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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Doctrine of Evolution,” as evidenced by tlie literature that had appeared 
on the subject since the corresponding meeting last year. He said it 
was most gratifying to report that the name and influence of Mr. 
Herbert Spencer had penetrated into popular channels (some of them) 
the least anticipated. For instance, sketches of his system of philosophy 
(with portraits) had recently appeared in “ Great Thoughts,” and in 
the “ Illustrated London News.” There was also a reference to him 
in the Christmas Number of “ Truth ” for 1886, and a most appreci- 
atory notice in the article, “ Our Noble Selves,” in the “ Fortnightly 
Review ” of February last. In the “ Record of Ellen Watson ” (3rd 
Ed., Macmillan and Co., 1886), that accomplished lady who died pre¬ 
maturely at the Cape, an extract of a letter to a friend (speaking of 
Mr. Spencer’s “Education”) states : “The great pleasure one has in 
reading anything of Spencer’s springs from the breadth of the view 
he opens out before you. He lays the universe under continual contri¬ 
bution, and in discussing the least significant point keeps you awake 
to its connection with the whole of life.” In “ A Look Round Liter¬ 
ature,” by Robert Buchanan (Ward and Downey, 1887), this disting- 
uisned poet, novelist, and dramatist, says: “His (Mr. Spencer’s) 
width of view, his catholicity of sympathy, his fearlessness in investi¬ 
gation, his faculty of crystalline exposition, seem to me almost super¬ 
human.” • And again: “He closes no one gate of the universe, but 
leaves all wide open while we stand awe-stricken at the dazzling vistas 
which open out beyond them all.” A most valuable and sympathetic 
exposition of Mr. Spencer’s “ Theory of Religion and Morality” had 
been written by Mr. Sylvan Drey, of Baltimore, and published by 
Messrs. Williams and Norgate (1887), as an essay, which should be in 
the hands of all Spencerians. In the magnificent work published by 
Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co. (1887), in two volumes, entitled “The 
Reign of Queen Victoria : a Record of Fifty Years of Progress,” and 
which contained contributions by some of the most eminent men of 
the day in literature, science, and art, the article on “ Science ” being by 
Professor Huxley, and “ Literature” by Dr. Richard Garnett, of the 
British Museum, the latter states that “His (Mr. Spencer’s) ‘ First 
Principles ’ (1862), the first number of a philosophical series, designed 
to be all-embracing, is the most characteristic bequest of the Victorian 
age to posterity;” and again: “In ethics, as in psychology and 
sociology, Mr. Spencer is our only great systematic writer.” Finally, 
Mr. Hughes alluded to the remarkable sermon preached at St. 
Margaret’s Church, Westminster, by the Bishop of Ripon, in May last, 
before the House of Commons, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, 
in which he ranked “ The Doctrine of Evolution,” as formulated by 
Mr. Spencer, equal in point of importance to Newton’s Law of 
Motion. Mr. Hughes said there were two local subjects that called 
for special notice—the departure of Miss Naden from Birmingham, 
and the publication of a most meritorious poem by the first Honorary 
Secretary of the Section, Mr. Alfred Hayes, B.A. With regard to the 
former, the loss which the Section and the Society had sustained was 
irreparable. Miss Naden’s admirable scientific training added to her 
rare gifts as a poetess had enabled her to thoroughly grasp and appreci¬ 
ate the Synthetic Philosophy. The two addresses delivered by that 
lady before the Section, dealing with very intricate questions arising 
out of the Doctrine of Evolution, were monuments of her genius. 
Her recent beautiful volume of poems, “ A Modern Apostle, Ac.” 
(Kegan, Paul, and Co., 1887), was thoroughly in harmony with that 
great doctrine. Birmingham had sustained a severe loss by her 
removal, and we could only wish her success and happiness in her 
future career. It was most satisfactory to note in connection with the 
publication of Mr. Hayes’ beautiful volume, “The Last Crusade” 
