72 KULLETIN OK THE LABORATORIES 



but such Studies lay outside of the legitimate lines and those who pur- 

 sued them were viewed askance. When the revival of learning came, 

 University courses were lengthened and broadened, it is true, but only 

 along the old lines and within the old areas. 



The distrust of physical investigation engendered in the ignorance 

 and dread of the dark ages, when popular religion had become almost 

 fetichism, passed away slowly. As in the later days of the gloom, weird 

 tales were circulated respecting Friar Bacon, so even after the revival 

 of learning, doubt pursued the investigator and those adhering to the 

 patristic philosophy were able to thrust Copernicus and Galileo aside. 

 It is true that in Italy, where Jewish and therefore Arabian influence 

 had been felt very early, important studies were made ; Leonardo da 

 Vinci and Frascatoro rediscovered the Pythagorean doctrines enunci 

 ated by Ovid; physicists and naturalists made noble discoveries, but in 

 great part their results lay buried and almost unstudied until the clost 

 of the last century. Even in the early part of this century, the Coper 

 nican system was barely known to the great University of Salamanca 

 and the works of Cralileo and Copernicus remained on the Index Ex- 

 purgatorius until 1828. 



Within the memory of some who are present, the terms " scientfic 

 man " and " infidel" were, to the majority of good people, practically 

 synonymous, though Dr. Dick's remarkable statement regarding the 

 undevout astronomer had led many to make an exception in favor of 

 the star-gazers. Even when a scientific man asserted his belief in rev- 

 elation, not a few doubted. It is the prerogative of ignorance to de- 

 spise or to distrust that which it cannot understand; but not unfre- 

 frecjuently a package, dreaded as an infernal machine, has proved to 

 be a gift of inestimable value. So here : the dread of physical science 

 has been disappearing rapidly of recent years, for men have come to 

 feel that creation and revelation, having a common origin, must agree 

 in so far as they follow parallel lines, and that disagreements are ap- 

 parent, not real, being due to error in the interj)retation of one or pos- 

 sibly of both. It is too soon to attempt a full reconciliation of the two, 

 as we know them ; more study, more growth must be had before men 

 can be fitted for the task ; it is still difficult to distinguish between faith 

 and prejudice ; Scripture has been overlaid so deeply with prejudices 

 and traditions, that we hesitate often to accept as truths the discoveries 

 made by naturalists and archaeologists; too often, when convinced of 



