2 8o POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



religion, science is antagonistic; but not to the essential religion 

 which these superstitions merely hide. Doubtless, too, in much 

 of the science that is current, there is a pervading spirit of irre- 

 ligion ; but not in that true science which has passed beyond the super- 

 ficial into the profound. 



True science and true religion, says Professor Huxley at the close of a 

 recent course of lectures, are twin-sisters, and the separation of either from 

 the other is sure to prove the death of both. Science prospers exactly in 

 proportion as it is religious; and religion flourishes in exact proportion to 

 the scientific depth and firmness of its basis. The great deeds of philosophers 

 have been less the fruit of their intellect than of the direction of that intellect 

 by an eminently religious tone of mind. Truth has yielded herself rather to 

 their patience, their love, their single-heartedness, and their self-denial, than 

 to their logical acumen. 



* * * 



We conclude, then, that for discipline, as well as for guidance, 

 science is of chiefest value. In all its effects, learning the meanings 

 of things, is better than learning the meanings of words. Whether for 

 intellectual, moral, or religious training, the study of surrounding 

 phenomena is immensely superior to the study of grammars and 

 lexicons. 



Thus to the question with which we set out — What knowledge is of 

 most worth? — the uniform reply is — Science. This is the verdict on 

 all the counts. For direct self-preservation, or the maintenance of life 

 and health, the all-important knowledge is — Science. For that indirect 

 self-preservation which we call gaining a livelihood, the knowledge of 

 greatest value is — Science. For the due discharge of parental func- 

 tions, the proper guidance is to be found only in — Science. For that 

 interpretation of national life, past and present, without which the 

 citizen can not rightly regulate his conduct, the indispensable key is — 

 Science. Alike for the most perfect production and highest enjoyment 

 of art in all its forms, the needful preparation is still — Science. And 

 for purposes of discipline — intellectual, moral, religious — the most effi- 

 cient study is, once more — Science. The question which at first seemed 

 so perplexed, has become, in the course of our inquiry, comparatively 

 simple. We have not to estimate the degrees of importance of different 

 orders of human activity, and different studies as severally fitting us 

 for them; since we find that the study of Science, in its most compre- 

 hensive meaning, is the best preparation for all these orders of activity. 

 We have not to decide between the claims of knowledge of great though 

 conventional value, and knowledge of less though intrinsic value ; seeing 

 that the knowledge which we find to be of most value in all other 

 respects, is intrinsically most valuable : its worth is not dependent upon 

 opinion, but is as fixed as is the relation of man to the surrounding 



