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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.— SUPPLEMENT. 



of power I so fully recognize, but one must speak 

 frankly if this Symposium is to be worth any- 

 thing — an instinctive yearning toward Chris- 

 tian ideas, while that faith is denied which alone 

 can vivify them and make them a living power 

 in our world. There is everywhere a shadowy 

 image of a Christian substance ; but it reminds 

 one of that formless form, wherein " what seemed 

 a head, the likeness of a kingly crown had on." 

 And it is characteristic of much of the finest 

 thinking and writing of our times. The saviour 

 Deronda, the prophet Mordecai, lack just that 

 living heart of faith which would put blood into 

 their pallid lineaments, and make them breathe 

 and move among men. Again I say that we have 

 largely ourselves to thank for this saddening feat- 

 ure of the higher life of our times — we who have 

 narrowed God's great kingdom to the dimensions 

 of our little theological sphere. I am no theolo- 

 gian, though intensely interested in the themes 

 with which the theologians occupy themselves. 

 Urania, with darkened brow, may perhaps rebuke 

 my prating. But I seem to see quite clearly that 

 the sad strain and anguish of our life, social, in- 

 tellectual, and spiritual, is but the pain by which 

 great stages of growth accomplish themselves. 

 We have quite outgrown our venerable, and in its 

 time large and noble, theological shell. We must 

 wait, not fearful, far less hopeless, while by the 

 help of those who are working with such admi- 

 rable energy, courage, and fidelity, outside the 

 visible Christian sphere, that spirit in man which 

 searches and cannot but search " the deep things 

 of God," creates for itself a new instrument of 

 thought which will give to it the mastery of a 

 wider, richer, and nobler world. 



Dr. W. G. WARD. — Mr. Harrison considers 

 that the Christian's conception of a future life is 

 " so gross, so sensual, so indolent, so selfish," as 

 to be unworthy of respectful consideration. He 

 must necessarily be intending to speak of this 

 conception in the shape in which we Christians 

 entertain it ; because otherwise his words of rep- 

 rehension are unmeaning. But our belief as to 

 the future life is intimately and indissolubly bound 

 up with our belief as to the present ; with our 

 belief as to what is the true measure and stand- 

 ard of human action in this world. And I would 

 urge that no part of our doctrine can be rightly 

 apprehended, unless it be viewed in its connection 

 with all the rest. This is a fact which (I think) 

 infidels often drop out of sight, and for that reason 

 fail of meeting Christianity on its really relevant 

 and critical issues. 



Of course, I consider Catholicity to be exclu- 



sively the one authoritative exhibition of revealed 

 Christianity. I will set forth, therefore, the doc- 

 trine to which I would call attention, in that par- 

 ticular form in which Catholic teachers enounce 

 it ; though I am very far indeed from intending 

 to deny that there are multitudes of non-Catholic 

 Christians who hold it also. What, then, accord- 

 ing to Catholics, is the true measure and standard 

 of human action ? This is in effect the very first 

 question propounded in our English elementary 

 Catechism: "Why did God make you?" The 

 prescribed answer is, " To know him, serve him, 

 and love him in this world, and to be happy with 

 him forever in the next." And St. Ignatius's 

 " Spiritual Exercises " — a work of the very high- 

 est authority among us — having laid down the 

 very same "foundation," presently adds that " we 

 should not wish on our part for health rather than 

 for sickness, wealth rather than poverty, honor 

 rather than ignominy ; desiring and choosing 

 those things alone which are more expedient to 

 us for the end for which we were created." Now, 

 what will be the course of a Christian's life in 

 proportion as he is profoundly imbued with such 

 a principle as this, and vigorously aims at putting 

 it into practice? The number of believers, who 

 apply themselves to this task with reasonable 

 consistency, is no doubt comparatively small. 

 But in proportion as any given person does so, 

 he will in the first place be deeply penetrated with 

 a sense of his moral weakness ; and (were it for 

 that reason alone) his life will more and more be 

 a life of prayer. Then he will necessarily give 

 his mind with great earnestness and frequency to 

 the consideration what it is which at this or that 

 period God desires at his hands. On the whole 

 (not to dwell with unnecessary detail on this part 

 of my subject), he will be ever opening bis heart 

 to Almighty God ; turning to him for light and 

 strength under emergencies, for comfort under 

 affliction ; pondering on his adorable attributes ; 

 animated toward him by intense love and tender- 

 ness. Nor need I add how singularly — how be- 

 yond words — this personal love of God is pro- 

 moted and facilitated by the fact that a Divine 

 Person has assumed human nature, and that God's 

 human acts and words are so largely offered to 

 the loving contemplation of redeemed souls. 



In proportion, then, as a Christian is faithful 

 to his creed, the thought of God becomes the 

 chief joy of his life. " The thought of God," 

 says F. Newman, " and nothing short of it, is the 

 happiness of man ; for though there is much be- 

 sides to serve as subject of knowledge, or motive for 

 action, or instrument of excitement, yet the affec- 



