religion, manners, and daily habits of the people who lived in ancient Italy; and by this method alone it is possible to prove that before Spanish was spoken in Spain, or French in France, ancient Italy had kings and lords, and was highly civilised. On the same principle we can learn something of the ancient Aryan people, by searching out from among the languages of Europe and Asia the words which they spoke, and ascertain ing their original meaning. By this method it has been ascer tained that the Aryans had kings, and towns, and houses, and their idea of the “ Highest Good” was enshrined in a name which is yet retained over half the world. That name was "Dyaus* pitar” in Sanscrit, and the same words are traceable in Latin, Greek, and German. These words are facts, and help to show us that in pre-historic times the Aryans wor shipped an unseen Being, with the highest name which they could find in their vocabulary. “Dyaus pitar” meant “heaven father, who became the “Zeus” of the Greeks, and until comparative philology laid bare the secret, we knew not what sacred records lay enshrined in the unholy name of "Ju-piter.” Thousands of years have passed away since the Aryan races have separated, yet in these high and exalted times, when we wish to utter the name that is highest and most dear, we can but use the words of our forefathers, and, instead of saying “Heaven Father,” say “ Our Father which art in Heaven." The Semitic languages are much more elosely bound to gether than the Aryan languages, making it so easy to colleci identical words, that few scholars have as yet thought it worth while to devote their abilities to the task. Yet it would be well to do so, to discover the nature of the language spoken by the ancient Semites before they separated, that is to say, before Hebrew was Hebrew, and Arabic was Arabie The names used for “God” in all the Semitic languages mear king,” “strong,” or “powerful.” The ancient Semitie race had many deities, and the names of many of these deities were fixed before the race separated to form the Hebrew, Arabian, Ethiopian, Babylonian, and other nations One of the most ancient names for “God” was “El," o “strong,” and this name was applied not only to the true gods but to the false gods of the Gentiles. “ Allal” is derived from the ancient word “El,” thereby proving that the same God belongs both to the Hebrews and to the followers of Mahomet. Another name given by the ancient Semites to one of their favourite deities was “Baal,” who was by no means a strange god to the Jews, and was probably worshipped by them among their other gods, before the flood, since he was wor shipped by nearly all the Semitic nations, after they separated. The Semites had also female deities, one of whom was Baall, and another Allât—the feminine of Allah. Even in Southern Arabia there are traces of the worship of the ancient goddess Baall. Some of the names were given to their gods by the Semitie races after the separation, so these names are found only in the languages of one or two of the modern Semitie nations; Jehovah is an example, and this name, after many tortuous changes, was the origin of the name of the young and beautiful “Adonis” of the Greeks. The name Jehovah was the same in the Jewish and Babylonian nations. The pre historic period of the Semitic race is now therefore historie in the strongest and most accurate sense of the word. There was a primitive religion among the Semitic races, and a god named El, long before the god of the Jews was worshipped by the Hebrew nation. Turning now to the Turanians and their languages, less interest is felt in the subject, for what have we with them in common? We are Aryans ourselves, and our religion is partly Semitic, but what have we to do with the Turanians, with their yellow faces, high cheek bones, and slanting eyes? It is true we have little in common with them, except our common humanity, yet if we look into the bright Chinese eyes, we shall see that there is a soul within, and that the God whom they mean, is the same God that we mean. The Turanian languages are of a shifting nature, and have not yet been sufficiently studied to yield much information as to their origin. The Chinese believe in a vast number of spirits, and they worship the spirits of the departed. Two of their most ancient spirits are the spirits of heaven and earth, but the spirit of heaven “Tien," is older than the spirit of earth. “Tien" means - exalted one - peerless - high - Lordof Heaven. The Chinese sacred books speak much of the decrees and will of heaven, and say that Tien moulds man as a potter moulds clay. The Chinese pay very little respect to any of their gods but the chief one, and adopt the advice of Confucius, who said Among “Respect the gods, but keep them at a distance." the Mongolians and Tartars there are traces of the ancient Chinese religion, but not of the name of the god Tien ; their chief god is sometimes called “Father, and sometimes the “Old One.” They worship spirits. “Jumna-la,” the name of the ancient god of the Finns, means the “god of the sky," or the “thunderer." Last Saturday, Professor Max Müller delivered his fourth and closing lecture at the Royal Institution. Prince Christian presided, and among the listeners in the very large meeting were H.R.H. the Princess Louise, Lord Stratford de Red cliffe, Earl Stanhope, the Dean of Westminster, Mr. C. F. Varley, C.E., Dr. John Tyndall, F.R.S., Lord Clanwilliam,  Mr. E. Fournier, and Mr. J. P. Gassiot, F.R.S. Professor Max Müller said that a lawyer is apt to see an angel in his own client, and anything but an angel in the client of his professional neighbour; in like manner there is too much tendency in these days, to view the religions of our neighbours with anything but charity. In thus ignoring the beauties of other religions, we assume for our own specialities which its founder never claimed for it, and if comparative theology drives away this bad feeling towards the honest con victions of our neighbours, it will do a good work, and it is high time this work were begun. He did not deny that the ancient religions were imperfect, but it is certain that Socrates and Plato were not worshippers of stocks and stones. Although he could now speak fearlessly on theological sub jects, there was a time when it would have been impossible, when religion was supported by fire and sword and fiery zeal, when it was taught that all idols were to be overthrown, and their worshippers cut up. But now we are not afraid of the progress of the worship of Jupiter. In the religions of other people there is always something which is good, and if the myriads who do not think with ourselves are to be cut down and cast into the oveu, then must we be of less value than the sparrows, for God cares for them. (Applause.) A mother may offer her infant a full repast, yet the infant is not pre pared to receive it, so may God have offered truth to man from the beginning, yet the people were not sufficiently advanced to receive the boon. God is no respecter of persons, so doubtless all who love Him, and work righteously, will be accepted by Him in the end. Religion is always oscillating between two poles