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call it j it is an honour to us to be permitted to do what God will allow 
us to do. It is our honour too that we are permitted to support weak 
brethren, whose faith, in these days, is miserably assailed by those who are 
more culpable than themselves. We are not at all afraid, we may add, of 
what some persons are continually crying out about — the real use of the 
human reason. I had a letter this morning from one of the most distin- 
guished men in my own university ; and, in describing the state of things at 
Oxford, he says, a great grief to him and to other thinkers like himself, is 
that the young and rising intellect of Oxford will not think ; that an in- 
capacity of reasoning seems growing up among them ; that there is a want of 
intellectual power now in young Oxford, that is already telling in every way. 
I say then, let us assert the rights of reason ; let us shrink from nothing 
that is true ; let us be brave for the truth, for that alone will stand — that 
will abide when all the theories of man shall have perished. 
Rev. J. H. Titcomb.— I feel that I should be wanting in courtesy if I 
were not to say a few words. I look upon the object for which the Victoria 
Institute is founded as of the utmost importance. Of course, in ancient 
days, when there was no conflict between Science and Religion, such an 
institute was not required for the purpose of establishing science on the basis 
of religion. In the days of St. Augustine, who declared it heresy to believe 
in the antipodes, and of St. Hilary, who maintained that salt was the union 
of fire and water, of course any scientific man would see that there was little 
danger of any conflict between religion and science. Science was then in 
such a state of infancy that Religion had no fear of it. But at the present 
day it is very different. Since the days of Galileo science has made such 
progress, and has so much developed, that we must, as religious men and as 
guardians of what we believe to be the truth, look about us very sharply, 
very wisely, and very clearly, in order that we may hold our own against all 
antagonists. We have the truth on our side, and God will defend the rmht. 
(Cheers.) ° 
Mr. W. MArthur. I beg to propose the health of our respected chair- 
man. (Cheers.) His high character requires no eulogy from me. I have 
had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, and I have always found him 
ready for every good work. Although I have the pleasure of sitting opposite 
lum almost every night of the week ; yet there is one peculiarity of the House 
of Commons, and that is, that we never allow political differences to interfere 
with private friendships. We are under great obligations to him for having 
come forward and filled the chair as he has done. (Cheers.) I have great 
pleasure in proposing his health. 
The toast was cordially responded to. 
The Chairman expressed his sincere thanks, and proposed the health of 
the Vice-Chairman, who held the important position of leader of one of the 
most devoted bodies of Christians in the country, the Wesleyans, who had 
done so much for tho cause of truth in the last century, when the Church of 
Ragland and dissenting bodies generally had not their present life. 
The toast was warmly received. 
