1884.] CIVILIZATION AND ITS WASTES. 287 



could see a perceptible difference between these three fertili- 

 zers and Peruvian guano. But where we put on potash alone 

 or nitrogen alone, or potash and nitrogen together, there was 

 no perceptible growth for some time ; in fact, the cabbages 

 never grew to be anything. The difference was not percepti- 

 ble between the growth where we put nothing and where we 

 put potash and nitrogen alone or potash and nitrogen together. 

 Adjourned to 2 o'clock. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order by Mr. Barstow at 2 

 o'clock, and Mr. J. B. Olcott introduced as the lecturer of 

 the afternoon. 



THE CONFLICT OF CIVILIZATION WITH ITS OWN 



WASTES. 



BY ME. J. B. OLCOTT, OF SOUTH MANCHESTER. 



If theology is a theory of the nature, science, and arts of good- 

 ness, then it will be likely to aifect men according as they know 

 what is good, and the theory corresponds with their knowledge. 



Regarding theology as comprehending all goodness, it appears 

 a matter not for one, but every day in the week; a subject, not for 

 the few alone, but a great popular study, interesting all who love a 

 good thing. 



As we increase in positive knowledge of what is good by com- 

 parison with evil, we find as many and various conditions of good- 

 ness as there are varieties and conditions of men. Hence, in a 

 world of changes, the constant need for revising, averaging, and 

 correcting our theological views and opinions. 



A theory of goodness, for instance, which nimble commerce 

 would grab at in flush times, might not be good for slow agricul- 

 ture at any time; and the farmer who carefully spreads his sav- 

 ings upon the land can scarcely hold identical theological opinions 

 or theories of goodness with the man who touches the soil — vicari- 

 ously or otherwise — only to make it worse. 



We say a thing is good if we never saw anything better adapted 

 to its purpose. Absolute goodness ever depends upon its relations 



