231 
ORDINARY MEETING, 21st March, 1870. 
The Ret. Walter Mitchell, M.A., Vice-President, in the 
Chaie. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, 
The following elections were announced 
Members— W. W. Hitchman, Esq., M.D., of Liverpool, 
T. Wilkinson, Esq., M.D., of Brixton. 
Also, the following presentation of a work to the Library 
The Week of Creation ; or, the Cosmogony of Genesis considered in its 
Relation to Modern Science.” By G. Warrington, Esq. 
From the Author. 
The following paper was then read by the Author 
ON GEOLOGICAL PROOFS OF DIVINE ACTION 
By S. E. Pattison, Esq., E.G.S. 
mHE changes which matter forming the earth’s strata has 
X undergone, or is undergoing, may operate either in cycles 
of perpetual recurrence or by continual progression. The latter, 
again, may be either progressive by way of evolution, — i.e. 
by virtue of inherent property, — or by simple progression in a 
series of independent changes. In all cases it is government 
by law ; tne idea of a Divine Creator and Upholder may equally 
underlie either hypothesis. 
2. The proposition which I shall seek to establish is, that the 
condition and disposition of the strata disprove the theory of 
perpetual recurrence or uniformitarianism, and support the 
theory of serial progression. The latter may well be styled 
evolution, if by this term is only meant the unfolding of phe- 
nomena connected by a common plan; but not if it is intended 
to express that every state contains the causation of its suc- 
cessor. 
3. Another idea is also frequently ranked as a theory, — that 
of catastrophe. This affirms that the strata have been produced 
by operations similar to the present, but immeasurably more 
VOL. v. T 
