Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-24
THE TENDENCY OF SCIENTIFIC
INQUIRY.

NSNA@~s'
Sir Henry Barkley, C. c. NJ. g., +.
r. S., took the chair at the annual meet
ing of the Victoria Philosophical lnst-
tute, at I, Adelphi Terrace, London, In
the last week in June. The Honorary
Secretary, Captain F. Petrie, +. K. S. L.,
read the report, by which it appeared
that the Institute, -founded TO investi-
gate all questions of Philosophy and
Science, and more especially any alleged
10 initiate against the truth of Revela-
tion,-had now risen to 1920 members,
of whom about one-third were Foreign,
Colonial, and American, and new ap-
pIcations to join were constantly coming
in. An increasing number of leading
men of Science had joined its ranks, and
men of Science, whether in Its ranks or
not, co-operated in its work. During
the session a careful analysis had been
undertaken by Professor Stokes, r. X.
S. Sir ]. r. Bennett, Vice-Pres. K. s.,
Professor Beale, Z. r. S., and others, OF
the various theories Of Evolution, and 1t
was reported that, as yet, no scientific
evidence had been met with giving coun-
tenance to the theory that man had been
evolved from lower order in animals /;
and Professor Wicklow had declared that
there was a complete absence Of any tos-
sil type Of lower stage in the develop
ment Of man and that any positive ad-
vance in the province Of prehistoric an
thropology has actually removed US fur
ther from proofs Of such connection,-
namely, with the rest of the Animal
kingdom. In this, Professor Barrande,
the great palsontologist, had concurred,
declaring that in none Of his investiga-
tons had he found any one fossil species
develope into another In fact, It would
seem that no scientific man had yet dis
covered link between man and the ape,
between fish and frog, or between the
vertebrate and the invertebrate animals
further, there was no evidence of any one
species, fossil or other, losing its peculiar
characteristics to acquire new ones be-
longing to other species for instance,
however similar the dog to the wolf,
there was no connecting link, and among
extinct species the same was the case
there was no gradual passage from one to
another. Moreover. the first animals
that existed on the earth were by no
means to be considered as inferior or de-
graded. Among other investigations,
one into the truth of the argument from
Design in nature had been carried on,
and had hitherto tended to fully con-
firm that doctrine. The question of the
AssyriAn inscriptions and the recent Ba-
bylonian researches had been under the
leadership Of Mr.. Hormuzd Rassam, who
on his arrival from Nineveh, had given
full report of the extent Of his new ex-
cavstions, which were Of the highest in
teresi. His discovery Of Sepharvaim.
one OF the fst cities mentioned in Holy
Writ, was most important. Professor
Delitsch and others aided in the consid- |
Grafton Of the discoveries and the inscrip- |
tons found. Two meetings had been
held TO consider the questions raised in
Mr.. Herbert spenosIs Philosophy, and
Lord O'Neil AID others had shown, by
. careful analysis Of his arguments, that
, greater attention to accuracy in state
ment would have kept Mr.. Spencer from
arriving at those Aassy conclusions which
had made his philosophy remarkable. 1t
Was announced that the results Of ex-
plorations now being carried on in Egypt |
would be laid before the Institute early
in the winter. The discoveries were very
important, especially that Of the site Of
Succoth, which, like the results of the
survey Of Palestine, was conhrmstory of
the Sacred Record. The quarterly Jour-
nal, which had been published for six |
teen years, was now issued free to all
Members and Associates, whether at
home or abroad. Several interesting |
speeches having been made, the Members
and their friends adjourned to the Mu-
scum, where refreshments were served.
JUMBO FIGURES.
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