uncertainty. It would be observed that the subject had been treated in its historical aspect; and he (the speaker) considered that all great social, or religious, movements of the day were subjects properly open to discussion and examination by the Victoria Institute. He confessed that he had from the commencement taken a great interest in the movement known in Germany as the "Alt Katholik," from the time when the illustrious Professor of the University of Munich, Dr. Von Döllinger, had headed the band of protesters against the modern assumptions of the See of Rome. He had long hoped for a reform movement within the Roman Church itself which, discarding the accretions of Romanism as laid down by the Council of Trent, and the still more recent innovations of the Vatican Council of 1870, might fall back on the doctrines of the Council of Nice-which were held by all the churches of the Reformation. The declaration agreed to at the Congress held in Lucerne in 1892 gives us the true position of Old Catholicism as 'being no mere protest against the novel dogmas of the Vatican, but a return to the true Catholicism of the ancient and undivided Church, and at the same time a call to all Christian communities to unite upon this basis of Christian antiquity." This resolution was introduced by Professor Friedrich in an eloquent address (the Record, September 23, 1892). Surely such a call ought to be heartily responded to by members of all Reformed Churches! It was however, lamentable, to learn from the author's paper that in Protestant Germany, the government with Prince Bismarck at its head, should have taken up an unfriendly [attitude to the New Reformation, though ultimately obliged to give it recognition. As an authentic statement of the enthusiasm with which the movement had been welcomed at the beginning of this century a paragraph from the Vienna correspondent of The Times, dated March 29, 1899, may here be inserted : "The extension of the revolt against the political influence of the Roman Catholic Church in this country is daily becoming more manifest. Constant evidence is forthcoming that should means not be found for counteracting it there is every likelihood of its assuming considerable proportions. The apprehension entertained that it would in course of time find an echo across the frontier proves to have been correct. An appeal on behalf of the agitation, just issued by the Berlin branch of the German Evangelical Association, which is specially devoted to assisting the movement in Austria, is announced in this evening's telegrams. The number of conversions may not yet be very great, although, as a matter of fact, it is difficult to ascertain exactly on what scale they have taken place. It is known, however, that the movement has been making steady progress, and that it is intimately associated with the German Nationalist or PanGermanic agitation. Its significance does not consist in the actual number of proselytes. The mere fact that such an agitation should have made its appearance at all in Catholic Austria is a novel and profoundly interesting feature in the development of the great crisis through which this country is now passing." Colonel Mackinlay's views regarding the position and prospects of the Spanish Reformed Church under the direction of Bishop Cabrera will doubtless be received with great respect, as they are the result of personal observation, though probably not very recent. He thinks the Spanish people resent the formation of an episcopal church in their midst as an intrusion. But the bishop of this reformed church was careful not to give any cause of offence, as he did not assume any territorial title, such as did the bishops appointed by the Pope, when on the advice of Cardinal Wiseman he nominated the present Roman Catholic hierarchy of this country. It may be questioned whether any form of pure Christianity, other than the episcopal, would have been understood by the people of Spain and Portugal. Certainly it would not have contained the elements of strength and solidity such as are afforded by the episcopal form of church government where there is a recognised head and centre of appeal in a large and wide tract of country. The Episcopal Church of Spain and Portugal is thoroughly evangelical in doctrine, and its progress in the short period may be. judged by the following statistics taken from Light and Truth for January, 1908 : "In Spain there are ten churches or chapels, one Bishop, and eleven ministers. In Portugal-ten churches and ten ministers. There is an institution for training candidates for the ministry, presided over by Rev. J. S. Figueiredo. Mission services are held in a large number of towns and