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of resume of what had taken place during the session. We have already had 
applications to give lectures of this kind, and it is indeed part of our scheme 
that, after subjects have been discussed here, lectures of a more popular kind 
should be delivered, giving the gist of our discussions. Nothing could be 
better than a lecture of such a kind on some of the papers and discussions 
we have had on the Mosaic cosmogony — indeed the work is already almost 
done in Professor Kirk’s valuable paper. (Hear, hear.) 
Rev. Dr. C. Deane. — With regard to the publication of the names of 
defaulting subscribers, I think we shall be quite safe in leaving the matter 
in the hands of the Council. I am sure that they will do what is right. 
(Hear, hear.) But there is one paragraph in the report to which I feel bound 
to allude : it is that referring to meetings. Now as regards the attendance of 
individuals holding atheistical opinions, I want to know at whose invitation 
those gentlemen came. Were they invited by the Council or by individual 
members ? If by individual members, of course we have nothing to say to 
it ; but if by the Council, I should like to express my opinion on the subject. 
Mr. Reddie. — The first of the occasions to which Dr. Deane refers was 
when Mr. Austen Holyoake attended to hear a paper on human responsi- 
bility by Dr. Irons. It was one of a series in direct refutation of atheism, 
and at’ Dr. Irons’s own desire Mr. Holyoake was requested to attend. I 
believe he sent the invitation himself, and therefore it emanated from an 
individual member acting with the best intention, and whose paper proved 
how untenable the position of atheism was. 1 must say that I think all who 
were present when Mr. Holyoake spoke must have felt that the cause of 
truth was advanced and the cause of atheism suffered. 
Dr. Deane. — The papers read when I met these gentlemen were not those 
by Dr. Irons. 
Mr. Reddie. — No. The occasion I have referred to was the first. 
Dr. Deane. — How did they come on the other occasions ? 
The Secretary. — They applied for leave to come. 
Mr. Reddie. — Having once got their foot in, they applied for leave to 
come here to hear a paper on “ Demonstration of the Existence of God.” 
The matter was never brought before the Council, but I think it was very 
proper for Mr. Aubrey to send them tickets. If I had been in his place I 
should have sent tickets, and I am sure that if the Council had been asked 
they would have sanctioned such a course. (Hear, hear.) ’ 
Dr. Deane. — That being the case, I think we ought to protest against 
making this Institution a platform for people we believe to be infidels, and 
thus giving them an opportunity of proclaiming their views. I think that 
more harm ensues from the publication of infidel views than good is gained 
by the apparent refutation of those views in a limited Society like this, and 
I think that to admit such discussions in our rooms is not carrying out the 
original objects of the Victoria Institute. I feel a great difficulty in bringing 
this matter forward, and only do so as a matter of stern duty. I referred 
to the subject once before, and did not then get what I thought a satisfac- 
tory answer, and I therefore came here to-day for the purpose of bringing 
