presented to the consideration of the 
noble lord than that which he undertook in giving his support to this Insti- 
tute, and in accepting the office he now holds with so much distinction to 
himself and, I may add, with so much advantage to this Society. (Applause.) 
Therefore, I, for one, regard with great pleasure his presence here this 
evening as furnishing practical testimony to the opinions I am sure 
he entertains in common with all the members of this Institute. 
The objects you have in view are very simple, and yet they are very 
difficult to attain. There are many difficulties to be surmounted 
in this intellectual age, and in the endeavour to meet and over- 
come them this Society has been making great progress. I trust that at no 
distant day it will reach that point when it will not only be able to afford 
its own members the gratification of seeing how error is to be arrested, but 
will also be able so to expand its efforts in limiting and correcting the 
evils which have been inflicted on society in all parts of the world. 
(Hear, hear.) This, of course, will be a work of labour and of cost ; but I 
