378 
ORDINARY MEETING, June 21st, 1869. 
The Rev. Walter Mitchell, M.A., Vice-President, in the 
Chair. 
The Minutes of last meeting were read and approved, and the election 
of the following Members announced : — 
Members : — Rev. James M‘Cann, D.D., Glasgow ; Rev. E. E. Jenkins, 
M.A., Brixton ; T. W. Masterman, Esq., Hare Hatch, near Twyford. 
Also the presentation of the following books : — 
Ancient Pillar Stones of Scotland. By Dr. George Moore. From the Author. 
Anti-Secularist Lectures. By Rev. Dr. M‘Cann. From the Author. 
Proceedings of Royal Instit. of Gr. Brit. No. 49. From the Council , R. I. 
The following Paper was then read by the Author : — 
ON CURRENT PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY. By James 
Reddie, Esq., Hon. Mem. Dial. Soc.j Ddin. Univer., 
Honorary Secretary, Viet. Inst. 
A LTHOUGH the subject of this paper is so extensive, 
that I can ill spare any of the time at my disposal 
for its consideration, I must still, on the present occasion, 
beg leave to occupy a few minutes with some introductory 
words of apology and explanation. I need scarcely say, 
considering my connection with the Victoria Institute, 
that I am the last person to think it necessary that any 
apology should be required, as a rule, for examining with the 
utmost freedom, whether to confirm or confute, any scientific 
theory or dogma whatever which may have obtained currency 
among us. But a dear-bought and bitter experience has 
taught me, that to this rule of freedom there is one exception 
at least ; for I know that the great hypothesis and subordinate 
theories I am about to examine and handle quite freely, are 
regarded almost as sacred and as standing on holy ground, 
and that I approach them at my peril, — well aware that there 
is an almost universal consent of prejudice against me, which 
is supposed to be fully justified by the certainty of scientific 
and mathematical demonstration, confirmed by subsequent 
experience and what Bacon calls “ the decision of time.” 
2. For more now than a quarter of a century, I have 