villages. There are twenty schools in charge of forty teachers, and there are twelve licensed preachers. More than 2,000 children attend the schools, and all this work has had to be carried on in the face of opposition and persecution, and within a period which we can all recollect." There is, however, plenty of room for the work of non-episcopal evangelists such as those Colonel Mackinlay refers to. As regards Mr. Marston's statement, the question arises, is it well authenticated? The Pauline doctrine of Justification by Faith must be placed in connection with that of St. James, "Faith without works is dead" (Jas. ii, 14-17). Perhaps it is this twofold doctrine that is the vital place in the Old Catholic Church, but we need more light before pronouncing judgment on a matter outside our knowledge, and indeed, outside the scope of Mr. Lias's. The discussion was continued by Mr. ROUSE, who gave an account of Dr. McAll's mission work in Paris, by the Rev. Dr. NOYES, Rev. R. FAITHFUL DAVIES, Mr. W. SOLTAU, and the Rev. H. J. R. MARSTON, who, in thanking the author, expressed the opinion that the reason the Old Catholic movement had so slowly expanded was that its leaders had not grasped what almost all the Reformers of the sixteenth century had held as the central and vital place in Christianity, namely, the doctrine of St. Paul, "justification by faith." The thanks of the meeting having been conveyed to the author in a few appropriate words by the CHAIRMAN, and the AUTHOR having replied, the meeting separated. Postscript.-Since the above was in type it has been authoritatively stated that a branch of the Old Catholic Church is being organised in England, as will be seen by the following statement in The Guardian, April 8th, 1908 AN OLD CATHOLIC MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND. [From our Old Catholic Correspondent.] The organ of the Dutch Old Catholic Church, De Oud Katholiek, announces in its April number that on February 18th a meeting of Roman Catholic clergy and laymen was held at Chelsfield, the object of this gathering being to choose a Bishop independent of Rome, who is to receive his Consecration at the hands of Old Catholic Bishops. Seventeen priests and sixteen lay-people are said to have been present, and they elected as their pastor the Rev. A. H. Mathew, who claims to be Earl of Llandaff. The Bishop-elect was ordained priest in 1878 by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow, and was parish priest up to the year 1898, when he severed his connection with St. Mary's, Bath, and withdrew from all priestly functions. This step was the result of the doubts he had about the validity of the Vatican Decrees of 1870. The Dutch paper is in a position to state that the confirmation of this election and the observance of all canonical formalities has been placed in the hands of the Old Catholic Episcopate. Should the Bishops find, after careful examination, that no obstacles to the Consecration of a Bishop exist, they will comply with the wish of the leaders of the movement. It appears that a central Committee has been formed, with its headquarters at Kensington. The Rev. Mr. Keefe is given as Vicar-General, while the Revs. J. Higgins, A. Besanville, and C. Carey, and two laymen are named as assessors. Organised communities have been called into existence at Birmingham, Nottingham, Brighton, Hull, Ealing, Bromley, Orpington, and Chelsfield. I write this under an impression that the eventual Consecration by Old Catholic Continental Bishops of an Englishman for a number of English congregations may have far-reaching consequences. ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING WAS HELD IN THE ROOMS OF THE INSTITUTE, ON MONDAY, APRIL 6TH, 1908. COLONEL C. E. YATE, C.M.G., C.S.I., IN THE CHAIR. The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and confirmed. ELECTION :-Hamilton Bland, Esq., M.D., and the Reverend Edwin D. Kizer, were elected Associates. The following paper was then read :— THE AMERICAN FAUNA AND ITS ORIGIN. By Professor J. LOGAN LOBLEY, F.G.S., F.R.G.S. CONTENTS. Introduction Conspectus of the American Fauna The American Fauna compared with that of the Old World INTRODUCTION. HE American continent with its vast north and south THE Anticandoits complete isolation by water from all other lands presents a field for the observation of animal life of the greatest possible interest. In latitudinal extension America ranges through 130 degrees, from 75° N. to 55° S. latitude, a distance of 9,000 miles or more than the diameter of the globe, a much greater north and south extension than that of the entire Old World or eastern continent, with all its austral insular adjuncts. Thus it extends |