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by the Rev. William Rogers, the President of the College : — 
“ In opening the discussion on Thursday next. Professor 
Huxley will draw attention to the difference supposed to exist 
between scientific and clerical opinion, and inquire into the 
cogency of the arguments by which some scientific doctrines 
are supported.” 
The specific subject of the distinguished Professor's remarks 
was the evidence which he considered to be adducible, — from 
the civilization of Egypt at the time when the Hebrew J oseph 
was made Governor by Pharaoh, — from the Pyramids, and the 
mud- deposits of the Nile- valley, — from the nummulitic rocks 
and some other strata, and from the chalk formations, — against 
the chronology of Genesis. In other words, it was intended 
to be a brief summary, though certainly a new version, of “ the 
testimony of the rocks,” against what is popularly supposed to 
be the teaching of the Bible regarding the age of this world. 
The greater part, however, of the Professor's address was 
occupied with an admonitory and apologetic exordium, followed 
by frequent subsequent remarks of the same kind, relating to 
the utter divergence he said there had grown up, and which 
he considered to be increasing, between what he called 
scientific and clerical opinion, or the habits of thought of the 
philosophers and the clergy of this country. This classification 
was questioned by several speakers and humorously criticised 
by some as “ a rather strange division of the human race ;” 
but as the learned Professor appears only to have adopted it 
pro re nata, as a tribute to the genius loci and while addressing 
“ his hosts, the clergy,” in Sion College, its propriety need not 
further be canvassed. From the discussion that followed, it 
was chiefly evident that the greater part of the Professor's 
address might have been spared, as it appeared to be founded 
upon a misapprehension of what really is the attitude of the 
clergy towards science; and so, we may give our attention 
rather to what he thought proper to say on behalf of himself, 
as representing the “ men of science '' or C( philosophers.” 
His professions of earnestness and honesty may be succinctly 
summed up in a noble sentence for which the meeting was 
indebted to Professor Tyndall, who afterwards spoke, and 
who told us, if 1 understood him aright, that it was a senti- 
ment of Professor Huxley's own — namely, that he would rather 
die than lie. This is, I repeat, a noble sentiment, and it is 
one not more solemn than became the theme, when the issue, 
as it was then put forward, involves nothing less than the 
truth or falsehood of the Holy Scriptures. 
As a layman, however, myself, I feel bound to say, on 
behalf of the Christian clergy, that this is surely a sentiment 
