2 3 2 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



It appears, then, from an examination of the accompanying 

 correspondence and quotations, that in two of the most important 

 provinces of human thought, religion and philosophy, there is no 

 proper and accepted English word to designate the supreme prin- 

 ciple and element of the systems ; that the universally accepted 

 word to designate the same in one of them is, and for many years 

 has been, known to be utterly insufficient if not false, by many 

 among the leaders, and that in the other province such a word is 

 much to be desired. 



It is no part of our purpose to discuss the appalling disclosure 

 of an only plan of salvation offered to the world, and yet con- 

 cealed from it for ages of agony through want of a word by which 

 to make it known; nor to discuss the effects of that disclosure 

 upon the a common people " when it shall be finally made clear to 

 them. After the publication of this article it can no longer be 

 said that no attempt has been made to supply the missing word, 

 and it will be for those whose function it is to decide such matters 

 either to slowly adopt it, to supply a better, or to allow us to 

 drift without it. But at this moment the word here proposed as 

 adequate, and advocated as especially fit in view of its tendency 

 to unite and harmonize both domains of human thought, interest, 

 and activity concerned, has not been accepted by the leading au- 

 thorities of either religion or philosophy, so far as it has been 

 submitted to them. 



However, Dr. Abbott seems to admit that, etymologically, 

 philosophically, and scripturally, the proposed word implies, if 

 it does not convey, the desired meaning. 



As to the suggested word Jiupemoia, the fact that the prepo- 

 sition huper was not used in the New Testament becomes a strik- 

 ing negative argument in favor of our word. Moreover, huper 

 evidently relates to quantity or proportion, and means excess, 

 while meta relates to space or position, and means universally — 

 according to Webster — in composition, beyond, over, after, etc. 



Much remains to be said, but enough has already been said 

 to open the discussion of the subject, and to put the responsibili- 

 ties of the situation upon the leaders of religious and philosophic 

 thought, to whom they properly belong. 



The objects of anthropometry, according to Mr. Francis Galton, are to define 

 the individual or the race, and to show in what way and to what extent he or it 

 differs from the others. By taking measurements the individual is taught to know 

 his own relative powers at any given time, and we are helped to watch over the 

 development during the period of growth, and to give it direction if it does not 

 proceed normally. Measurements of the head are designed to show how much 

 and up to what age the brain continues to grow, and to aid in comparing the edu- 

 cated with the uneducated classes. 



