YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5506, 19 November 1878, Page 2

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

LEOTBEE BY BEOFESSOH KIBK. Last evening a lecture was delivered by Professor Kirk, P.L.S., &0., under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, the subject being “ Minute Lite." Mr. Or. Hunter, M.H.K., occupied the chair. The ‘Rev. Mr. Williams opened the proceedings with prayer. The Chairman, in introducing the lecturer of the evening, said his great ability to deal with such a subject as that which he had chosen need not be referred to, nor was it necessary to remark that in whatever he had to say he would not indulge in the custom nowadays too prevalent of making use of science for the purpose of attempting to undermine those great truths of revealed religion which men and women had been brought up to believe iu and still held fast to. Professor Kiije, on coming forward„was heartily applaudei He commenced by alluding to the great engineering skill and the immense dynamic power employed some forty years ago in the removal of a rock of chalk off the coast of Hover, estimated to weigh a million tons, and covering a space of twenty acres, to the depth of as many feet, to show the vast nature of the accumulations of the skeletons of once living beings so inconceivably minute that a thousand of them might be taken up on the point of a pin, a million nibbed out of existence by a single stroke of the finger ; and ho then went on to state the chief characteristics of a few of the minute organisms which thus entered largely into the „ composition of considerable portion of the earth's crust, .and the way iu which they had become aggregated into vast masses extending over hundreds of miles, and often hundreds of feet in height. First he drew illustrations from the vegetable kingdtgn, notably the diatam, whoso minute but exceedingly complicated and beautiful structure, common occurrence, uses, and various habits, according to the locality in which found, were all graphically described. The demids, algae, and other minute vegetable organisms were passed iu review. He next came to oceanic organisms, referring to foraminifera, challengerida, and radiolaria ; and then gave an interesting account of the formation of coral reets, noting the Great Barrier and other reefs, remarkable for their immense size and .curiosity of structure, and the action of sea .aue-

mone and coral polypes in connection therewith. A • vivid description of the attractive appearance presented by living corals was given, and then followed references to the formation of coral islands, fringing and barren reefs, ntoles, reef formation, subsidence and destruction of reefs, &c. In concluding his address the lecturer said ho had chosen his subject because there was a great deal of distrust excited in tho minds of many with regard to the study of science as tending to produce a feeling of antagonism to the teachings of the Bible, and because he wished to do what he could to remove that feeling. He believed there was difference between God’s words in His revelations and His works in nature, and that if science were only studied in a humble and truthful spirit, and not with a feeling of doubt and distrust, tho student would only confirm his faith in revealed religion. The lecturer then resumed his seat amid applause. Tho usual votes of thanks to the lecturer and to tho chairman, followed by tho benediction pronounced by tho Kov. Mr. Williams, brought the proceedings to a close.