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animals are submissive ; they never contradict one, if they did, they 
would receive a different kind of treatment. A great cause of conflict in 
society is opposition of interests, and the conflict of whims and notions. I 
think there is nothing which marks the real progress of a nation in true 
Christianity so much as this one thing ; that is, the manner in which the 
wealthy and the powerful are wont to treat those who are dependent upon 
them, and beneath them in social circumstances. I think we can measure 
our own religious condition very well. If any one were to judge British 
society by the true Christian standard, it would be discovered that while we 
have made progress as compared with the Scandinavian community, there is 
yet very great progress to be made in the feelings with which men ought to 
regard one another, and the treatment they give to each other, especially 
when it is in their power. 
Dr. E. Haugiiton. — As regards art, if we want guides and rules for 
genuine refinement, worthy of mankind, we shall find them nowhere else 
than in Christianity : there we find all that is right in man and woman. 
We shall find the highest ideal embodied in Christianity, and we never need 
be afraid that that will interfere with culture, which in itself is good and 
desirable, it being evidently the Divine idea that all ranks and conditions 
and occupations of men should be equally penetrated with the same spirit of 
courtesy and self-denial. 
Mr. E. W. Dibdin. — In his eleventh paragraph Mr. Gosse speaks of Ice- 
land as the fountain-head of all that was noblest and best in the Scan- 
dinavian race. I rather doubt the correctness of this. Iceland was colonized 
at the end of the ninth century by some of the Vikings driven out from 
Norway by the conquests of Harold Haarfager, and it is interesting to 
remember that the descendants of some of these Norsemen, at the close of 
the tenth century, were the first European discoverers of America, long be- 
fore the time of Columbus. It is curious to notice what hold such legends 
as that of the death of Baldur, to which Mr. Gosse alludes in his third para- 
graph, still have in Scandinavia. On the eve of the longest day almost every 
town and village in Norway has its Bale fire lighted to commemorate his death. 
Whilst he lived, the days were said to have been getting longer and longer 
and brighter and brighter, but as soon as he died they commenced to darken 
and contract in length. 
The Chairman. — You will find many of these things in this country. If 
you go into Cornwall you will find many Pagan customs there. 
The Hon. Secretary. — And in Ireland, on the Eve of St. John, which is 
the longest day, after the sun sets they light what they call Baal fires, in 
which wood and turf, — but never coal, — are used, at cross roads and on the 
tops of mountains. These fires are kept burning till next morning, and the 
peasants throw their children from one to another through them. 
Mr. Dibdin. — Possibly the name of Baal fires may be derived from Baldur, 
the good spirit. Mr. Gosse says in his first paragraph : — 
“I propose to show this evening how totally distinct was the mission of 
Christianity to the peoples of the North ; to sketch before you the habits 
