serious and earnest minds, have found that a twofold division has existed for 
a long time among men with respect to religious questions. In the case of 
many the difficulty is to get them to follow the precepts of the religion of 
which they profess to have no doubt ; but with others the difficulty is to get 
them heartily and honestly to attend to the evidences of the religion about 
which they do profess to have doubts : the difficulties of this class of persons 
have been immensely increased in our day. To many people in all ranks 
of society, and of all degrees of education, the way of inquiring minds 
inclined to doubt has been made very difficult indeed ; but I agree with 
the Bishop of London that it is not so much the duty of the clergy to take 
up this subject in church, because those who go there go to be strength- 
ened and encouraged in the belief and practices of a religion which they do 
not doubt ; and, therefore, it does not seem to be the part of the clergy to 
introduce these subjects too frequently in mixed congregations. It must, 
however, be the part of somebody to deal with such matters ; and I am thankful 
for the labours of this and other societies having somewhat similar objects. To 
show the value of their work, I will mention one instance. The other 
day, in a town in one of the Midland counties, I heard this gratifying 
fact, that a man who had been denying with great ingenuity, skill, 
perseverance, and zeal, the existence of the one Eternal God, and even the 
existence of a Providence, retracted his mistaken opinions in the presence of 
3,000 people assembled in a large meadow. He gave several reasons for his 
changed convictions, and one was, that he found the Athiests were never engaged 
in trying to do good to their fellow-citizens, but only in abusing Christians. 
He put the argument for design in a very remarkable light : he said that if 
there was no such a thing as a Creator and Designer, we were forced to this 
conclusion, that the results and effects of blind force were far more perfect 
than the results and effects of the most clever intelligence, and that, of course, 
was a redudio cul absurdum. At all events, it affected his mind and the minds 
of others ; and I mention this to show you that the principles which you 
endeavour to carry out, are at work in the various towns of the Midland and 
Northern counties where they are certainly wanted ; for Atheistic almanacs 
and other works are being circulated in large numbers in these towns. It is 
very interesting to have one definite instance of the way in which those 
who struggle for the principles this Society upholds, are rewarded by seeing 
those principles spreading. I have much pleasure in moving the resolution. 
(Cheers.) 
Mr. H. Cadman Jones. — I beg to second the resolution. 
The resolution was unanimously agreed to. 
Lieut.-General R. F. Copland-Crawford, R.A. — Sir : The resolution 
entrusted to me, and which I beg to move, is, “ That the thanks of the 
Members and Associates be presented to the Council and Honorary Officers for 
their efficient conduct of the affairs of the Victoria Institute during the past 
year.” Those who have listened to the report which has just been read ; 
those who have been present at the reading of any of the many papers 
during the past twelve months ; and all who have perused the Transactions 
of the Society, must assuredly come to the conclusion that those administering 
