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world and the universal rest on the seventh day, a blessing which all attempts 
to invade have failed. Is it not a blessing to mankind that they have that 
seventh day ? That portion of the subject, however, is involved in a certain 
amount of difficulty from the fact that the seventh day was changed to the 
first day for the Sabbath 
Mr. Reddie. — It was changed by the Apostles, I believe. 
Professor Macdonald. — It was changed by the Adamic race : the Apostles 
were of the Adamic race 
The Chairman. — In the records of the Houses of Parliament Saturday is 
always recognized as the Sabbath. It is always Dies Sabbatice. 
Mr. Row. — Do you consider the Carthaginians and Phoenicians as Adamic ? 
They certainly showed a descent from the Hebrew tongue. 
Professor Macdonald.— I do not think it is worth while to go into that. 
That incidental objection has no bearing whatever upon the question 
Mr. Poole. — The language of Hebrew was not the language of Abraham : 
he spoke Syriac. The language of the Carthaginians and Phoenicians was 
the Syriac language. Whether that was Abraham’s original tongue is another 
matter. 
The Chairman. — But if there is unity of race, the whole Semitic race 
would be united together. 
Mr. Poole. — Without question. But the question is whether Abraham 
did not adopt a language in Syria, as he also adopted another in Canaan. The 
Cuneiform is entirely a new language, spoken in Abraham’s district, and not 
the original language. 
Mr. Reddie. — However, it does not follow that diversity of language 
precludes unity of race. 
Professor Macdonald. — I only regret that my paper has been so care- 
lessly prepared for such hypercritical observers as we sometimes meet with. 
I was not at all prepared to enter into the comparatively modern matter of 
tracing language down from the days of Herodotus. If language has not an 
earlier origin than that, I am very much mistaken. But the way in which 
my paper has been received, and the objections which have been made to it, 
have convinced me of one thing. On a former occasion I doubted whether 
I was a proper person to be a member of this Society, but now I doubt no 
longer, and I must say that from this time forward I withdraw from the 
Society. 
Mr. Reddie. — I beg to remind Professor Macdonald that he is not now a 
member, he having withdrawn already. 
Professor Macdonald. — I am very glad to hear it. As I am now outside 
the Society, I can only thank you for the kindness you have shown me. You 
have dealt me rather hard measure, but I will take care I never expose 
myself to it again. I can only thank you for the patience with which you 
have heard me. As for Mr. Row’s remarks, I do not think much of them, 
and therefore I have no feeling upon that subject. 
The Meeting was then adjourned, 
